Disappointing Sports Exhaust System

[bajers]

Just getting used to my 997 S2 Carrera (3 days now) after selling my Cayman and although not overwhelmed with it at the moment, generally, it is a very, very nice car, but I am very disappointed with the exhaust note after the Cayman, even though it has the sports exhaust system.

It does sound nice and appears to be working as it does make the note louder, but seems to be primarily at tickover.

Is there any way of checking it is working correctly please? The light is coming on in the button and as stated, it is a bit louder, but I was expecting a lot, lot louder!

Also, it only operates when the engine is running, i.e, I cannot turn it on after switching on the ignition, only after I have started the car.

Thought maybe one of the 'valves' has stuck and maybe not getting the full effect, but not sure how it works.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[Geoff_Fields]

I believe the actuator valves are vacuum operated hence the need to have the engine running.

 

[M030]

The default setting of the PSE is silent, so you always have to activate it when you start the car.
There is also a speed dependant cut out at lower speeds.

You can pull the connector from the PSE valve so it stays loud all the time.
You will hear the exhaust get louder over time.

An option that gives you the full control over your exhaust is one of those PSE controllers by remote.
These allow you to set the exhaust to loud all the time, just like pulling the plug, but also give you the option to switch to silent whenever necessary.

http://carnewal-europe.com/cpx_p97084.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1V9lW1CW-4

 

[garyw]

As mentioned, you can disconnect the plug (I seem to remember it was a brown plug) for it to be ON all the time.

However it is worth considering that the inside of the 911 is much quieter than the Cayman from my experience, whilst outside and behind the car it does sound just as chaotic as one might want []

garyw

 

[MarlowCrew]

Can't be sure on a C2S, but on my C4, around 4000rpm is where I notice the biggest difference. This does make some logical sense if you believe that the purpose to the Sport Exhaust is so that you can hear what is going on with the revs rather than having to look down at the rev. counter.

Like you when I first got the car, I did wonder if it was loud enough. Garyw makes a good point with: -

"..it is worth considering that the inside of the 911 is much quieter than the Cayman.."

That maybe so, for sure the inside of you 911 is much quieter that the outside as various comments I've had from those who live in my neighborhood and those that hear me arriving in the carpark at work will attest.

The most surprising part of the "Sport Exhaust" is that, allegedly, less than 10% have it fitted as an optional extra when they leave the factory. No the cheapest optional extra, but it has to be my favourite.

 

[bajers]

Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate all comments.

Yes, it is quieter inside than the Cayman, apart from a bit more tyre noise, so that would make sense.

I need to try it further to appreciate the differences at higher revs, it might be loud outside, but I'm never going to hear that unless I let someone else drive it. I would have preferred Porsche to have focused on what the driver hears rather than what people outside hear.

I drove it passed my mate to-day and he said is sounded really nice, about as loud as you would want so as not to attract unwarranted attention!

Regards.

Barry.

 

[Lancerlot]

As a kid, I bought something called a Peco Exhaust Booster to pep up the noise of my 105E Ford Anglia - sounded pretty good too - but didn't make it go any better! [8|]

Now I've grown up (old?) I find my values have changed somewhat (thankfully!) []

Regards

 

[Alex L]

Disconnect the plug. This is in different locations though depending on whether it's a gen 1 or 2 and if it has a power kit or not. So first google what others have done to get you started (eg. Disconnect pse plug)

 

[dereksharpuk]

I found 997 sports exhausts to be very anaemic. I think the route cause of the problem is two fold:

1. German legislation demands that the exhaust should be quiet in town, so at town speeds the sports exhaust facility is inoperative.

2. When one leaves the town and drive at a higher speed, the tyre noise is louder than the exhaust []

Even in a Cab, I found the noise from the exhaust insignificant.

The 991 is better as Porsche have partly solved the tyre noise problem.

The Ferrari 430 Spider is the bench mark! FANTASTIC []

 

[tscaptain]

ORIGINAL: Alex L

Disconnect the plug. This is in different locations though depending on whether it's a gen 1 or 2 and if it has a power kit or not. So first google what others have done to get you started (eg. Disconnect pse plug)

Good thread on the subject here

http://www.6speedonline.com/forums/997/191856-pse-qs.html

Also explains how the PSE works.

 

[bajers]

Interesting reading on that thread TS.

Ta.

 

[STiG911]

Yeah, okay - I don't get this. I have a 997.1 C2s with PSE and it's the best thing since the flat-six. (BOSE too, so best of both worlds)
There should be a sharp, loud 'roar' on start-up, then the exhaust goes quiet as the engine settles down to idle. As someone mentioned higher up the page, PSE works at higher revs and in conjunction with the induction system, so the inlet valves open as revs climb which makes the exhaust valves open and create more noise. The best noise is above 5000rpm, and when it gets to almost 7000rpm the engines roaring like an angry beast.
Oddly, with the PSE button off, the exhaust is louder and a lot more 'bassy' at idle and up to around 3000rpm.
Bear in mind that if the exhaust made a loud noise all the time it'd probably be too much to put up with. I found this with PSE on the 991 I test drove - far too much of a drone.

997 + PSE + Radio off + Windows Down =

 

[ralphmusic]

The GTS with Sports Exhaust switched off, was 102db at Goodwood noise test. How loud do we want?

 

[tscaptain]

Surely it's not simply about volume but the quality of the sound too - like music. We've all heard REALLY loud exhausts but not all were nice to listen to!

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: tscaptain

Surely it's not simply about volume but the quality of the sound too - like music. We've all heard REALLY loud exhausts but not all were nice to listen to!

x2

 

[mascanes]

ditto ditto ditto ..................... I select the sports button .............. nice noise up to about 3k .....all goes quiet for a bit ( German Drive by reg I think .) until 5k and beyond then ....oh my god .... Porsche heaven ... !!!!

regards
Mike

 

[Clewsey]

My PSE certainly got louder over time. The brown plug is disconnected on mine. You know it's on.....

I personally think it's just right in the volume stakes. I went through 4 tunnels on the way to the Nurburgring recently and it sounded great (woke the dozy Alfa driver up in front as well). Whereas I have a Milltek system on my Clio 200 Cup and whilst it gives it a audible lift, it's getting on my nerves when on the road. It makes me realise how good the 911 is (great everyday but even better when pressing on).

 

[bajers]

For info.

I disconnected the plug last night and the sound is far more 'meatier'.....

Happy now!

BTW on the 997 series 2 the plug is not brown but its in exactly the same position, top right of the engine on a small bracket. You need to squeeze the spring to release the plug then it pulls off easy.

Apparently, good form is to plug it back on now and again to keep the exhaust flaps free.

Good info guys and there is some excellent stuff out there in the various forums on the subject.

Regards.

Barry.

 

[Alex L]

Glad you are happy now.

Yes, when I first looked into this with guys on other forums I used a slightly different method than the plug disconnect (created and implemented by my OPC technicians). One thing they warned me was to stop the flaps getting stuck open to put it back to normal every 3-6 months for a couple of days. I subsequently shared this with the community and most people have stuck to this with successful results.

 

[RJKflyer]

This all sounds very similar to my experience with the RS4:

Sports mode opened the flaps at idle, they then closed from 1500- 3000 (or similar) to meet 'drive-by' regs then they open again.

Unplugging the vac pipe opened them 100% of the time. Very nice mod and apparently gave a few more Nm torque in that range.

Key thing was to plug the vac pipe to avoid engine warning lights due to vac leakage, and also the other end to avoid crud getting into pipe to the valve. Occasional reconnection sounds like a smart idea, esp as on the 911 these things are all a foot from the heat of the manifold...