Scirocco - Noise Generator?

[Goldey]

They tried to explain to me that the exhaust sounds are caused by a software program that is connected to a resonator that is housed under the dash. This resonator amplifies and shapes the intake to give the exhaust sounds. We connected the car to a computer which tested all the amplitudes through this resonator and sure enough the buzzing was evident.

The Tech then disconnected the software and when I revved the car, no buzzing.

Only problem is that now the car sounds like a Corolla!

[Andych]

You cant be driving it right if it sounds like a Corolla.... My Soundaktor (what he de-programmed) is removed and mine certainly doesnt sound like a Corolla.
Mine still pops on down shifts..farts on upshifts, burbles etc...

By the way... it isnt a resonator and it isnt connected to the intake... It Vibrates at specific frequencies...nothing else...try Googling it.
It actually resides in the area under the plastic where your wiper motor etc is... it takes approx 5 minutes to remove....

Sounds like your Stealers Tech didnt know what he was talking about....no surprise there!!!!

[Goldey]

I am not a tech so not 100% sure of all the jargon they used. I did not leave the dealer with my car de-programmed. so it still makes the buzz. The tech was the one that said it will sound like a Corolla if he de-program's it.

Why would VW make a car with a buzz? It sounds like you had this problem too.

Did you reprogram your car? If so does it still make all those great exhaust notes no problem?

[Arno_Scirocco]

Hi Gentlmen,

I have this issue as well. Have had the car for 3 full weeks now and 5 days ago it started after some spirited driving. I thought something in the intake was loose or vibrating in the engine bay.
Took it to Austral VW and had one of the Mech's take a drive with me and he also pointed out that it is the soundaktor sitting in behind the dash or what not. They offered to take a look at it for me during my next service. I won't be letting them de-programme that for anything, its a feature of the car and i suppose gives you that sportier note as the cabin is probably very well isolated from engine noises.

Still i agree with Andych, i dont think it will make it sound like a corolla. Perhaps just take that overtly aggresive edge out of the soundtrack??
Andych, where they not able to fix the vibration and that is why you had it removed or did you just not think it was necessary?

Cheers,

[team_v]

Hi Gentlmen,

I have this issue as well. Have had the car for 3 full weeks now and 5 days ago it started after some spirited driving. I thought something in the intake was loose or vibrating in the engine bay.
Took it to Austral VW and had one of the Mech's take a drive with me and he also pointed out that it is the soundaktor sitting in behind the dash or what not. They offered to take a look at it for me during my next service. I won't be letting them de-programme that for anything, its a feature of the car and i suppose gives you that sportier note as the cabin is probably very well isolated from engine noises.

Still i agree with Andych, i dont think it will make it sound like a corolla. Perhaps just take that overtly aggresive edge out of the soundtrack??
Andych, where they not able to fix the vibration and that is why you had it removed or did you just not think it was necessary?

Cheers,

It doesn't get "de-programmed", they would just disconnect it or make sure it isn't loose and rattling against the firewall etc.
Have a quick search around the forum to se a number of threads on the topic.

Edit: turns out Andy was correct, it can be switched via VCDS.

[Andych]

It can actually be turned off through VCDS, it can also be operated without the engine running that way... so... while not actually being "de-programmed" it is for all intents the same thing.

[Andych]

Andych, where they not able to fix the vibration and that is why you had it removed or did you just not think it was necessary?

Cheers,

I didnt have any vibrations etc... I took it off so I could hear the intake and exhaust as it should be without artificial enhancement.

Why would VW make a car with a buzz? It sounds like you had this problem too.

Did you reprogram your car? If so does it still make all those great exhaust notes no problem?

No... as mentioned earlier in this thread.. I removed it... just as a few others have done.

Basically VW have it there to invoke a more sporty nature to the car while keeping the exhaust at ADR acceptable levels... The same reason they have the exhaust flap there... it routes exhaust back through the muffler again at lower RPM to keep noise levels down...
Very much like the "Bi-Modal" exhaust on other vehicles.

I did the exhaust flap modification at the same time so I cant comment on how it is with just the Soundaktor shut off...
It is tuned to work with the exhaust... the farts and pops are actually from the exhaust... not the Soundaktor... it only adds some growl.

Each to their own though.. it is simple enough to disconnect to try it.. or simply have them turn it off and take it for a spin... if you dont like it have them turn it back on again...

[Goldey]

Once again thanks for your help and advice. Much appreciated. Will get them
To deactivate the soundaktor.

[Arno_Scirocco]

thanks for redirecting it to this post. I have been reading pretty much all the posts in this section and in Golf VI as they have similar mechanical nuances.

I apologise for my lack of searching sometimes, but in this case i didnt actually know what word to use or what it was called. The mech i spoke to just called it a speaker behing the dash. Not a 'soundaktor' haha.
I dont mind it, really just wish it didnt have the noise vibration at a certain rpm range. Might see if they can just tighten it up or what not when i get it serviced. Otherwise if it really annoys me i will get it turned off.

Thanks

PS. i was actually surprised to see this brought up by Goldey this morning and that so many had this play up.

[shanelord]

It can actually be turned off through VCDS, it can also be operated without the engine running that way... so... while not actually being "de-programmed" it is for all intents the same thing.

Hey - do you know where in VCDS this is? I'll do some poking around but if you know specifically it'd speed things up.

Thanks,
Shane.

[mr gee]

it would be great to be able to play around with it on/off via VCDS rather than farting around under the bonnet. Took a poke around with my VCDS but cannot find any adaptation remotely indicative

[Andych]

Scirocco - Noise Generator?

Sorry....my info came from a source within VAG Technician Training and as I already had removed mine I wasn't too interested in knowing....

[Adam66]

Removed mine today, a very easy job on the Rocco. (and I'm mechanically inept !)
I think the car sounds much the same....but quieter and without the droning, low pitched note it had pottering around town.
The farts and splutters are still there when you give it some stick.....and the annoying dash vibrations are completely gone.
This thing stays off my car !
Adam

[Goldey]

How did you remove it?

[Adam66]

I was surprised at how easy it was...sorry but I did not take any photos.

1. working from the passenger side, remove the flexible rubber strip that seals to the bonnet when closed. I took it off about 3/4 of the way to the drivers side.

2 remove the plastic tray that sits under the wipers. This tray is in 2 parts, split in the middle. I simply pulled the tray toward the passenger side first to "unlink" it from the drivers side section, then gently lifted it up out of the way - no great force required.

3. once the tray is removed, you can see the unit ( round item, 7cm diameter ). It is located close to the centre, near the joint in the plastic tray (of which you just removed half of). The unit is secured with one 10mm nut in the centre.

4. hold onto the unit (it will fall into the abyss otherwise) , remove the securing nut, and unplug the one cable attached to it.

5. I then wrapped the end of the loose cable in bubblewrap, taped it up, then secured it to the bracket where the removed unit was.

6. Replace the plastic tray by clipping it into the drivers side piece first, the push down to secure. Replace the rubber seal and you are done.

Took me all of 5 minutes....