sound actuator Polo GTI

[Bassik]

That's fair enough. I want it a bit louder too, but I don't like the sound from the actuator. It's why I'm looking at getting an aftermarket exhaust system.

So when you disconnect the actuator do you get any cabin noise, or it a lot quieter?

I really don't want to have to try and disconnect it again, it was so hard and really didn't anywhere. It's like I needed 4 hands, 2 to hold the bracket up and 2 to remove.

[ian.perry]

Disconnected you still have plenty of noise when the engine revs, but the general level is quieter - I found it made the difference between idle/cruising and heavy acceleration more pronounced, which gave me a better feel for what the car was doing.

Sort of like, if you're having a conversation with someone and they raise their voice. If they do it at the pub you can't tell much difference. If they do it at the dinner table it's a much more noticeable difference.

And if you remove the rubber edging like I did, the main thing that does is allow the plastic rain shield to flex a lot more. You'll find you can get both hands underneath it and get a better grip on the unit than you can if you just squeeze them in, because it doesn't take any force to hold the shield up any more.

[Zakarados]

Sorry to revive an old thread.

I will be giving this a go this coming weekend. The drone noise when around 2500-3000rpm is doing my head in when going on longer trips, and the dash rattle is beyond annoying when giving some stick...

It has been 3 months since the last update from you guys, any new findings? Good vs Bad?

[readerr0r]

I think most people are running with the actuator off, and then doing the middle muffler delete for a much nicer noise.

The Polo will be really quiet with the actuator off, like the TSI Golf really, and sound a little bit too much like a 1.4L engine when you're gunning it. The dash rattle will go though.

Deleting the middle muffler is a good way to get the noise back, but it can be a little loud when the engine is cold, especially with the parcel shelf out. But if you leave the seats up and the shelf in you get a nice, balanced noise and the DSG blurt will have you going full throttle all the time just to hear it.

[gavs]

I had mine replaced under warranty (like I would think most people would do, logically...) and I leave it attached because i hate the vacuum-cleaner-in-a-tin-can sound that the car makes without the actuator connected.

[Zakarados]

Hi Gavs, would replacing get rid of the dash rattle?

edit: also I think the drone will still be there, removing it might be the best mod to make to get rid of 2 annoying things.

[gavs]

Yes, so long as they don't replace it with a faulty one.

This people is why you have a warranty. By all means, jump on the forums to get info but what about when you sell the car, a prospective buyer drives you GTI after someone elses with the actuator connected and asks "Hey, why does yours sound so tinny?" to which you reply "I disconnected the sound actuator to get rid of an annoyying rattle from it.". "Why didn't you just get it replaced under warranty?"asks the buyer......

Now you have to try and convince said buyer that you did actually care for your car yet, in their mind, you were too lazy to go to the dealership to get something fixed under warranty, so how well did you really look after the car.....

Little things that an enthusiast will look at and why someone might sell their GTI at their asking price, yet you might keep getting offered $5k under what you are asking, if you can get any buyers at all.....

Food for thought for those who would rather just disconnect a plug.

[ian.perry]

I didn't have any dash rattle; removing mine was just to get rid of the growly noise because I'd rather have the car quiet when cruising. Different strokes for different folks.

[jayc29u]

So removing the actuator gets rid of ONE rattle? the one that sounds like its coming from the middle of the dash?

Using tape, foam or whatever, to secure the actuator, will actually stop the rattle or is it the actual unit that's faulty?

My service centre is utterly useless.

[ian.perry]

I think that's where the resonator that the actuator controls is located... I guess it's pretty possible for that thing to be faulty. Is that what they replaced for you gavs?

[gavs]

It's the actual speaker in the dash that has the rattle in it. That is what they replaced in my car.

Yes, that is the central dash rattle under acceleration in the GTI. The other rattles only really become evident with the windows open.

[Bassik]

It's the actual speaker in the dash that has the rattle in it. That is what they replaced in my car.

Yes, that is the central dash rattle under acceleration in the GTI. The other rattles only really become evident with the windows open.

So what do you have running now gave, muffler delete and warranty replaced sound actuator? What's it sound like?

[gavs]

Like it should!

Like I've said before, I have left my sound generator connected because the induction noise of the motor is horrible unless under load. I don't understand people's reservations of the noise at cruising speed because really, there is more wind noise off the mirrors and tyre roar than fake engine note in my opinion. That being said, I spend a lot of time in diesel engined hillbilly transports and I have come from a Mk4 golf with pretty much a straight intake into the air filter do I had heaps of induction noise, so the GTI is decidedly quiet for me. The exhaust note is only evidently different when tooling around normally when the seats are folded down. The rest of the time, inside you would be hard pressed to notice any difference.

[ill0gitech]

I don't understand people's reservations of the noise at cruising speed

Depends your cruising speed/gear & revs.

I like driving in Sports mode. Some of my cruising leaves me in high 3rd gear, even mid 4th. The drone in the car is pretty noticeable, and after an hour of driving like that, I get a little annoyed by it. I do love to give it a good thrashing now and then though, when I can appreciate the noise
If I drove in D7 all the time, I'd have a different thought on it.

I'd be inclined to build an in-car switch like some have discussed in other threads.

[Zakarados]

Although I am very against the noise the speaker makes, you make a good point in getting it fixed under warranty gavs.

Once the problems is fixed, I will still most likely take out the actuator to remove the horrible noise when the revs sit around 3000rpm.

I used to drive my Integra Type S, with racing engine mounts, exahust, gruppe-m instake and the noise was never as annoying/horrible as the polo with the actuator.

Hopefully its just the dud speaking making the drone and I can keep it running after the repair.