A lot of us have not heard much pinking because our cars are so good usually at stopping it - otherwise there would be a lot more blown engines. What I am saying is a lot of things sound like pinking but are not - rattling heatshields, wastegate opening etc. Get it checked with ECU diagnostics on a Select Monitor and also get someone to listen with det cans. With a dodgy MAF, det tends to happen on boost at 4000-5000 RPM first of all and this is where it really causes damage - at 2000 RPM off boost less damage is likely but it still needs to be carefully looked at.

[Edited by john banks - 9/5/2002 1:09:14 PM]

 

I'm getting hesitation 2000-3000rpm and a 'pinking' noise under high load when pulling from below 2000rpm, which goes away at 2300rpm. I'm sure it's detting and not a shield come lose because I did an ECU reset and the noise went away for about 10 miles then came back. I'm running on Optimax and have done since I baught the car 6 weeks ago. It's due the 90k service within the next couple of weeks, maybe that will sort it.

 

If it's detting to the point that you can hear it, I would get it checked straight away.

Chris.

 

MAF mayebe???

 

It's likely to det MORE just after an ECU reset - the reason why cars tend to run better after the reset is they've 'forgotten' where to retard.
What MY?

 

It's an MY97 with no mods. Other than that it's running fine, although occasionally it ticks-over at 1000 rpm rather than the 600-700 it idles at most of the time. I know this can be a sign of the MAF sensor, but it doesn't stall ever. Would the MAF sensor cause the detting? Carbon deposits arond the exhaust can be a sign of the MAF also can't it? Here's a pic of my pipes, is this more than normal deposit?

 

Carbon deposits all over the place are normal! That's the engine running rich. Which is correct. Brown is the one that you don't want to see!
Iffy MAFs are less likely with a MY97. They have the tougher ones. And it's stalling that is the usual sign of a flailing MAF.
Hesitation is 'normal' at 2,000-3,000rpm, but should only really be there when the engine is cold. And strange noises are possible below 2,000rpm at high load anyway - the engine won't be very happy! It only really likes 'load' when the turbo has a chance to do something - so above 3,000rpm or thereabouts.

 

Thanx guys, I'll get it to a dealer @ the weekend. I hope it's just a shield rattling but the reason I don't think it's anything rattling is is because after a reset it dissapears for a while.
How much would a dealer charge me to hook it up to a Select monitor then?

 

could need a de-coke sounds like the car is retarding the ignition through the knock sensor ie poor throttle response then when the car starts to pick up advances the timming to suit,try a tank of optimax with octaine booster in it and see if this makes any diference if it does talk to your garage about the above procedure.