I have an '03 S2000 that started making a noise about a month ago. It's coming from behind the seats, and sounds like it's coming from behind the secret compartment. I only hear the noise right after starting the car and it only lasts for about 10 seconds. When it first occurred, the sounds were brief. Lately, they're lasting longer. They seem to get louder when I start driving. Here is an audio clip of the noise:

https://www.s2ki.com/s2000/gallery/i...nd-from-s2000/

I assumed it was my fuel pump because I had 346,000 miles on my and the fuel tank is located behind the seats. I replaced the pump last week with a used pump I bought from a junked low mileage car and I still get the noise. Now it's getting more frequent and I hear it almost every time I start the car up. I have heard it making a faint noise while driving a few minutes into a drive but I haven't heard it on the highway. It doesn't affect performance, engine RPM, or anything else. It happens in cold and warm weather, rain or shine. I'm afraid of just ignoring the noise and living with it because I drive long distances every week and I don't want to get stranded.

Any thoughts what could cause this?

 

When was the last time you redid the rear brakes?

 

I replaced the rear brake pads and rotors a few years ago. Is there anything in the ABS in the rear that could make a noise like that? Most of the time I hear it I'm not applying the brakes.

 

If you lightly apply brakes the noise goes away? Sounds like the brake wear sensors?

 

The sound usually happens before I'm even moving. It's not associated with the brake pads....

 

Could be an exhaust leak, you did do your clutch not too long ago, did you re-use the exhaust doughnut washers?

 

This sound is coming from behind the seats, not below the car. I replaced my clutch over a year ago and re-used the washers but an exhaust noise is entirely different. This sounds more like binding bearings in a motor. I've had exhaust leaks before, and they aren't that specific. and don't go away a few seconds later.

 

I hope it's not a bearing in your transmission. The only other thing it could be is the soft top motor but that makes no sense. I suppose you could try unplugging the switch and see if it still makes the noise.

 

That's a thought. I'm going to unplug the soft top motors and see what happens. I have my hard top on right now so it won't bother me to unplug it. I had the hardtop off and the ragtop up and down when I replaced the fuel pump and it was working fine. But I want to positively rule it out.

Thanks, Slowcrash.