PSE Sounds too quiet?!?!

Hi guys, I have just fitted my PSE mufflers (taken from 3.6 and Mk2 ones) and have just come back from test drive and they sound way too quiet! how loud should they be? To be honest they sound no different from the stock muffler's! They are not fitted up to the switch, but could this be the reason? The switch thing doesnt have a on/off so to speak, it slides the left but they will pin back, so i cant leave the switch the other way because it doesnt stay there. Do they only work with an on/off switch? :? Would it matter if they were taken off a car when the off switch was selected? i am just looking for suggestions as i am 99% certain they must be louder than they are. i have heard that at about 5000 rom they go above 100db which makes them illegal for track days, but there is no way that these are louder than the stock ones. Is there anything i need to do to them, maybe hit them with a hammer! [ ] Any suggestions will be so greatly appreciated Thanks, Chris

Hi Chris. Not having the switch shouldn't matter as the default position of the valve is loud. Pushing the valve closed against the spring pressure turns them quiet, but as you say, they will spring back to loud. I installed mine without a switch (but subsequently added the switch), and they are definitely noticeably louder. More so above about 3000-4000 rpm, or when accelerating quickly, but it should really be noticeable quite easily. They are also quite a bit louder during the first 5 to 10 mins when they are cold and still warming up. By the way, mine are also 3.6 pse mufflers fitted to a 3.4. Not sure whats going on with yours, but something doesn't sound right if you can't even notice the difference!

Hi Greg, Yeah that is what i thought. I thought the default position was loud. It sounds like to me that the value is shut on both of them and they are in 'quiet' mode. They def should be louder as there is a small difference but i was expecting so much more. They must be in quiet mode, but i dont have any idea how to get them into loud mode becuase the value only stays in one position, which i thought was loud! Anyone else have any ideas?

Mine are 3.6 fitted to a 3.6 with no switch fitted and they are much louder than standard. You can hear the difference from tick over but they don't really come alive until 2.5k and then after 4k they are proper loud. It's difficult to tell without a decibel meter but the official 109dB max can't be far from the truth. It must put the wind up people when you come past at full chat ;-) I checked mine before fitting and the return spring on the actuators were quite strong on both sides. They are normally well held in the open position. Only with the vacuum tubing, solenoid and associated switch do they get pulled in and closed for the quiet mode. So it might be worth checking the spring is holding them open. I can just get my hand up to the actuator to test obviously once it's good and cold.

I am going to check tomorrow but i was playing around with the switch before i installed them and they were well in the open position. They were solid to move by hand, so i have no doubts with the switch itself. Just keep thinking the value is shut. I know this might sound stupid but it it be worth removing them and filling them with water to see if water is passing through the valve and coming out? Obviously though fumes are coming out, just a limited amount????

I can get my hand up to close the valve manually when its cold too, same as Andy. Takes a bit of manouvering your arm up, but it should hopefully be possible for you. You should definately hear a change in the exhaust sound when you close it. I'd start by giving that a try before you go to the effort of taking the mufflers off again.

Ok cool, i am going to try that this morning and see what difference the exhaust makes with the switch the other way. I am right in thinking that the switch only stays in one way arent i? Even if it sounds super loud with the switch the other way, how i am going to keep it in that position?

Any luck flyingbanana?

OK, i jacked the car up, again this morning!, and removing the mufflers, again!, and giving them a proper good clean, with using about a can of WD40 and testing all the valve's, etc. One of the valves was a little sticky but i spent some time making sure pressure was being released when the spring was pushed, etc. I am just back from a blast and WOW! I think i was being a bit silly earlier because it was a difference. As soon as me and the missus got in the car i said to her she had to tell me if it sounded different and as soon as i started the engine, she was like YEAH! so much louder! i think i was right all alone, being that i was spoilt with using the bypass pipes because they were so LOUD! The PSE mufflers are a gorgeous rumbling sounds that isnt offensive but loud enough that people what to go "what is that coming". Perfect, so so pleased and i think removing them today was a bit of a waste of time, but it gave me the chance to properly WD40 them and also i managed to get my tips on properly, so i am very very pleased! Sadly, tho i think i am going to have to put the baby on the market as i simply do not use it enough to warrant the cost and plus getting married next year which is starting to get expensive and so need some cash in order to pay for it! Got some serious thinking to do tonight about if i am going too, etc, but sadly i think it is inevitable!