Switch to shut-off PSE....

[Tom]

After some digging, I found that there is also a separate PSE control module. I hadn't expected that, I figured it would be controlled by the main DME. So piecing together a roll-your-own kit is looking to be more expensive than I expected.

Wow, that is interesting. I too assumed it was a little toggle inside a bigger ECU. We could make a controller I'm sure, but we'd need to wire in at least an RPM signal and/or throttle signal if we wanted to make sure the flaps opened under hard acceleration.

[Arne2]

Yeah, beginning to look like it's more effort than it might be worth.

Referring back a ways in this thread:

A few summers ago, my high-schooler nephew showed up at my house asking for help with a 'mod' that was making the rounds via Instaface-tok or whatever. Basically, they unbolt the muffler and pull the flanges apart, then slide big nuts between the flanges and use longer bolts to hold the muffler to the exhaust with a big gap in between. He drove off happy as could be with the car sounding very much as you'd expect -- basically an open exhaust but for the catalytic converter. Kids these days...

I've been recommended on a different forum to try the "exhaust sleeve hack" to give the exhaust note more character. Apparently this is a common thing for both 981 and 718. The idea is the loosen the two clamps on the connector sleeve I highlighted below, and slide the sleeve sideways far enough to leave a small gap between the pipes. About 5-8 mm gap is generally recommended. Then tighten the clamps back up. Seems not that different than the high schoolers were doing...

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[Tom]

Yeah, beginning to look like it's more effort than it might be worth.

Referring back a ways in this thread:

A few summers ago, my high-schooler nephew showed up at my house asking for help with a 'mod' that was making the rounds via Instaface-tok or whatever. Basically, they unbolt the muffler and pull the flanges apart, then slide big nuts between the flanges and use longer bolts to hold the muffler to the exhaust with a big gap in between. He drove off happy as could be with the car sounding very much as you'd expect -- basically an open exhaust but for the catalytic converter. Kids these days...

I've been recommended on a different forum to try the "exhaust sleeve hack" to give the exhaust note more character. Apparently this is a common thing for both 981 and 718. The idea is the loosen the two clamps on the connector sleeve I highlighted below, and slide the sleeve sideways far enough to leave a small gap between the pipes. About 5-8 mm gap is generally recommended. Then tighten the clamps back up. Seems not that different than the high schoolers were doing...


Screen Shot 2023-06-22 at 4.36.16 PM.jpg

Different joint, but exactly the same idea. Pretty funny even fancy new Porsche owners do it. Sounded a lot like a rusted-out muffler to me, at least on a Nissan.

[Arne2]

I've heard a 4 cylinder 718 with this done. Not nearly as obnoxious as the straight pipe bit. A bit deeper note, with a little more of the flat-4 character (but not like a WRX with coffee can muffler). Seems a little bit wrong to me, intentionally causing an exhaust leak...

[blueline]

I've heard a 4 cylinder 718 with this done. Not nearly as obnoxious as the straight pipe bit. A bit deeper note, with a little more of the flat-4 character (but not like a WRX with coffee can muffler). Seems a little bit wrong to me, intentionally causing an exhaust leak...

Yep, it is out of whack.

However, I remember homemade things like these in the 60's. On 6-cyl 60's 4-door sedans. No, not me but plenty did it. I always thought it was nuts. Sounded horrible. But it made some feel baaaaad!

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[Tom]

I've heard a 4 cylinder 718 with this done. Not nearly as obnoxious as the straight pipe bit. A bit deeper note, with a little more of the flat-4 character (but not like a WRX with coffee can muffler). Seems a little bit wrong to me, intentionally causing an exhaust leak...

Yep, it is out of whack.

However, I remember homemade things like these in the 60's. On 6-cyl 60's 4-door sedans. No, not me but plenty did it. I always thought it was nuts. Sounded horrible. But it made some feel baaaaad!



th-972086410.jpeg

Many moons ago, I tried a motorized cut out just like that. The cut out was right under the passenger seat and at full throttle it was so loud it literally hurt. It lasted about a weekend or two....

[Arne2]

Well, my thinking on all this was that factory PSE would be a good fit for me, as I would like it a bit louder when mauling the back roads, but stock volume is good for touring, commuting and not annoying the neighbors. And most aftermarket exhausts that I've heard are much louder, all the time. I kinda like the looks of the Borla systems for the little 2.0L 718, but they rate it at their middle volume level, and I fear that would be too loud for daily use.

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[wss202]

Tom,
Did you ever release this switch? I have a ‘23 Spyder and would like the switch with the option to have the PSE off constantly. I would use that feature for road driving to keep it quieter in certain areas.

[Tom]

Tom,
Did you ever release this switch? I have a ‘23 Spyder and would like the switch with the option to have the PSE off constantly. I would use that feature for road driving to keep it quieter in certain areas.

"Release" might over-sell it, but I did make a passive version for one of our Carpokeans. Happy to make you one if you'd like. The one I made before just had two modes: factory stock, and always loud. Is that what you want, or do you mean you want and always quiet mode too? That's an easy upgrade, but would require tapping into a fuse in the same way we do with the Track Nanny. PM or email me if you want one of these. The Track Nanny can also be made to do what you want, with the added benefit of GPS quiet zones....

[Arne2]

...you'd need at least the exhaust with vacuum operated PSE flaps and the electronic solenoid that controls them, plus the vacuum hoses. Normally, an ECU controls the solenoid based (mostly) on the position of the switch inside, but a simple switch similar (but not identical) to the one in this thread could/would substitute for the ECU. Always Loud is super easy because the flaps open when power is cut to the solenoid.

So if I install a used PSE system, with the factory solenoid, but don't send it any power, the flaps will be always open? That could be a good stop-gap or interim solution, given that the the 4-cyl PSE is not supposed to be all that loud. Probably still quieter than most aftermarket exhausts.