Volvo S40 1.8 - Whirring noise

electrolinks · 01-12-2011 2:50pm #1

Hi,

I recently bought a 2008 Volvo S40 1.8 petrol. Mileage high as it was a lease company car.

Recently I've noticed that when i start it (usually from cold), it makes a screeching or whirring noise. I thought it was a belt sound. I was told it might be the alternator, and was nothing to worry about. I don't like rogue sounds. I think it goes away after I drive for a while and the car warms up. It was very bad last night after I started it from cold.

Apart from that everything is fine, it starts, there's no warning lights etc. Is it something to worry about?

Thank you!!!

Ardennes1944 · 01-12-2011 2:51pm

fan belt?

electrolinks · 01-12-2011 2:53pm

Thanks Ardennes1944

Good probability you're right, I'm assuming that wouldn't be too much of a tricky thing to get sorted?

The salesman said it wasn't, doesn't mean much I guess.

Is there any way to figure if its the fan belt? Guess running it with the bonnet open putting an ear near the fan belt would be obvious???

Gophur · 01-12-2011 3:18pm

electrolinks wrote: »

Thanks Ardennes1944

Good probability you're right, I'm assuming that wouldn't be too much of a tricky thing to get sorted?

The salesman said it wasn't, doesn't mean much I guess.

Is there any way to figure if its the fan belt? Guess running it with the bonnet open putting an ear near the fan belt would be obvious???

The only way will be to look at the belt while the engine is being revved.

You could splash/spray a small amount of water on the belt to see how easily it slips? But, if you're unsure, then don't do it.

The dealer you bought the car from should remedy this problem for you.

SouperComputer · 01-12-2011 3:32pm

Does the noise change with respect to engine RPM? If not, SAI pump might the the issue....

Not sure if they are fitted for your market, but it sounds like a SAI (Secondary Air Injection) pump. Its a pump that pumps fresh air into the exhaust for a minute or two after the car is started to help with emissions and raise the cat temp sooner. You might hear this awful screeching noise for a minute or two after you start the car from cold, then it goes away.

electrolinks · 01-12-2011 3:37pm

Thanks SouperComputer

- The noise doesn't change with respect to RPM
- It lasts for a long time after the engine is started.

It may be a permanent sound, I just haven't had the car long enough to know for sure. Dumb I know. I've noticed it from cold start for sure and then while driving if I open the window to listen.

I'm going to pop the hood and listen to the engine properly.
Apologies should have done that before posting.

electrolinks · 01-12-2011 3:38pm

Gophur wrote: »

The only way will be to look at the belt while the engine is being revved.

You could splash/spray a small amount of water on the belt to see how easily it slips? But, if you're unsure, then don't do it.

The dealer you bought the car from should remedy this problem for you.

I don't think the sound changes with revving, but will have a listen.

Tabnabs · 01-12-2011 3:43pm

If it's the alternator, the S40 gives a warning message that your battery is not charging. Either bring it back to where you bought it or to your friendly local mechanic.

electrolinks · 01-12-2011 3:45pm

Tabnabs wrote: »

If it's the alternator, the S40 gives a warning message that your battery is not charging. Either bring it back to where you bought it or to your friendly local mechanic.

Thanks Tabnabs!

I don't have a warning light, or error messages... Leads me towards a belt issue?

electrolinks · 01-12-2011 5:19pm

Tabnabs wrote: »

If it's the alternator, the S40 gives a warning message that your battery is not charging. Either bring it back to where you bought it or to your friendly local mechanic.

Could it still make the noise, and charge properly without a warning message? My battery is at a good charge.

Gophur · 01-12-2011 5:26pm

electrolinks wrote: »

Could it still make the noise, and charge properly without a warning message? My battery is at a good charge.

Yes it could. The only way to test this is to put as much an electrical load on the alternator, as possible.

Try seeing what happens when you have the car running, then switch on all your lights, your demisters, fan blowers etc, and see if the noise appears.

I still say, go back to where you got the car and get them to fix it.

R.O.R · 01-12-2011 5:33pm

I reckon your alternator will give up at some point. Very similar to what happened to the wife's V50 1.8i. Funny whining noise then the first eventually it just gives up.

Get a replacement Ford alternator - much cheaper than the Volvo part.

electrolinks · 01-12-2011 5:36pm

R.O.R wrote: »

I reckon your alternator will give up at some point. Very similar to what happened to the wife's V50 1.8i. Funny whining noise then the first eventually it just gives up.

Get a replacement Ford alternator - much cheaper than the Volvo part.

Will try for a Ford one. Would it be Focus Alternator, what mark? SAme year I guess... What did it cost you?

R.O.R · 02-12-2011 8:42am

electrolinks wrote: »

Will try for a Ford one. Would it be Focus Alternator, what mark? SAme year I guess... What did it cost you?

Not sure exactly which Focus alternator, but any decent mechanic will be able to tell you.

Think it was around €500 for the Ford replacement, fitted by an indy (still going strong after a year or so). Was being quoted almost €800 for the Volvo part alone.

Shouldn't take a competent mechanic any more than 30-40 mins to fit. Had a recon unit put in originally by a friend (crapped out after a couple of months so false economy) so stood around shooting the breeze while he replaced it.

m4r10 · 02-12-2011 10:59pm

Had the same problem with my V40 and it was the alternator belt, it was a little bit loose. Is the noise high pitched? Mine it was and only comming when the weather was cold, it was gone in a matter of seconds (5-15 sec). The mechanic just tightened the belt and the noise was gone.

electrolinks · 02-12-2011 11:24pm

m4r10 wrote: »

Had the same problem with my V40 and it was the alternator belt, it was a little bit loose. Is the noise high pitched? Mine it was and only comming when the weather was cold, it was gone in a matter of seconds (5-15 sec). The mechanic just tightened the belt and the noise was gone.

Yes it's high pitched, a little treble-ey. I think it happens when its cold. I think its the same problem you had. I'll get a mechanic to check it for me...

Legend. Thanks m4r10!

Hellrazer · 02-12-2011 11:48pm

Theres a modified fan belt and tensioner on these.The whirring noise is the main symptom.

electrolinks · 03-12-2011 12:44am

Hellrazer wrote: »

Theres a modified fan belt and tensioner on these.The whirring noise is the main symptom.

So is it something to fix or leave it alone?

m4r10 · 03-12-2011 1:45am

Well, I'd fix it. when it was doing the same on my car, I was dreading leaving from work just in case the noise will start as it could be heard everywhere in the carpark. I was so ashamed

Don't worry, it's an easy fix, less than 1 minute.

electrolinks · 03-12-2011 2:06am

m4r10 wrote: »

Well, I'd fix it. when it was doing the same on my car, I was dreading leaving from work just in case the noise will start as it could be heard everywhere in the carpark. I was so ashamed
Don't worry, it's an easy fix, less than 1 minute.

Thanks Dude, no-one likes a noisy machine. I'm gonna sort it.

Any Garage mechanic recommendations?

m4r10 · 03-12-2011 2:15am

I could recommend you a couple, but don't know your location. Any mechanic worth his salt should be able to fix it for you.

PS. Just out of curiosity, is it a GDI engine as well on your Volvo?

Hellrazer · 03-12-2011 8:08am

electrolinks wrote: »

So is it something to fix or leave it alone?

Definately.But since its a modification make sure to buy it from your main dealer.I have seen the tensioners break up in the past.

Hellrazer · 03-12-2011 8:10am

m4r10 wrote: »

PS. Just out of curiosity, is it a GDI engine as well on your Volvo?

No its a Ford enginge in the 05-On s40.The v40 finished in 2004 and the 1.8 was a Mitsubishi Engine<<<better that that Ford one in my opinion although the GDI did give problems with throttle bodies which is an expensive fix.

electrolinks · 03-12-2011 7:16pm

m4r10 wrote: »

I could recommend you a couple, but don't know your location. Any mechanic worth his salt should be able to fix it for you.

PS. Just out of curiosity, is it a GDI engine as well on your Volvo?

Dont know if its a GDI. 1.8 FlexiFuel Petrol

electrolinks · 03-12-2011 7:18pm

m4r10 wrote: »

I could recommend you a couple, but don't know your location. Any mechanic worth his salt should be able to fix it for you.

PS. Just out of curiosity, is it a GDI engine as well on your Volvo?

Feel free to recommend, Dublin City Centre. I find Mechanics, like Doctors are hard to find a good one without actually using them and spending a lot of cash.

m4r10 · 03-12-2011 8:04pm

electrolinks wrote: »

Feel free to recommend, Dublin City Centre. I find Mechanics, like Doctors are hard to find a good one without actually using them and spending a lot of cash.

PM sent

electrolinks · 04-12-2011 1:47pm

Thanks to all.

I'm still not positive what it is, but a good mechanic should sort it for me.

Hellrazer · 04-12-2011 3:04pm

electrolinks wrote: »

Thanks to all.

I'm still not positive what it is, but a good mechanic should sort it for me.

See my earlier post--Its the fan belt tensioner and must have a modified one fitted so be careful with who buys the part.

electrolinks · 04-12-2011 3:54pm

Hellrazer wrote: »

See my earlier post--Its the fan belt tensioner and must have a modified one fitted so be careful with who buys the part.

Ok, thanks for the clarification, I got a little lost with the opinions on the thread.

macgabhs · 13-12-2011 7:55pm

Hi my Volvo 1.8 started making a similar whirring noise today and I got a power service urgent message on the dash. Can I ask what you ended up doing to fix this? Google is suggesting an alternator but if it's a belt/tensioner then it might be cheaper!

Tabnabs · 13-12-2011 7:57pm

That error message is for the alternator, not a good christmas present

macgabhs · 13-12-2011 8:01pm

I know this is probably impossible to answer but how far would you drive after getting these symptoms? I'm in Kilkenny and would prefer to get the car to my regular mechanic in Dublin but I'm nervous about driving too far

Tabnabs · 13-12-2011 8:04pm

20 miles, tops - turn off all electrics - radio, lights, A/C etc. etc. to draw the least current out of the battery.

macgabhs · 13-12-2011 8:11pm

Thanks that's what I thought at least my instinct is good! Do you know by any chance what ford alternator fits this car I hear they can be used instead of Volvo and are cheaper.

Tabnabs · 13-12-2011 8:18pm

Ford Focus, give Hellrazer a PM, he may know someone down that way who can help you out. In my experience, the price difference wasn't that significant should the Ford part not be available. Any good mechanic should be up to the job.

macgabhs · 13-12-2011 8:24pm

Will do thanks for that

electrolinks · 14-12-2011 8:31am

macgabhs wrote: »

Hi my Volvo 1.8 started making a similar whirring noise today and I got a power service urgent message on the dash. Can I ask what you ended up doing to fix this? Google is suggesting an alternator but if it's a belt/tensioner then it might be cheaper!

Haven't sorted it yet. On left side of engine front (facing it), so must be the alternator.

Have you seen this?
http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=23502
http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/download/file.php?id=2342&sid=3d0d675710bb5e223ee40f88bd6f3ba8

aguestie · 15-12-2011 3:48pm

electrolinks

I have just repaired my Volvo 1.8 whining noise. It was the alternator bearing. Very quick fix except car was off the road for a day while the bearing was replaced.

Mine was very high pitched but it also changed as the rpm increased.

mikedragon32 · 15-12-2011 4:12pm

R.O.R wrote: »

I reckon your alternator will give up at some point. Very similar to what happened to the wife's V50 1.8i. Funny whining noise then the first eventually it just gives up.

Get a replacement Ford alternator - much cheaper than the Volvo part.

Same with our S40 (1.8 petrol too).

The whirring noise was happening for a couple of weeks before any warnings then the car just died (luckily around the corner from a Volvo dealer). Agreed, the Ford part does the same job for less, but we were only told this afterwards by another garage when we got the service done.

The noise at the time I described as being like the engine sound you hear from in-car shots of WRC cars, albeit not so loud.

macgabhs · 15-12-2011 4:16pm

Just got my car back from the garage. It was the altenator but they were able to repair the faulty part rather than replace the whole lot, apparantly this is a common fault and the repair not only fixes the altenator but also removes the original weakness so theoretically its better than new. Hopefully theres no more trouble.

Volvo S40 1.8 - Whirring noise

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