Whining noise (no puns please)

jimmyw · 15-09-2019 11:10am #1

There is a constant whining sound above idling coming from the engine that I thought might be caused by one of the pulleys that the serpentine belt runs on. I removed the belt and spun all the pulleys but couldn't find any noise from them except some play in the power steering pump pulley, but it doesn't make a noise when spun by hand.

I decided to change the pump for a second hand one,but it seems the noise is still there. Wear in the replacement too...! Now, I also noticed that the fluid was Black, where as it should be red. I drained it to change the pump obviously, but I put in fresh stuff,but it's still a bit black. I am guessing that it needs to be flushed, but just wondering if the black fluid is enough in itself to cause the noise?

Not sure the type of car is relevant.

Polo_Cluvie · 15-09-2019 11:32pm

Maybe bearing in the tensioner or possible water pump. Could be any number of things id only be guessing

Toyotafanboi · 16-09-2019 8:08am

jimmyw wrote: »

Not sure the type of car is relevant.

It's really important, are we dealing with a Ford Model T or a Tesla Model S or a 1994 Toyota Carina 2.0 diesel?

jimmyw · 16-09-2019 8:30am

The timing belt and water pump were changed,and when I removed the aux belt, there is no sound. When I spin the other pulleys there is no noise from them, although maybe it could be only under load.

jimmyw · 16-09-2019 8:32am

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

It's really important, are we dealing with a Ford Model T or a Tesla Model S or a 1994 Toyota Carina 2.0 diesel?

Well yeah but I mean it might equally apply to any make of car?...... anyway it's a ford 1.4 tdci engine.

Stoolbend · 16-09-2019 10:09am

Who fitted the timing belt for you? If the belt is too tight it would give a whine that would sound like a bearing.

jimmyw · 16-09-2019 1:41pm

I must say, I have only acquired the car recently from my sister, it was done by a garage she knows and they told her it would quieten down. It apparently wasn't there before,so there could be a problem with it. I might have to take off the aux belt again maybe.

TheBoyConor · 16-09-2019 1:45pm

If it is driving OK then what does it matter if it makes a bit of whine? Just drive it on. When something needs replacement, don't worry, it will let you know!!

I do hear people worrying about noises in cars. I say to them don't worry, as long as it is making noise it is grand. It is when it stops making noise, then you have a problem.
Gearbox in my Almera is whining away with a few months. I'll let it whine away until it stops.

biko · 16-09-2019 1:50pm

Any OP is this forum is asked to provide model/year and any other info.
It's better you provide it and we don't need it, than we do need it and you haven't told us.

On topic - with car running, pour some water on the belt. Does it change the noise? If so it could be the belt itself not seated properly.

TheBoyConor · 16-09-2019 2:03pm

I've seen an alternator to whine when it was on the way out. Bearing probably. nothing will make noise when you spin it with your hand. The bearing isn't loaded from the tensioned belt.

jimmyw · 16-09-2019 3:11pm

biko wrote: »

Any OP is this forum is asked to provide model/year and any other info.
It's better you provide it and we don't need it, than we don't need it and you haven't told us.

On topic - with car running, pour some water on the belt. Does it change the noise? If so it could be the belt itself not seated properly.

Yeah I have heard that, it's a bit difficult to do on this car due to the access where it is, but I would like to try it. Yeah I might end up not doing anything about it,but I am just a little curious to know where it's coming from. It's my nature.......ha!

Stoolbend · 17-09-2019 10:04pm

I’ve just seen that the noise goes with the aux belt removed. You should buy a stethoscope. It should be easy enough to isolate the noise then.

You’ll get one on Amazon for less than a tenner.

TheBoyConor · 18-09-2019 12:12am

Don't really see the point of investing in gear just to find the source of a noise.

Chances are a bearing is going somewhere. It could well last ages before or fails or gets really bad. A bearing will make a lot of crazy noise before it completely fails. I wouldn't be worried much about a whine.

If it were me I'd just keep driving on until it gets so bad it absolutely has to be fixed or until it fails an NCT.

jimmyw · 18-09-2019 11:52am

It's been like this for at least a year so no damage that I know of has occurred,but I can clearly hear it while driving and especially when gear changing even windows up,so it's a significant sound.

I know sometimes you can safely ignore some sounds, but like for instance if the t belt let go, I would be peed off. I am going to remove the aux belt again to make sure if it's coming from the t belt or not. It's a bit concerning, though I do hope I am over reacting.

dodzy · 20-09-2019 12:29pm

TheBoyConor wrote: »

If it were me I'd just keep driving on until it gets so bad it absolutely has to be fixed or until it fails an NCT.

Ah yes, the ‘Irish’ way.........

Jasus:rolleyes:

TheBoyConor · 20-09-2019 1:58pm

Well what is the point of replacing an expensive part that is still functioning OK and might not fail for a few years over a bit of a whine.
I've often seen cars like this. Often too the car will calf from something else and the noising part will outlast the rest of the car.

jimmyw · 28-09-2019 7:46pm

I know you are all waiting with baited breath....:p but the issue was either one or the other idler pulley and automatic tensioner on the aux belt. I changed both.Silence now, so I can take out the ear plugs.It probably should have been changed when the belt itself was changed.

Now you can all sleep easier in yer beds:D

Whining noise (no puns please)

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