Siren whine

[irvind]

Since getting the car back after it's engine strip/rebuild and re-conned turbo, I notice a whine that I actually thought was an ambulance siren when I accelerate/decelerate. (No, it's not the radio either.. ) It can't be the turbo can it (?) since it starts at low revs and only disappears when higher revs drown it out.

Anything to worry about or just a symptom of my new set-up? Had the car over three years now and it never did this before.

[Martynf]

Irvin if it aint the radio (and I'm being serious!!) then something is NOT right!!! maybe its something as simple as a hose 'blown off', maybe its more serious. Please get it checked!!!

Is the whine engine speed related, or road speed related. IE engine making the noise or running gear making the noise?

Don't wnat to be alarmist here, but get to the bottom of this one fast!

[irvind]

Oh dear, I really can't face any more bills... It's been between 3-4k since xmas just keeping it running..

It's NOT the stereo, I switched it off to check. If I was to hazard a guess I'd say engine-related rather than running gear. It's definitely speed-related: speed up, it rises in pitch; slow down, it falls in pitch. The hose to the intercooler came off within 20 minutes of getting it back on Wednesday, but I got lifted straight back to the garage and they reconnected it and apologised. Would this be related?

I've got some big drives this week too, 150 miles tomorrow and the same back on Monday (this is avoidable though if it's a bad idea..) and from Glasgow to North Wales on Tuesday, back Wednesday. Monday's a bank holiday so I can't really get it checked at all before I go!

Eek..

I should add that it is very quiet! It sounds like a siren, but a very distant one!

[sal_s2]

Sounds like an airleak to me, most likely the hose from turbo to intercooler, either ripped or loose.

[irvind]

I should be able to check that myself in the morning, and if it's loose that shouldn't be too big a deal. But if it's ripped is there a bodge job I can do to keep me going? Could be time for Samcos if so..

[YumyJager]

It's definitely speed-related: speed up, it rises in pitch; slow down, it falls in pitch.

Could it maybe be a bad wheel bearing?

[Beetie]

Could it maybe be a bad wheel bearing?

Good point, but knowing our cars more likely an airleak! Wheel bearings do make bad noises, you'll guess which ones when you corner, more noise on right corners, its the left one and opposite etc....

[audiman]

Sounds to me like the noise from the new turbo. It may just be a characteristic of the new turbo. If the car performs ok and is not smoking, then see how it goes. If it concerns you that much then go back to the garage.

[irvind]

The reason it had the valve seals and re-con turbo was because of smoky exhaust, which they said was due to oil getting in the exhaust, and that I could now expect to have a bit more smoke for a wee while when it's cold until the residue clears out. The exhaust seems to be clear now although there was a bit of a cloud of smoke from the engine the other day, and there's a smell of oil coming into the cabin too. I had hoped that this would clear up in a while..

[audiman]

The oil smell may be from an oil leak? The residue oil in the exhaust will burn away after a couple of good runs. After that it shuld be smoke free. Check under the bonnet for any obvious oil leaks.

[irvind]

Just checked oil level, it's fine but if anything a bit over the max. Too much oil and burning off or something? Or is it just the F1 cars that have that problem.. There's some oil lurking at the back of the engine, but nothing on pavement, will keep my eye on that bit at the back though.

Have decided to go up North today, if it breaks down today it's no big deal (unless I knacker it by doing so), but if it dies on Tuesday on the way to Wales that gives me a headache, so I'd rather have advance warning if something's wrong..

Will check hoses later today with my old man.

[Doug_RS2]

If you want I can have a look at it and see if there any leaks - if it is an ABY (I think you said you had replaced coilpacks so it must be) then I have a spare set of hoses. PM me - I'm on holiday so free during the week.

[irvind]

@Doug, you have a pm.

Well, driven about 300 miles since yesterday, and in my old man's opinion the whine is nothing to worry about, it is pretty quiet and only just noticable in town at slow speeds. However the smoking is worse than ever. It's bad when I've just changed up to 6th and back off the gas, there's a big cloud appears. And after a long motorway run it was bad just idling at traffic lights, almost constant in fact. So I'll be leaving it at the garage again accompanied by a terse letter, I'm not sure why £1262 managed to make it even worse than it was before... Looks like a hire car for tomorrow!

[SteveH]

The whining could be belt related. My cam belt was a little tight after a recent rebuild, this created a whine that changed with engine revs. If not, power steering pump and alternator belt could do the same. Hope it's nothing serious, or it goes away by itself.

[sps-si]

The whining could be belt related. My cam belt was a little tight after a recent rebuild, this created a whine that changed with engine revs. If not, power steering pump and alternator belt could do the same. Hope it's nothing serious, or it goes away by itself

my thoughts too. check the aux belts first to make sure they are not too slack or tight. thatt would be the first place i would look as its the easiest!