Different weird noise...

[page3]

Hi all,

My S has recently started making a new strange noise which only seems to happen for the first few minutes on start-up then it goes away.

It sounds like a metallic didgereedoo (Wife's words!) coming from the engine

Checked the oil - which was low to be honest, so just topped it up (3/4 litre).

Any suggestions? Should I be worried or just see if it get worse (or goes away). I've a lot of driving to do next weekend...

Cheers all.

[RichardR]

Check under your bonnet for a stray Rolfe Harris...

[Roy C]

"Can you tell what it is yet?"

[tvrgit]

It could be a number of things...

for example, the water pump, till the water warms up

the fan belt till that warms up

the alternator when its on a high charge rate (ie after the starter has just pulled the battery charge down)

or a cat with a trombone (cats can't play trombones and the resultant sound does come out a bit brass-digeridoo-like...)

[mowog]

Try applying some WD40 to selected moving parts (fan belt etc.) when engine is running. This usually pinpoints the source.
good luck
Darren

[page3]

Thanks for the helpful (and the not so helpful ) suggestions.

I'll give then a go and see what happens. Off to Manchester on Friday and Wales for the weekend so that should give plenty of diagnostic opportunity.

[bridgdav]

page3 said:

Off to Manchester on Friday and Wales for the weekend so that should give plenty of diagnostic opportunity.

What, from the AA man....

Have a goodun.

[page3]

Hi all (or those of you not at Le Mans),

Still making the noise but I've tracked it down to beneath the gear lever.

Once I had parked up today (after a 30 minute journey), in neutral I found the noise was still there. Perhaps low oil in the gear box? If so, is it easy to check and top up?

Off on long journey Friday night so help appreciated!

[Colin Blues2]

Easy enough to do if you can raise the car up on axle stands (remember it still needs to be level). The oil is checked and filled from the fiuller hole that is located on the left hande side of the gearbox about halfway up.

Just be careful when filling up that your head isn't directly underneath because if you fill it too much you'll get a nice oil shampoo

There are several threads on here about which oil to use as I recall most people seem to think the red oil is much better then the standard one.

Do a search on the forum.

Regards

Colin

[shmern]

page3 said:

Hi all (or those of you not at Le Mans), Still making the noise but I've tracked it down to beneath the gear lever. Once I had parked up today (after a 30 minute journey), in neutral I found the noise was still there. Perhaps low oil in the gear box? If so, is it easy to check and top up? Off on long journey Friday night so help appreciated!

Might be the Clutch release bearing, does it go away when you press the clutch ?

If not then it sound more serious.......

Shmern

[page3]

Had another listen just now - no metallic sound today - but quite a noisy 'mechanical movement' coming from the gear box when stationary.

Pressing in the clutch makes no difference.

Clutch and gear changes appear smooth and fine. I do get a 'ping' noise whenever I release the clutch - but I believe that is a characteristic of the ford clutch - and its been like that for the last 6000 miles!

I could call my local specialist (Tower View) and ask if they can take a quick look today. Do you reckon this is a sensible course of action - or am I worrying needlessly?

Last service was only a few months ago.

Thanks all for your suggestions so far - it really does make a difference

[page3]

Update to my own post...

Spoke to Tower View, took it there for them to have a listen and a drive. Of course, it decided to behave itself perfectly.

Probably just a worn bearing - so nothing urgent - just one of those 'monitor it' situations.

Thank-you Tower View.