Whine went revving car

[Matt11]

Hi, my car has a whine from the engine when revving the car. Any ideas what maybe the cause, timing belt has been changed on it a couple of years ago.

[fatboy b]

Depends on the car.

If it's an XFR, then quite normal. If it's a boggo 316i BMW, then maybe not.

[Matt11]

Its a 51 plate 1 litre Suzuki swift gls

[Debaser]

Sounds like you have my girlfriend in the passenger seat.

[TheRealFingers99]

Could be that the alternator is on its way out. Or the cam belt tensioner.

A quick trip to a local backstreet mechanic could well reveal the cause. Whether you then bung him/her a tenner for his/her nous and DIY or let them sort it is up to you.

[Matt11]

Thanks, the alternator begin an expensive part?

[Matt11]

The cam belt was changed two years ago, is it usual to replace the tensioner at the same time?

[Matt UK]

If more of a screech it could be the clutch slipping.

Failing that, my bet is on some sort of aux / aircon / power steering belt. A competent mechanic will be able to tell you before the kettle's finished boiling.

[sherbertdip]

How did you notice it? i.e. you only noticed it because you had the bonnet open with the engine running and you noticed it.

Is it getting worse?

It could be nothing if the former, just the noise it makes.

If it is getting worse then probably a bearing in:

Alternator
water pump
cam belt tensioner (it it's got a belt)


Very hard to diagnose on a forum, you need to let somebody hear it in flesh so to speak.

[Matt11]

No I noticed it when sat in the car. Can you swap bearings in the alternator or is it a new alternator?

[TheRealFingers99]

Matt11 said:

No I noticed it when sat in the car. Can you swap bearings in the alternator or is it a new alternator?

They can be rebuilt. But rebuilt ones are usually pretty cheap.

[TheRealFingers99]

Matt11 said:

The cam belt was changed two years ago, is it usual to replace the tensioner at the same time?

It's proper practice. I'd suspect that it's often skipped, though.

Quick way to rule out the alternator (don't try this on cars where the water pump is driven by the auxilliary belt -- or, at least, not for long) is just to take off the alternator belt.

Engine stethoscopes are cheap and useful.

[Matt11]

Thanks is the alternator likely to go completely soon, if its whining at the moment?

[itcaptainslow]

TheRealFingers99 said:

Engine stethoscopes are cheap and useful.

Or as a cheap, quick trick-use a long bladed screwdriver, with the blade on the component you wish to "listen" to and your ear to the handle.

[Defcon5]

When driving or stationary?

Could it be the gearbox ?

[TheRealFingers99]

Matt11 said:

Thanks is the alternator likely to go completely soon, if its whining at the moment?

Ball of string question. They can last for quite a while, whining away. Or die tomorrow!

[TREMAiNE]

So you finally bought a Swift after all!

[Matt11]

TheRealFingers99 said:

Ball of string question. They can last for quite a while, whining away. Or die tomorrow!

Quiet a while, meaning months or years?

[s p a c e m a n]

Is it a whine or a screech? If it's only doing it when you rev the car it may just be the belt slipping, if a bearing was on the way out it would squeak all the time. Spray a bit of wd40 on the belt and see if it stops (someone will now say that's a stupid idea)

[Matt11]

Yes it only does it when revving and a tiny bit when staring the car