Odd engine noise located, I hope…

[Luckyone]

I had a worrying screeching noise coming from the engine that was getting worse, it was at about 4k & sounded like a bearing going. I tried the usual disconnecting the aircon belt, then even the alternator but it was still there. Pressing the clutch in didn’t make any difference either, so I wasn’t using the car incase it was a bearing inside the engine. I figured if it was a bearing in the engine there would be bits of it in the oil, so checked the sump plug magnet – clean, so I cut open the filter which had some very fine metallic paint like bits in it which I guess is normal.
However I did find a jubilee clip lose on the sump tray, I didn’t think much of it. So not much the wiser filled it up with oil & went for a test spin only to find I was screech free. I guess the jubilee clip must have been stuck under something & causing the sump plate to hit resonance @ 4K, there wasn’t any score marks on it so it wasn’t rubbing on a pulley. I heard on my investigations some one got gravel stuck behind the alternator pulley in the valley of the V, after going into a gravel trap, causing a similar noise.
I’d left the car so long the battery had died as well but I found the receipt, so as it was just under three years old got a new one free
I’m not sure I should say it but I think we have a fully working fault free car, how long will it last?

[Malx]

This may be way off the mark but i recently had a screeching noise which appeared at about 3k rpm. It only happened once the engine got really warm and strangley after being on motorways rather than around town. It turned out the heat shield near the start motor was connecting with it and arcing so the starter was trying to start the car.
The noise appeared to be coming from the back of the engine.

[Luckyone]

Malx said:

This may be way off the mark but i recently had a screeching noise which appeared at about 3k rpm. It only happened once the engine got really warm and strangley after being on motorways rather than around town. It turned out the heat shield near the start motor was connecting with it and arcing so the starter was trying to start the car.
The noise appeared to be coming from the back of the engine.

These cars do seem to attract the strangest of faults don't they?
As I said I think it's all fixed but I'll check that if it comes back. I did drop a bolt down near the starter, got it out, but lots of rummaging was had. It’s possible I moved the shield in the process. I hope I never find out!