Squeaks

[LeeHabbers]

Good afternoon.

I have just acquired a nice annoying squeak to my car. If I press the accelerator quickly the car makes a chirping squeak noise, its literally over in a millisecond but it happens every time I'm going under 40ish MPH and I put the power down quickly. Any ideas?

Ta.

[E-bmw]

Wheelspin!

[GreenV8S]

Does it happen when the engine is off? That would suggest it's coming from the throttle pedal or something connected to it.

[stevieturbo]

a mouse stuck under the pedal ?

[LeeHabbers]

No to wheel spin and not a mouse Haha. It doesn't do it with the engine off. I can replicate it when at a stand still if I pop the clutch with a bit of throttle so the car jolts forward. I did notice that it doesn't do it going up hill, to me that could be an engine mount or torque mount (the torque mount was replaced at the beginning of the year but it was bought of ebay) so could be.

[GreenV8S]

Can you get it to occur stationary by pulling against the brakes at low rpm? If so, it might be possible to have somebody locate it by ear.

[LeeHabbers]

GreenV8S said:

Can you get it to occur stationary by pulling against the brakes at low rpm? If so, it might be possible to have somebody locate it by ear.

Yes it does. Had the Mrs try but she wasn't much help. Sounds like it's coming from the front end, sometimes it sounds like the passenger side then it'll sound like the drivers side. Can't pinpoint it. Having thinking about it, the weather the last few days has been horrendously wet with massive downpours and where I have vents in the bonnet I'm thinking maybe some water has gotten into places it shouldn't have, ie v-pulleys etc.

[GreenV8S]

The symptoms seem to be related to engine torque which makes me suspect something resulting from engine movement - maybe an exhaust coupling or flex pipe. I think getting somebody to locate it by ear will still be your best bet.

[LeeHabbers]

I noticed going to work today that it only happens when the engine is warm. Started the car, tested it and nothing, drove for a few miles and nothing, engine warmed up and it started squeaking again, not as much as yesterday but it's still there. Maybe if the car is up to engine operating temp it'll be back as it was yesterday. By the way it's a diesel if that changes anything

[tapkaJohnD]

Try going around the engine bay with some WD40?

If yu just want rid of the sqeak, spray it at anything that can move. If you want to identify the cause, then it's spray something, drive the car, spray another etc.
John

[LeeHabbers]

tapkaJohnD said:

Try going around the engine bay with some WD40?

If yu just want rid of the sqeak, spray it at anything that can move. If you want to identify the cause, then it's spray something, drive the car, spray another etc.
John

I sprayed some V-Belt spray (suppose to stop squeaks) on the belts but it didn't do anything, don't want to spray WD40 as it's not good so I've ordered some Silicone spray. I'll do what you said and hopefully find the culprit

[E-bmw]

LeeHabbers said:

tapkaJohnD said:

Try going around the engine bay with some WD40?

If yu just want rid of the sqeak, spray it at anything that can move. If you want to identify the cause, then it's spray something, drive the car, spray another etc.
John

I sprayed some V-Belt spray (suppose to stop squeaks) on the belts but it didn't do anything, don't want to spray WD40 as it's not good so I've ordered some Silicone spray. I'll do what you said and hopefully find the culprit

Don't do either of these, use a hand-sprayer (garden type) with just water in it, the effect is exactly the same & it means you don't get anything with lubrication/chemical properties where you don't want them.

[GreenV8S]

The symptoms don't suggest a problem with any rotating parts - these would not be affected by sudden changes in load. I think it's more likely to be due to engine flex, and being heat related might indicate it's the exhaust.

[LeeHabbers]

GreenV8S said:

The symptoms don't suggest a problem with any rotating parts - these would not be affected by sudden changes in load. I think it's more likely to be due to engine flex, and being heat related might indicate it's the exhaust.

The pulleys will be affected by load? As it only happens with the engine going under load / torque jolt, to me says its something to do with mounts or pulleys. If it was the exhaust it'll make a noise when the engine initially goes under load and for a few seconds afterwards.

[LeeHabbers]

LeeHabbers said:

GreenV8S said:

The symptoms don't suggest a problem with any rotating parts - these would not be affected by sudden changes in load. I think it's more likely to be due to engine flex, and being heat related might indicate it's the exhaust.

The pulleys will be affected by load? As it only happens with the engine going under load / torque jolt, to me says its something to do with mounts or pulleys. If it was the exhaust it'll make a noise when the engine initially goes under load and for a few seconds afterwards.

You know what, saying that I just remembered about 2 years ago I think the same thing happened and It turned out to be a hole in the flex pipe of the exhaust, but I'm unsure if it was a chirp noise though.

[HealeyV8]

If you want to identify the area by sound, especially in a fairly noisy engine bay, you need a way to focus the sound, like a stethoscope.
I keep a foot long piece of garden hose for this purpose and you'll be surprised how much this helps locate the offending area.

[LeeHabbers]

HealeyV8 said:

If you want to identify the area by sound, especially in a fairly noisy engine bay, you need a way to focus the sound, like a stethoscope.
I keep a foot long piece of garden hose for this purpose and you'll be surprised how much this helps locate the offending area.

Hose pipe?! How would you use that?

[GreenV8S]

LeeHabbers said:

Hose pipe?! How would you use that?

Press one end against your ear, hold the other end where you think noise may be coming from. A mechanic's stethoscope is better for picking up mechanical noises but a simple tube is great for picking up sounds from the air.

[LeeHabbers]

GreenV8S said:

LeeHabbers said:

Hose pipe?! How would you use that?

Press one end against your ear, hold the other end where you think noise may be coming from. A mechanic's stethoscope is better for picking up mechanical noises but a simple tube is great for picking up sounds from the air.

Wouldn't have thought of that working but fair enough.

[GreenV8S]

LeeHabbers said:

Wouldn't have thought of that working but fair enough.

That's essentially what a stethoscope is.