Help - Engine whine

[RumbleBee]

The engine has started making a loud whining noise which increases with engine revs.

It sounds like its either: water pump or alternator. (power steering pump went a few months back, so I know what that one sounds like).

The trouble is, if I take the belt off, they will both stop.

It doesnt sound like a mechanical grinding, just a high pitched whine.

The battery is still getting charged, and the engine seems to be cooling ok. I use the car as a daily driver so Im a bit worried that its going to sh*t its pants when Im driving down the A10 in rush hour some day.

I have tried the screwdriver listening stick, but the noise isnt rattly enough for this to work.

Does anyone have any clever ways of telling what it is thats broken?

Many thanks for your help.

B.

[Hedgehopper]

On my car the whine was from the belt tensioner pulley bearing. I suggest you take the belt off, then spin and shake each pulley to find one which is either stiff, rough or has sideways play on it.

[MADMAX2]

Alternator bearings are perishing I bet it sounds like a spitfire plane?

[TV8]

The alternator is more exposed to heat on the pre serp than some cars. My money would be on that.

[carsy]

If you dont think its the alternator or water pump, the air byepass screw on the plenum can make that sort of noise. Have a listen around there. A slight adjustment one way or the other can get rid of it.

[RumbleBee]

Great, many thanks, I will try all of the above on saturday and let you know how I get on.

Cheers



B.

[TVR500Morgan]

If you can get hold of a stethoscope (with a thin metal rod on the end) thats what we use to listen for noises in engine bays. If you can get one behind the pulleys while its running you should be able to hear which one it is. Also sometimes an old belt can wine how old is your belt ?

[Andy JB]

I would be interested to hear what solution and costs you took to your PS pump?

The seals on my rack perished blew & i drove it dry 30-40 miles without fluid - since then the pump has whined partcularly when hot unsuprisingly.

I do now wonder if its one of your other suggestions & not the pump.

[-Pete-]

I'm sure you've thought of this already, but why not take the belt off, and see if the noise is still there?

Then if the noise has disappeared, you could use string to work out how long the individual belts would need to be to turn only the water pump or alternator, then go to your local supplier (with the belt for reference) and buy some shorter ones?

[RumbleBee]

Thanks guys. All sorted.

I took the belt off and span each one by hand. I couldnt get the alternator to make any noise, but the water pump did make a squelchy noise. Thinking that it was going to be the water pump (which is out of my league) I took it over to Bespoke Performance in Ware. They had a look at it there and then and told me that the waterpump was normal and that it was the alternator that was gone and that they could do it within the day if I could track down an alternator.

I found a landrover place with the part no. from Chimaera pages. However, this turned out to be the wrong one! STC223 on Chimaera pages is not the alternator thats on mine (serp). Mine is a 4247 (V8 rangerover) part. It took me all day to find one (£280) by which time Bespoke Performance was shut. So I swapped the alternator myself today, and its fixed!

Thanks guys, and many thanks to the good chaps at Bespoke Performance.


Andy: I got the PAS pump part number off Chimaera pages and got hold of one for £100 or so, and the local landrover place fitted it for £100. All sorted for £200 all in.