FabiaVRS: Loud Whine, Clutchy Type Smell, Now OK. Any ideas?
Discussion
My 2004 Skoda Fabia VRS broke down for the first time today. Boo. Its on 145,000 miles (90% motorway) and is well maintained.
I was travelling about 60mph, with the aircon on and a very loud whine started. This would get louder when I pressed the accelerator, but the rev counter would not go above 2000rpm, but the engine sound got louder and the whine got louder and higher pitched.
This happened in or out of gear, there was a loss of power, no smoke
I pulled over and the whining noise would continue when stationary, again in or out of gear, no smoke
After 10 minutes the loud whine stopped, so I drove it down the layby a few times. Whine was gone, but there was a strong smell of clutch-type burning. This slowly went as I left the bonnet open and would not return if I revved the car when stationary.
The engine would idle well, no different from normal. The engine sounded ok when the accelerator was pressed.
AA turned up, said that the engine sounded ok, no leaks, coolant ok, temperature ok, oil ok. AA chap test drove it (was very impressed at the performance!) and said that it certainy drove well, no power loss, no unexpected noises and said that the problem could not be specifically diagnosed.
No warning lights at all
Possibilities discussed were:
Turbo :- possible waste-gate sticking, hence loud noise on revs, not affected by in/out of gear. However, no smoke and the car certainly drives well. However I have noticed that the normal turbo whine, which is normally only audible when the windows are open is a very small amount louder than normal. Even though it still pulls like a train (like it normally does) it "may" be a tiny bit down on acceleration, but that may be may brain playing a trick on me.
Air Con :- aircon was 15 minutes in cooling down to ice cold today (was 25 degrees though), but then worked ok. The whining noise may have been the clutch-type thing sticking, which then released itself (after a burning smell). This now works well and is ice cold again.
Alternator :- AA said unlikely as there was no electrical acrid type smell and all systems working ok
Clutch :- Transmission is working well, no change in "bite" point. Despite doing 145,000 miles, 90% of this is 70mph motorway work.
So now my car seems to be running well again, albiet with a very slightly louder turbo whine (still relatively quiet though), there may be a very slight lack of acceleration (but somehow I don't feel that its a loss of overall engine power, sounds odd I know!).
So does anyone have any ideas on what this could have been?
Also, should I be expecting my turbo to go soon, if it was indeed a turbo related fault. Its not mapped and I doubt that EVERY VAG TDI turbo goes before 150,000 miles, despite the reports on this site.
or same conclusion, but with the clutch?
or same conclusion, but with the aircon?
or something else altogether?
I'm preparing myself for another breakdown somewhere, then a hefty bill.
In terms of the car's worth, I'd throw £1000 at it, as I know its well maintained, I like it a lot and I really don't need to be spending £8k on a replacement car at this time.
Thanks
I was travelling about 60mph, with the aircon on and a very loud whine started. This would get louder when I pressed the accelerator, but the rev counter would not go above 2000rpm, but the engine sound got louder and the whine got louder and higher pitched.
This happened in or out of gear, there was a loss of power, no smoke
I pulled over and the whining noise would continue when stationary, again in or out of gear, no smoke
After 10 minutes the loud whine stopped, so I drove it down the layby a few times. Whine was gone, but there was a strong smell of clutch-type burning. This slowly went as I left the bonnet open and would not return if I revved the car when stationary.
The engine would idle well, no different from normal. The engine sounded ok when the accelerator was pressed.
AA turned up, said that the engine sounded ok, no leaks, coolant ok, temperature ok, oil ok. AA chap test drove it (was very impressed at the performance!) and said that it certainy drove well, no power loss, no unexpected noises and said that the problem could not be specifically diagnosed.
No warning lights at all
Possibilities discussed were:
Turbo :- possible waste-gate sticking, hence loud noise on revs, not affected by in/out of gear. However, no smoke and the car certainly drives well. However I have noticed that the normal turbo whine, which is normally only audible when the windows are open is a very small amount louder than normal. Even though it still pulls like a train (like it normally does) it "may" be a tiny bit down on acceleration, but that may be may brain playing a trick on me.
Air Con :- aircon was 15 minutes in cooling down to ice cold today (was 25 degrees though), but then worked ok. The whining noise may have been the clutch-type thing sticking, which then released itself (after a burning smell). This now works well and is ice cold again.
Alternator :- AA said unlikely as there was no electrical acrid type smell and all systems working ok
Clutch :- Transmission is working well, no change in "bite" point. Despite doing 145,000 miles, 90% of this is 70mph motorway work.
So now my car seems to be running well again, albiet with a very slightly louder turbo whine (still relatively quiet though), there may be a very slight lack of acceleration (but somehow I don't feel that its a loss of overall engine power, sounds odd I know!).
So does anyone have any ideas on what this could have been?
Also, should I be expecting my turbo to go soon, if it was indeed a turbo related fault. Its not mapped and I doubt that EVERY VAG TDI turbo goes before 150,000 miles, despite the reports on this site.
or same conclusion, but with the clutch?
or same conclusion, but with the aircon?
or something else altogether?
I'm preparing myself for another breakdown somewhere, then a hefty bill.
In terms of the car's worth, I'd throw £1000 at it, as I know its well maintained, I like it a lot and I really don't need to be spending £8k on a replacement car at this time.
Thanks
iamrcb said:
I was travelling about 60mph, with the aircon on and a very loud whine started. This would get louder when I pressed the accelerator, but the rev counter would not go above 2000rpm, but the engine sound got louder and the whine got louder and higher pitched.
Although the rev counter would not go above 2000 rpm, did it sound like the engine was able to rev higher than that?I would be removing your alternator belt and checking your tensioners etc, in particular your alternator and pulley as this might be on its way out.
Had some good advice on Briskoda so far.
The increased turbo whine (no increased smoke) led me to take it the garage today. They believe that it is the turbo on its way out and there was also some play in the turbine wheel. Its staying with them, to avoid it blowing up. I need to decide before monday whether to fix it with a new turbo (£1000) or PX the car for something else that will last me 4 years (110k miles)
The increased turbo whine (no increased smoke) led me to take it the garage today. They believe that it is the turbo on its way out and there was also some play in the turbine wheel. Its staying with them, to avoid it blowing up. I need to decide before monday whether to fix it with a new turbo (£1000) or PX the car for something else that will last me 4 years (110k miles)
lost in espace said:
Have a look on ebay for turbos you might be suprised at the prices. My tdi turbo shaft broke and bits of turbo entered the engine, nasty and wrote off the car.
a second hand one may be worth the risk considering the relatively low value of the car and the fact that I was due to replace it in a year or soEdited by iamrcb on Friday 25th May 23:27
The actuator is connected to the VNT mechanism - there is no wastegate as on a conventional turbo. Boost is regulated by altering the vane position.
http://turbo.honeywell.com/our-technologies/vnt-tu...
http://turbo.honeywell.com/our-technologies/vnt-tu...
RickIV said:
The actuator is connected to the VNT mechanism - there is no wastegate as on a conventional turbo. Boost is regulated by altering the vane position.
http://turbo.honeywell.com/our-technologies/vnt-tu...
Thanks for the info, didn't know VNT turbos didn't have a wastegate! http://turbo.honeywell.com/our-technologies/vnt-tu...
Its fixed!
Great to have it back.
Turbo £520 from Turbo Dynamics (garage said that they'll get all their turbos from there now!)
Fitting, oil change, oil feed pipe £400
£920 total inc. VAT
I need to drive it gently over the next two weeks
I looked at the old turbo, a small chunk of a vane had come off (which would explain the noise) and it went out of the exhaust, which would explain the car's recovery and the resulting increased turbo noise and the slight lack of power. I assume that a vane with a chunk missing would cause an imbalance in the turbine and it would eventually have failed further.
I've got the old turbo and pipe work in the boot of the car. Is this worth anything to anyone? If not then I'll dismantle it, just out of interest.
Glad to have it back
Fingers crossed for no more expensive fixes over the next 60,000 miles.
Great to have it back.
Turbo £520 from Turbo Dynamics (garage said that they'll get all their turbos from there now!)
Fitting, oil change, oil feed pipe £400
£920 total inc. VAT
I need to drive it gently over the next two weeks
I looked at the old turbo, a small chunk of a vane had come off (which would explain the noise) and it went out of the exhaust, which would explain the car's recovery and the resulting increased turbo noise and the slight lack of power. I assume that a vane with a chunk missing would cause an imbalance in the turbine and it would eventually have failed further.
I've got the old turbo and pipe work in the boot of the car. Is this worth anything to anyone? If not then I'll dismantle it, just out of interest.
Glad to have it back
Fingers crossed for no more expensive fixes over the next 60,000 miles.
Edited by iamrcb on Saturday 2nd June 22:06
iamrcb said:
Its fixed!
Great to have it back.
Turbo £520 from Turbo Dynamics (garage said that they'll get all their turbos from there now!)
Fitting, oil change, oil feed pipe £400
£920 total inc. VAT
I need to drive it gently over the next two weeks
I looked at the old turbo, a small chunk of a vane had come off (which would explain the noise) and it went out of the exhaust, which would explain the car's recovery and the resulting increased turbo noise and the slight lack of power. I assume that a vane with a chunk missing would cause an imbalance in the turbine and it would eventually have failed further.
I've got the old turbo and pipe work in the boot of the car. Is this worth anything to anyone? If not then I'll dismantle it, just out of interest.
Glad to have it back
Fingers crossed for no more expensive fixes over the next 60,000 miles.
sell it back to turbo dynamics.Great to have it back.
Turbo £520 from Turbo Dynamics (garage said that they'll get all their turbos from there now!)
Fitting, oil change, oil feed pipe £400
£920 total inc. VAT
I need to drive it gently over the next two weeks
I looked at the old turbo, a small chunk of a vane had come off (which would explain the noise) and it went out of the exhaust, which would explain the car's recovery and the resulting increased turbo noise and the slight lack of power. I assume that a vane with a chunk missing would cause an imbalance in the turbine and it would eventually have failed further.
I've got the old turbo and pipe work in the boot of the car. Is this worth anything to anyone? If not then I'll dismantle it, just out of interest.
Glad to have it back
Fingers crossed for no more expensive fixes over the next 60,000 miles.
Edited by iamrcb on Saturday 2nd June 22:06
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