Car is whining

[fablux]

Hi

I noticed today as I was driving that the car is "whining". It is a very low tone that relates to the engine revs.
When the revs are low so is the tone, and when I put the foot down the sound pitches up.
It also gets louder when turning. It is a Chimaera 400 -96, and I have PAS on the car.

What can it be? I don't want the diff to break, if it is low on fluid.

Cheers
Fabian

[chris1972]

Wheel bearing?

[fablux]

I don't think so, the sound is not related to the speed (btw speedo doesn't work, will fix that soon..)
It is related to the rpm.

[chris1972]

Could it be the PAS pump? Just thinking about the noise when you're turning.

[MADMAX2]

is it the wife/girlfriend???

[fablux]

MADMAX2 said:

is it the wife/girlfriend???

haha, nope! She did not support the purchase of the car (and alot more), so I am free of that!
Also I am 22, so I have no stress, haha!

[fablux]

chris1972 said:

Could it be the PAS pump? Just thinking about the noise when you're turning.

I'll check it out tomorrow, and check the fluids.

[chris1972]

It may be worth using along screwdriver a placing it on various parts of the engine and then putting your ear to the handle. It may help you pinpoint the sound.

[DastardlyDick]

Not sure about the increase when turning but the sound could be the alternator being on the way out - mine made a whining noise when that happened and it was revs dependent. Is your battery light coming on very faintly - it can be quite hard to see it's on in sunlight?

[s p a c e m a n]

whining sound that relates to engine speed and increases volume when youre turning, if its not power steering then I'll drink a glass of pas fluid

If it is low on fluid have a look under the front drivers side corner to see if youve been dripping it along the chassis, it has to go somewhere.

[fablux]

chris1972 said:

It may be worth using along screwdriver a placing it on various parts of the engine and then putting your ear to the handle. It may help you pinpoint the sound.

Thanks, will do that tomorrow!

DastardlyDick said:

Not sure about the increase when turning but the sound could be the alternator being on the way out - mine made a whining noise when that happened and it was revs dependent. Is your battery light coming on very faintly - it can be quite hard to see it's on in sunlight?

I actually don't know, have to check that too in the garage. The car sometimes stalls when I put the clutch down when driving, can it be related?

[jojackson4]

It sounds like a belt driven aux

[Harrytsg]

Does the whining stop when the clutch is pressed?

Mine whines relative to engine speed but stops when I press the clutch, hence its off to Bespoke next week after leaving all its gearbox oil on the M40 somewhere.

It could be worth taking the engine belt off a checking all the pulleys

[QBee]

fablux said:

The car sometimes stalls when I put the clutch down when driving, can it be related?

No idea if related, but when that was happening on mine it was a failing stepper motor not kicking in and picking up the idle in time (or at all) when hot.

The only thing I can think of that might be connected to whining and stalling is if the whining is a failing alternator, and the drop in revs is causing a sudden drop in electricity production.....but that is a wild guess.

[fablux]

Honestly I don't know if it stops when clutch is pressed down, will take a drive today and test it and check if the batterylight is coming on aswell.
Thanks for all the help with both the whining and stalling, seems like I got some things to do!

Cheers
Fabian

[carsy]

The position of the base idle screw in the plenum can cause a whine as air passes around it, sounds like a supercharger. If all else fails have a look at this and turn it in or out a little until it goes. If you are having stalling issues it could be set wrong.

[QBee]

C

carsy said:

The position of the base idle screw in the plenum can cause a whine as air passes around it, sounds like a supercharger. If all else fails have a look at this and turn it in or out a little until it goes. If you are having stalling issues it could be set wrong.

SCrew it fully in, then out one quarter turn. That's where Mark Adams set mine. Others would set it half a turn out.

[fablux]

Took it out for a drive today and listened with a screwdriver and it is definitely the alternator.
Is there anything I can do with the one that is fitted to make it stop, or do I have to fit a new one?

If I get the time tomorrow the stepper gets a cleaning, thanks for the tip on how it should sit afterwards.
Now it idles under 1000, is that normal?

Fabian

[QBee]

Mine, with the faulty when hot stepper, used to do just what yours does. Sometimes 800-900 rpm idle, other times anything up to 2000 rpm. Decatted, up to 3000 rpm.

Changed the stepper, idle pretty close to perfect.

[chris1972]

fablux said:

Took it out for a drive today and listened with a screwdriver and it is definitely the alternator.
Is there anything I can do with the one that is fitted to make it stop, or do I have to fit a new one?

If I get the time tomorrow the stepper gets a cleaning, thanks for the tip on how it should sit afterwards.
Now it idles under 1000, is that normal?

Fabian

Get the bearing replaced at an alternator specialist; however, you'll find that the cost is similar to that of a new replacement. AMR4247 100AMP unit for the Serp engine. Ensure you have the right pulley. This should do the trick:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LAND-ROVER-Defender-Disc...