New whine from engine bay- goes higher with revs

[biggiles]

I haven't been able to use the Chimaera (500) for a few weeks, so have brought it back down to work for a fortnight. It's been in a garage, with the conditioner plugged in. No problems starting &c.

I can now hear a whine/wail from the engine. It sounds much like alternator whine coming through speakers - but it's not. And that's about the limit of my under-the-bonnet car knowledge.

It's related to the engine revs; there's no difference as to whether the clutch is engaged or not.

I hadn't heard it before, so something may have changed. Next move is to get a friend to help locate where the noise is coming from in the engine bay.

I know it's a bit vague, but does anyone have any experience of this?


(On an unrelated issue, does anyone know how to get one of these keyfobs apart? www.thefilehighclub.com/link/demo/tvr_key )

[mongoose]

The whine could well be from the alternater.It's incredibly difficult to diagnose noises over a written forum though!!The keyfob seperates in two equal halves,the join is the circumference(very thin edge needed).I'm sorry but i don't understand the problem there?Perhaps yours is a little tight in getting it to seperate?

[v8 racing]

if its a serp it could be the belt itself i have had this a few times, or waterpump/powersteering/ or alternator, just pop the belt off and spin all the pulleys by hand if one is whining you would hear it by doing this, if none whine fire the engine up if the wine has gone it will be the belt!

[Cider Andy]

v8 racing said:

if its a serp it could be the belt itself

His profile says the car is a '97 so it should be a serpentine engine. I agree, it could be the belt.

A simple way to tell is to trickle a little water on to the belt with the engine running. This will briefly lubricate it and the noise will stop until the water's gone, then it will return. If it doesn't alter the sound, it's not the belt!

[biggiles]

Thanks all!

I poked my head around this evening and yes, the noise does seem to come from the belt.

The car is a new-shape (Oct '97). There are pics at www.thefilehighclub.com/link/demo/tvr but I think it does have the Serpentine.

I'm a bit nervous taking the belt off - until I get home next weekend my toolkit is very limited, but I will try adding a little water to the belt with the engine running and see if the noise goes away.

All I will need then is a pipe from the windscreen washers to the belt


(mongoose: I can make the two sides move, but I don't know if the two sides are supposed to slide off or open like a clam.)

[jonnyb]

They open like a clam. Just have to prize them open.

[Fire99]

biggiles said:

Thanks all! I poked my head around this evening and yes, the noise does seem to come from the belt. The car is a new-shape (Oct '97). There are pics at www.thefilehighclub.com/link/demo/tvr but I think it does have the Serpentine. I'm a bit nervous taking the belt off - until I get home next weekend my toolkit is very limited, but I will try adding a little water to the belt with the engine running and see if the noise goes away. All I will need then is a pipe from the windscreen washers to the belt (mongoose: I can make the two sides move, but I don't know if the two sides are supposed to slide off or open like a clam.)

Hi Biggiles,

If you are not too confident with engine issues i would suggest popping it into a half decent garage and getting them to check it out. Considering its a Rover V8 engine it shouldn't cost alot of cash for them to check the belt and water pump / alternator out for you.

Probably safer than risking a dodgy water pump or even the belt snapping.

In my opinion if you aren't too confident on the issue its alway safer to trust it to a garage.

cheers,

Nick

[tvr keith]

The key plip just prises apart. Did the mod the other day to fit the key blade into the end of it. Gets rid of the orrible Vauxhall plastic key end which is not good for the image, also it takes up less room in my pocket. Took about 1/2 hour to do. Cool.

[biggiles]

We've narrowed the noise down to the alternator. So it looks like I'll need a new one. It's due for a service soon (anyone know a good indie in Wiltshire/Dorset/Somerset?) - I believe they're about seventy quid so not too bad.
Thanks for all the help.