More sounds

[_AJ_]

I'm starting to think I have a thing for funny noises, because my car just seems to make a raft of untraceable sounds that I just can't get rid of.

First is a rubbing moaning noise that I'm guessing now might be handbrake related, the intermittant metallic clicking/ticking noises, now only on right lock that may or may not be related to the wheel nuts. A similar noise used to come from the other wheel on left lock, but since I tightened my nuts so to speak, it doesn't seem to happen anymore. The nuts on the left wheel however just won't go any tighter. It's been to 3 Vauxhall dealers to try and identify, all of which have come up with different explanations, and none of which have been in the slightest bit helpfull.

And NOW, after a clean of the engine bay the other day, to remove alot of the salt and such, I'm getting some sort of continuous whirring/scraping/un-lubricated type noise that I can't quite place. It's very loud under the bonnett, and sounds like something has dried out that shouldn't have, as a result of the wash. Does anyone have any suggestions of what might be vulnerable to water or engine cleaner from the top to cause this?

I'm loathed to take the car out these days.

[Island boy HSV]

If the rubbing noise if it is handbrake is adjusted by removing the rear wheels and moving the adjuster. The instructions for this should be in any good maintenance manual.

The noise on lock at slow speed sounds like the top mount bearings, they are plastic and don't have decent grease inside which results in the bearings braking down over time. I assume you can only hear this noise at slow speed/while parking.

As for the noise under the bonnet try removing the serpentine belt and starting the with the car stationary engine and see if the noise is still there (you should not run for too long as water pump is reconnected by doing this). This will isolate if it is any thing on the serpentine belt run or something else.

[_AJ_]

Many thanks for all that. The noise with the wheels though it definately something on the wheel itself, or hub or something or other. The sound is exactly like that of something sticking out into the spokes of the alloys. As the wheel turns more quickly, so the sound of the ticking quickens. It drives me absolutely crazy.

I'll give your other suggestions a try though, I think there was something on here posted recently about handbrake adjustment, so I'll go find it.

[hsv_rulz]

If you haven't already, have a Wortec 'Loud option' exhaust fitted, wind down the windows and you would never hear any of these noises again.

[wolfracer]

I've got a dry a/c pulley apparently which whines when cold, been told its not an "issue" and soon goes away when warmed up. regard to other noises, my father in law drove his car thru a flood and got silt in the alternator, which now causes a whining (had a tech with a stethoscope to find the cause!) scraping and speed related noises from wheels check nuts, stones caught between disc and calipers/guards. and the guards themselves - still venting my anger on a vx dealership which changed a halfshaft on my astra because they thought it was the noise - i found out it was the metal guard just touching the rusty bit of the outer disc and making horrific sounds at speed.... one bend with a screw driver sorted it.

[_AJ_]

Thanks guys, all things to look at.

Exhaust already fitted lol, most of these noises can be heard above it in normal town driving unfortunately!