(T) Weird ambulance noise?

Hi guys, was wondering if anyone can help me. I drive a fiat seicento and have the car for less than a year from a previous owner who drove very little herself. I myself have only started driving it at length recently.

The problem is that whenever i'm stopped/idling in traffic or at lights for some period of time a weird high-pitched noise starts up (seems like from the engine/front anyway) It starts low and goes up in pitch and volume and sounds like an ambulance siren. So I'm stopped, one foot has the clutch completely depressed and one on brake pedal. or sometimes i take the foot off the clutch and brake and put the handbrake on and it still sounds. The noise goes away when the car is moving again and accelerates. The noise becomes frequent/comes and goes a lot, when the car is stopping and slowly moving in traffic constantly or when doing manoevers like the turnabout! it passed the car test a few weeks ago, but i have my driving test in a few weeks and don't need the distraction!

thanks a mill!

Welcome.

Remove the alternator belt and see if the noise is still there.

If the noise has gone, its the alternator bearings.

If the noise still there, and at that end of the engine, possibly the tensioner bearing giving up.

Has it had a cam belt recently?

Cheers

D

It could just be a noisy radiator fan. Mine can be loud sometimes but then quite as a mouse others. Or it might be rubbing on something. Do the old paper clip between the contacts trick and see if it makes the offending noise.

Thanks guys. May seem like a silly question but can I still drive the car without the alternator belt? as I won't know whether or not it still makes the noise, as the noise doesn't happen until car's been moving for some time and then slowing down in traffic. and same with the paper clip, can i drive with it wedged in? as I wont know otherwise


Not sure if it has had a cam belt....should i get it checked at a garage?

thanks so much though!

Yes you can drive without the alternator belt. Do it during daylight ours and leave the stereo off. The battery light will be on, as there is no charge, but it will run fine.

Don't do it at the same time as the paperclip in fan connector.

Maybe do the paperclip job first, make sure the car is warm before putting the clip in.

Look carefully at the clip after you have switched the ignition back on. If the clip glows at all, its fan motor bearings at fault.

If you have ruled out the fan motor go ahead with the alternator belt removal.

On the subject of cam belt, if you don't know whether its been changed, then I'd just change it and the tensioner anyway.

Cheers

D

ok cool. thanks a mill!