Hi all,

Been using this forum for years on different cars for little fixes and links to products but got an issue I cant solve from previous threads.

Car: Fiat 500 2014 petrol

Issue: when going national speed limit at a random point in the journey we can hear this chirping sound coming from the dash area. It's not constant and has a couple of different sound levels. One time it got really loud then stopped and the rest of the 2 hour journey was fine.

We have had the aircon on at these times, turning it off doesnt stop the noise dead.

It never seems to happen when going across town (but that could easily be because those journeys are only 10-20 mins long), and it is never on start up.

Other half is worried as this is her car, has anyone else come across this issue? We do have a video I captured today but I dont think its letting me upload that.

Have you owned the car from new?

Sometimes a previous owner may have fitter a black box for insurance, which may be warning if you are going over the speed limit, there are other boxes as well like traffic master and things like that which warn of traffic problems on your route or bleep to tell you to press a button for a traffic update.

I look forward to the video

Hi all,

It wont let me upload the video, do we know if this need to be a particular format?

Other half has owned from new so sadly black box isnt it.

Few friends who have heard it say it sounds like its comin from the dash board and potentially is an air vent fan.

Others have said it could be something in the pulley rubbing.

Seen I might need to post a few more times before I can upload the video.

Soon as I can I'll upload.

It says invalid file incase that is a different issue.... the video is worth the wait of course ?

The forum doesn't support video files best to upload it to YouTube then post the link here

https://youtu.be/RqBDKLJDWVw

Above is the link to a YouTube clip of the sound.

Latest advice from a mechanic who heard it is it might be a stone behind a brake pad or loose pad which when used under speed lodges the sound for a bit before moving again and freeing up so losing the sound.

IdleOllie said:

https://youtu.be/RqBDKLJDWVw

Above is the link to a YouTube clip of the sound.

Latest advice from a mechanic who heard it is it might be a stone behind a brake pad or loose pad which when used under speed lodges the sound for a bit before moving again and freeing up so losing the sound.

Click to expand...

Sounds like could be brake squeek to me too.

Stone caught between disc and splash guard is very loud.

Other thought is was interior vent fan on?
If sound goes away with fan off could be vent fan bearing.

Have a look at belt that drives alternator, if back of belt is very shiny and belt has a tensioner the tensioner bearing could be on way out. The noise would vary with engine speed.

Hi Jack, thanks so much for taking a listen to the video and offering potential answers and solutions.

Got a couple of busy shifts with work coming up but will have a look soon as I can.

If its something caught, is it likely it would ware down over time and fall out?

IdleOllie said:

Hi Jack, thanks

If its something caught, is it likely it would ware down over time and fall out?

Click to expand...

Hi

From what youve said.. its been doing it a while..
A small stone wouldve gone by now..

We had a rubbing brake make an odd noise @60 mph

If it happens again at 50 or 60

Briefly dip the clutch pedal..let engine revs drop...

sound still constant..?

Lightly rest foot on brake pedal..change of tone ??

It was the brake pedal that gave our squeak away.. did it every other day for weeks on our 'panda driver's commute


Ended up doing the journey one evening..just listening

How old are your brakes?

For a mechanic to say “loose pad” is idiotic because the pads are loose and are meant to move about, however if there is a big lip on the disc then the pad material can rub on the lip as the pad does move about this can be intermittent.

In addition to Charlie’s comments, does the sound go away if you dab the brakes ?

Have to check on age of brakes.

I was our driving a bit today and even at 70mph the sound didnt happen.

However will go out again over the weekend to try and get the sound so I can try the pointers above. Will report back when I've done this with the results!

Thanks for the options though, very much appreciated!

14 plate probably at the end of the second set of pads and discs?

John202020 said:

14 plate probably at the end of the second set of pads and discs?

Click to expand...

Time will tell..

I second the brake theory. Had a chirping noise when one of my brake pads was down to the metal. It came in irregular intervals, because the pad will move around in its limited space and settle in slightly different positions.
I initially fixed it by cranking up the radio, but then decided to do it properly
It might also be due to a loose brake pad that has separated from the metal carrier.

John202020 said:

14 plate probably at the end of the second set of pads and discs?

Click to expand...

I'd hope not not unless you're doing massive mileage!

Hi all thanks for all your help.

Finally got a day off so we took the car out. After about 30 mins of driving at 70mph the noise came in a bit,and as a lor of you have now mentioned it stopped when I tapped the brakes.

So it's off to the garage asap... I hear brakes are important