Hi all,

First time posting in an online forum so please excuse me if im doing it wrong,

Recently bought an 08 1.4 grande punto turbo, when it gets to about 40 mph it starts to make a noise , best likened to a constant whir / hum you get when on an aeroplane.

It also seems to be giving off excessive steam from the exhaust which is quite white in colour, is this anything to do with the noise ?

I know its hard to help with noises etc without actually seeing them but any advice is appreciated, im still within my 30 day warranty from the seller and thinking about taking it back.

thanks in advance,

Im now starting to think its a wheel bearing ?

and that the exhaust steam is unrelated but probably too much oil in the gearbox ?

Hi mate,

Sounds like a wheel bearing, probably one of the rears. I just had mine changed a few weeks ago. From around 35mph onward there will be a horrible drone, this can be checked by jacking the wheel up and rotating to see if there's a noise.

Hopefully the steam is just condensation

As above, check ALL wheel bearings by jacking up one corner at a time, spinning the wheel first, then with someone pressing the brakes (and holding the steering straight for the front wheels), hold the wheel at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock and try to shake the wheel left to right, then hold at 12 and 6 and try to shake up and down. This is a decent way of feeling for play in a bearing. Whilst under the front, try grabbing the drive shafts and shaking those, you may feel a bit of play but too much may indicate a problem.

If the sound seems to come from the front left of the car, and the above doesn't diagnose a worn bearing, you may have a gearbox bearing issue.

Personally, I would take the car back to the dealer you bought it from and ask to have this inspected and fixed before your warranty runs out, as if it does turn out to be a gearbox bearing, it will cost you in excess of £450 when your warranty expires!

With regards to the white smoke/mist, this is fairly normal on start up, however if you are getting it while the engine is warm, I'd also ask them to investigate that too.

Just another suggestion going on previous experience, if you are near to the end of your 30 day warranty period, send the dealer an email describing the symptoms you mention and notification you'll be taking the car back for them to investigate! I found myself in a situation once when a head gasket blew on a Friday and my warranty expired on the Monday. I was told VERBALLY that the earliest they could look was the Wednesday. They messed me about big time trying to charge me for all parts and labour claiming they weren't notified within the warranty period, that's until I threatened with trading standards! Emailing will just cover your backside and you'll be armed with time stamped proof that you notified them before the warranty expired