Hi,
My 2000 (W) 1.2 ELX Fiat Punto has been making a funny whining noise. It mainly does it from starting the engine cold, you hear it from about 2500rpm through to just over 3000rpm, then it goes away. This happens in all gears.

It has gone on for a while now but i need to put it right now, it does my head in!

If anyone can shed some light that would be great. Someone thought it might be a 'dry alternator bearing'? If so could it be oiled, or does it need to be replaced?

Any help would be great, thanks
Steve

Hello mate and WELCOME TO THE FORUM!!

Does it do it when the car is stationary or when its moving?

Is it possible to replicate the noise simply by accelerating and holding the revs at 2500rpm in neutral whilst stationary?

Depending on the answers to the above, possibilities could be, as you say, alternator bearing, cam belt tensioner, gearbox, clutch release bearing etc etc.

Is it possible to pinpoint where roughly in the engine bay its coming from?

Alan

Hi Alan,
Thanks for your reply, i've been without the internet the last week so i have just read it!
You can replicate the noise when stationary and reving the engine to 2500rpm.
I did also have someone listen to the noise and they thought it might be coming from the alternator?
So as i can replicate the noise being stationary what does that mean - alternator? If so is it a new one, or can you oil it? (that may be a rediculous question - i dont know?)

Many thanks
Steve

Could be anything from gearbox diff bearing, or alternator bearing, sounds like a bearing of some sort, does it ever grate/grind sound?

alternator or cambelt tensioner i peresonally would say, cambelt tensioner i think is more likely

Hello,

I have a Punto Sporting 2000 (w reg) and have the exact same problem as steveoo !

3 years ago i had the camblet changed and ever since that i have had a strange sound at 2500rpm

took it back to garage the day after they change the cambelt and garage could find nothing wrong also the AA had a look and found no problems.

So for the last 3 years i have been driving around and every time i hit 2500rpm get the whining sound, any gear or even when in neutral !

Anyone got any ideas ?

At some point gonna book it in to a garage and hopefully get it fixed !

Thanks Ben

I have a similar problem, but its only seems to be on idle and up to about 2k revs. The sound is more clearly heard from underneath the engine, but when listening from the top of the engine its seems to be coming from back of the engine bay. I have only heard it neutral however. Could this be a similar thing?

It might be the same problem as this

*Search "siren like noise at high revs cold engine" as I cant post links yet*

I reseated the air filter box yesterday as it was a bit loose and the rubber seal still isnt a great fit on the carb, no noise this morning but it probably wasnt cold enough (as that seems to be when it happens).
I am probably dreaming that this is were the noise is coming from.
So problem yet to be diagnosed although many suggest the cam tensioner.

Link "5 posts "
https://www.fiatforum.com/punto/175531-siren-like-noise-high-revs-cold-engine.html