Technical Whinining noise with a click ...

[MultiPa]

Drove the car this morning for the first time in a few days, and noticed a strange sort of clikcy-whistle noise.

Remember as kids when you used to put a playing card in your bikes spokes? It's like that, but obviously at much higher revs then we could pedal - with an accompanying whine - I kept thinking there was a police car somewhere in the distance - that sort of noise.

Not had chance to look as I'm at work now, but it's definitely something in the engine - I revved the car when it was stationary and it did it. If I'd thought I would have done it with the clutch in too - it's a tad juddery when you bring it up.

Any ideas? I thought turbo when I could just hear the whine, but having turned the radio off there is a definite clicking too.

Extra points if you can tell me it's not going to be expensive

 

[MultiPa]

I've just heard a Scudo van go past making exactly the same noise ...

 

[MultiPa]

Well I've had a listen with the bonnet up now, and it seems to be coming from the serpentine belt - which has an awful lot of pulleys on it.

The belt itself looks ok, so has anyone any idea what whe whirring noise might be? Impending mechanical armegeddon, or just something that's expanded a bit in the heat?

 

[widemouthfrog]

Check (visual) the angle of the belt tensioner roller. When they get tired, the roller no longer sits flat across the auxiliary belt but sags off-kilter - this can lead to a whine (and squeal in the wet) and it also makes the belt wear rapidly.

 

[BikeDoc]

If it's the grooved belt, mine made a similar noise just before it ate itself!
The clicking was a loose strand of the damaged belt flapping against various bits along it's travel.

 

[MultiPa]

Thanks chaps - getting my retired mechanic mate to have a look at it this afternoon - hopefully it'll cope with the 50 miles I need to do first - as far as I know it's only just started.

How much am I looking at in parts for a new belt?

 

[MultiPa]

£13.46 for the belt from shop4parts, to answer my own question. I presume it's worth doing the tensioner too?

 

[momoe]

Absolutely, no point in having a new belt with a ******ed tensioner, you'd be unimpressed if the new belt went on and you found out it was the tensioner!

 

[BikeDoc]

Quite.
It's easy enough to check the tensioner when the belt's off.
I'd buy one anyway and ask for it on 'sale or return' (?).
Then if the original's OK, you can return the new one.

This is all assuming it is the belt of course.

A few topics to look at...
https://www.fiatforum.com/multipla/262819-frayed-belt-help.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/multipla/142331-noise-engine-bay.html
https://www.fiatforum.com/multipla/205103-auxiliary-belt-tensioner-fitting-help.html

 

[Zundapp]

I'd replace the tensioner as a matter of course when fitting a new belt! Easy enough to do with the belt off.

 

[widemouthfrog]

Replacing the belt and tensioner is about an hours work. I paid just over £90 inc. parts, labour and VAT to have mine done last year (non franchised Alfa/Fiat specialist).

 

[MultiPa]

Thanks all - it is the tensioner. I bought one and a new belt, and when the belt is off you can feel there is some slight play in the tensioner.

However, I didn't fancy my chances getting the bottom pulley off without being nervous I might have knocked the timing out - especially as it needs a special spanner - and I can't see a way of getting the tensioner off without removing that pulley.

I've put the new belt on anyway - will get the garage to fit the tensioner when it goes in for a few other bits in a few weeks.