General whurring/grinding noise

[shag]

Just bought a 1996 N reg Punto 55s. I have noticed a noise that sounds like grinding or low pitch whurring when moving. Have taken car out of gear and depressed clutch (ie free wheeling) but still get sound when moving. However I don't get the sound when stationary. Could it be wheel bearing related? Appreciate any ideas/help. Thanks

 

[dawn_of_time]

welcome to the forum mate.

here's something to try.
jack up your car and SPIN each wheel by hand, if it runs free and smoothly bearings are not your problem.
could be a gear box prob.
does the sound dissapear when you depress the clutch and reappear when you engage it? if so could be a thrust bearing problem in your clutch.
hope this helps.

sexy black 3 door punto with wild yellow interior.

 

[shag]

Just to update, last night I tried spinning the wheels (whilst car jacked up). They turned about 1.5 times before stopping.
Depressing the clutch doesn't make any difference to the sound. I also turned the engine off at 40mph and the sound was still there so I guess its not engine related.
Just as a side note, am I right in thinking you cant leave your lights on without the engine being on?

 

[JSAMacLean]

In reverse order - In an old-shape punto you definetly can't leave the lights on without the keys in the ignition.

If your wheel stops spinning and you've got it out of gear it does sound like a wheel bearing. If it doesn't go away when you have the engine on or off, and doesn't go away wether the clutch is in or out then it's either a problem with the wheel bearing or the transmission.

Just because you've got it in neutral or clutched in doesn't mean bits of the transmission still aren't turning. Everything from the wheel hubs, the driveshafts, the final drive, and the output shaft and gears are all spinning as long as you're moving, so it could be any one of those.

See if the sound changes when you corner - if it does it points to a bearing or driveshaft issue. If it doesn't, it could well be your transmission. Grinding tends to be bearing-related, whereas whurring is a gear thing (unless you're in a rally car like I was last week, in which case it means you haven't done the wheel bolts up).

Hope that's some help.