Whining From Engine

[sophie21]

Hey all,

I have a 55 plate 1.0 Aygo with 70k miles. There has been whining noises coming from my engine I have changed my water pump as many people have said it is a common thing to go, but the whining is still happening. It doesn't happen every time I start her mainly when she is cold. I have also checked my clutch and starter which appear to be fine.

Would be great if someone could help?!

Many thanks

[Big Auris]

Hi sophie21 i would suspect the Alternator causing your whine, remove the Alternator drive belt, start the engine and let idle if the noise has gone it is the Alternator. Some cars have whine from the Alternator that does not cause any trouble, it can be the Alternator charging if there has been a big load put on the Battery hope this may help.

[sophie21]

Thanks for replying, the only trouble is that it doesn't make the horrible noise all the time so would be hard to find out if it is the alternator, when it does, it stops if I turn her off and on a few times. Is there any chance it could be something internal?

[Big Auris]

The simplest thing is as i suggested remove the belt and allow the engine to idle, if it is internal the noise will still be there if not the fault is in some of the parts driven by the belt. If its still apparent after the belt is removed it may be some thing like the timing chain but i wouldnt think will be the chain

[Richard Overfield]

Whining engine? I know exactly what's wrong.

Your engine is married. Just get your engine a divorce and the whining will go away.

[sophie21]

Thanks so much for your help will try that and see what happens! :)

Also my engine is very happily married to my gear box!

[ThePermanentProject]

2nd the altenator vote. Have same symptoms here (although minor).

[andrew macpherson]

Mine was the water pump. Siezed solid at 97K. It was the new model as it was replaced under warranty at 2nd service. My Aygo is nice and quiet now. Did you get a new drive belt? Could be that, as mine was shreeded around the pully and needed to be replaced.

[acetip]

i seem to get the same type of sound coming from my kichen.

I find it if i tell her to shut up it 'sometimes' works.

[kithmo]

If it's the alternator, the pitch of the sound will change when you load it up. When the whining occurs try switching the head & fog lights & rear screen heater on, if the noise changes pitch then it is the alternator or the alternator drive belt. As well as the bearings, a faulty diode in the alternator can cause it to whine, this is sometimes (but not always) accompanied by a slight glow from the Battery light.

[averageuser]

Hello!

In order of decreased probability:

Belt/belt tension/bearing of alternator/bearing of water pump/belt tension roller bearing.

When noise comes in cold or humid weather, almost definitely it is belt. I have used to touch exposed warmed running belt (very, very danger!!!) with lump of colophony (resin, resembling amber, used commonly by string instrumentalists). Once it covers friction surfaces by thin film, traction increases and noise gone for months.

[sophie21]

Thank you for all of your suggestions it was in fact my alternator, now fixed and back to her normal self!!!!

Thanks again :D