Engine whine

[dans]

Hi all,

I have a distinct whine from my car, especially at start up, especially when cold. Runs with the revs.
It has always been there since I got it. When I first had the car serviced I was told that it was the alternator. Changed the alternator; no real change in the whine.

Can anyone suggest what else this might be?
Looking at the manuals I'm wondering if it could be one of the other pulleys in there?

Don't think it is a major problem but I'm planning on doing some work over winter so though I might check this out.

Cheers,
Dan

[ab2cv]

There are a couple of us on here with similar symptoms but without an answer. My whine seems to get louder as the engine gets hotter though.

My mechanic seemed to think that it was coming from one of the cam-belt pulleys, so obviously this would be an expensive job and potentially best being left until i needed a cambelt change anyway and do the pulley bearings at the same time.

That was almost a year ago now and i'm still driving and the whine hasn't got any worse. (and now i need to save up for a new clutch as well)

Alan

[GeoffSmith]

Have you tried the screwdriver to the ear?

[dans]

My mechanic seemed to think that it was coming from one of the cam-belt pulleys, so obviously this would be an expensive job and potentially best being left until i needed a cambelt change anyway and do the pulley bearings at the same time.

mmhh... this is what i was thinking. If I can arrange to leave the car where it is for a while I might have a go.

Have you tried the screwdriver to the ear?

Only enough to determine that it is coming from that side of the engine. Not sure how easy it is to get the cover off to have a look properley.

Then I can stick a screwdriver in my ear and lower it into the whirling belts and pulleys............

[GeoffSmith]

Then I can stick a screwdriver in my ear and lower it into the whirling belts and pulleys............

NO! It's surprising how little you can see of the end of a screwdriver stuck to your ear!

You get the screwdriver firmly pressed where you want it and then gently put your ear on the end. It's not for the feint hearted admittedly.

Geoff

PS Just a thought, it's not an overtightened/stretched belt is it?

[Sy V]

Cambelt tensioner, perhaps?

[PaulN]

Hi,

What about the oil pump? Mine makes that whine too but it goes after a few mintues of driving. I noticed that when the oil pressure lowers the whine goes. Also with a oil change there is no whine at all for a few months.

Maybe when the engine oil is cold it takes more pumping around and causes the oil pump to whine, as the oil warms up and thins a little the pressure drops and is easier to circulate.

All signs do point to the Alternator, and Tensioners but ive had the whole pulley system changed including the water pump.

Cheers

PaulN

[dans]

Paul, that sounds almost exactly like what I am experiencing

Perhaps I'll look at that too.....

Or maybe change everything one by one......



Cheers,
Dan

[PaulN]

Dan,

Maybe record the whine with a voice message and send it over to me, I think the fact you have changed the Alternator and I the Pulley system kind of rules a few things out.

Have you thought about going Lotus or and Indi?

Cheers

PaulN

[sheprob]

I had a whine from my engine after I changed the cambelt on my Esprit. I used a genuine Lotus Borroughs gauge so I was quite confident the tension was correct. However, I was very unhappy with the noise, so I popped down to Lakeside and Max instantly told me the belt was far too tight. I should have used the stndard 1/4 twist on the cambelt. After resetting the tension the noise was gone.
So first point of call would be to look at your cambelt tension and never trust a burroughs gauge unless it has been calibrated!

Hope this helps

Regards

Rob

[GeoffSmith]

PS Just a thought, it's not an overtightened/stretched belt is it?

Ahem.

[John_W]

It could be this problem with an over-tight cam belt.

The 907 engine in my old Jensen-Healey used to whine if it had been adjusted too tight.

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned it already.

John

[Monty]

It could be this problem with an over-tight cam belt.

The 907 engine in my old Jensen-Healey used to whine if it had been adjusted too tight.

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned it already.

John

IMO, u`ll only get that if a new belt has been fitted, so the question is when was the last time the belt was changed?

another thing to check is the alternator and PAS belt aren`t to tight.

[dans]

The belt on mine has been there for a while now and will hopefully be replacing soon with the parts Dapinky is very kindly getting for me.

So might get more of an idea then. But after the weekend I have started to wonder whether the CAS is part of the noise that is in there. This is after Geoffs suggested screwdriver in the ear technique. The CAS certainly is rattling. Some comments onthe cas in this thread..

Funny how all problems keep tieing up with each other!!

[dans]

Having changed the timing belt on the car this weekend the idler was definitely not in a happy place. Having replaced that most of the whine noise has gone.
Still somethere but not sure if that is just me hearing things now. Will have to listen to some other Elans at Donington to compare!

Happy for now!

Dan

[Doc Fizzix]

Just for fun, with the engine at an idle, put your finger on the center top of the CAS housing. See if the wine goes away. Mine wines and then when I touch the top of the CAS the wine is totaly gone. I tried three new CAS and the same thing (I bought three new ones when I rebuilt my motor so I had some spares)

[mikeydude]

Yes, mine is the same. I put it down to the cas cover resonating