Another strange engine noise question

[ab2cv]

Been driving the car for a while now with this noise, but just ignoring it as the B service is coming up soon and I was just going to get it checked over then. However, in the meantime I am starting to get worried in case I'm doing any damage to the engine or that something is about to 'go' and leave me stranded.

Now to describe the problem...

Its a kind of 'whiney' sound that emanates from around the left hand side of the engine bay (left side as you look at the front of the car), so the side with all the drivebelts. The pitch of the whining varies with engine speed, so blipping the throttle will cause it to become louder. Basically it makes the engine sound more pathetic than it should. Also, this behaviour only happens after a longish drive or once the engine goes above a certain temperature. The car itself continues to drive perfectly enough and there is no evident affect on engine performance (acceleration, idling or otherwise).

I'm worried it may be a belt on the way out (cambelt was done 10,000 miles ago) or something to do with the waterpump (bearing?)

Alan

[Monty]

could be,

alternator or PAS belt slipping check tention.
possible water pump.

[niall]

Could be a cam-belt idler bearing.
If it siezes, you will have a quickly stripped/brocken cam belt.
I would advance the service if you can't be sure it is something else.
Keep us posted.

[Candles]

I have this and it is my new alternator from japspares. Very irritating as you say. The alternator seems to function fine and the bearing and rotation are smooth when you take the belt off, which is also the foolproof way to diagnose which engine accessory it is. As the others have said, if it is still there when you take the PAS and alternator belts off, it needs looking at right away before you shred the cambelt and are presented with a large bill for your trouble.

Candles.

[ab2cv]

Thanks for the responses guys. Sounds like this will be getting looked at (much) sooner rather than later.

Alan

[Doug]

have no hands-on for this area, but just to say that 'water pump bearing' came to mind as well (as above) . . .

[PaulN]

Could this be the Clutch bearing? Might be as the noise gets worse when changing gears.

Candles,

Is the Alternator any good from Japspares? Whats the code and price?

Cheers

PaulN
Elan S2

[ab2cv]

Just got my car back from its B service at Kenny Browns. I asked him to investigate the noise at the same time and he's diagnosed it as a bearing in one of the cambelt pulleys...

He says it's not about to go bang or anything just yet, so I should get it checked out at the next service. Would be the sort of job that would only ideally be worth doing at the next cambelt change but unfortunately that's too far away.

Alan

[PaulN]

Ive been told by an ex Lotus and Porsche Mechanic that this type of noise can also just be a belt, they call it singing!

During the winter the belts get a little damp and when first started can make a slight noise. When the Belts warm up the noise goes away.

Its going to Paul Mattys next summer for a full check up. But at the car seems tip top at the moment........

Apart from the turbo gauge bulb has gone!!!

Cheers

PaulN