wierd noise from the engine - any ideas please ?

[bizylizzie]

Hi people

Been on here before and got a lot of help so thought I'd try again

Only a month since a service and MOT ... BUT .... now the car is making a loud whining noise when it gets up to 40 - not too bad at the 30 level. Its not a grinding noise or a banging noise its a loudish whine and very notiiceable when the windows are closed.

Its a 1996 escort masquerade ( posh name for a revamped Orion )
16v - and its only got 47,500 on the clock - I tried putting in more oil but only slightly better

I cant fix it myself so I know it will be a garage job, but anyone got any ideas what it will be and more to the point how much I am gonna have to fork out for it please ? And is it OK to drive in the meantime if I keep to low speeds ( not difficult in London ) ?

 

[TexMex]

Could be bearings on the alternator, but the possibilities are endless. It's quite possibly something rubbing againsts something else.It may be as simple as a water hose rubbing against the fan belt. Timing cover come loose and rubbing against the timing belt. Could even be a bit of flotsum, picked up off the road, now lodged in the radiator, and rubbing against the fan.

A method I use to track down sounds under the bonnet is a piece of garden hose, about 3ft long. You place one end firmly to the ear, and the other you move around the engine. Once your loose end is near the offending part, you will hear the noise louder.

Obviously you have to be very carefull to avoid actually touching the moving parts. Even if you can't usually hear the noise on tickover (because it's too quiet), this method will still usually find it. If not, you will have to have an assistant holding the throtle open a little for you, while you inspect.

Once you've tracked it down the location, using this method, the cause can be quite obvious.

 

[pipme]

Have a think along these lines :-
Is the sound present when running engine, vehicle stationary ? Or does it, only occur whilst in motion ?
If it is the former and latter then something on or in engine.
If the latter only, then tend to running gear problem. ( wheel bearings .. gearbox .. final drive ... drive shafts etc )
Piece of stick jammed up the side of a wheel disc (personal experience) more a rubbing sound than a whine.

In reality such a problem is not readily diagnosed by posting.

Given the potential cost of running with something wrong, be best to get a professional opinion ... If a wheel bearing it could seize with pretty disastrous results .. like suddenly locking a wheel ...

P