Thread: 2012 2.2 - Mystery sound : Whistling turbo ?

Originally Posted by rgty_kmj

Hi Everyone,

I've got a mystery sound that I would like identified if anyone else has had this and solved it.
I've got a 2012 2.2 110 with 135,000 km on the clock. Last week for the first time I week got a whistling sound possibly a bit like crickets chirping.
The sound happens only from cold mainly in second gear when I put my foot down to over 2000 revs.
I've attached a 21 second mp3 file that I recorded using my phone sitting on the top of the dash board. Surprisingly there is little engine noise but the squeaky clutch pedal is very obvious (and useful to recognise gear changes).

Here is the attached file : lr_sound_A.mp3

Here is the script from the mp3 file.

Numbers are elapsed time from 0
0 - 1 seconds : beep beep : TPMS warning
2 – 3 seconds : squeaking clutch. Change into 1st gear taking off in 1st gear.
4 seconds : not much
5 – 6 seconds : very light whistling / cricket noise
7 – 8 seconds : squeaking clutch. change into 2nd gear
9 seconds : foot down on accelerator 2000 revs +
10 – 12 seconds : 2 seconds of whistling / cricket noise (quite obvious sound over the engine revs) - this is the sound that I would like identifying
13 – 14 seconds : squeaking clutch change into 3rd gear
15 - 16 seconds : not much
17 – 18 seconds. slowing down : squeaking clutch change into 2nd gear
19 – 21 seconds. test finished pulling over to the side of the road.

Not sure if this is normal or an indicator of some imminent failure

Thanks

Kerry

1. Lube the clutch pivot!

2. Hard to hear, but it could be a turbo whistle, but it might not be the turbo exactly, just a boost system leak or exhaust manifold leak.

3. I know little of the Puma engine, so I don't really know what a likely failure point is on them. My suggestions are common to turbo diesels though.

Cheers

Haven't listened to your soundtrack but check for a split in the hose from the turbo to the intercooler and intercooler to intake manifold.

If it was a TD5 I'd head straight to a warped exhaust manifold. I don't think Pumas do that, but it could be an exhaust gasket I guess. Split turbo hose also.

Originally Posted by rgty_kmj

...whistling sound possibly a bit like crickets chirping...

Tins beat me to it as I was writing. Very remote chance it is exhaust gases escaping via a warped exhaust manifold...could not find anything like this specific to your engine type, but common to the Td5 engine and very difficult fix if retaining bolts snap, starts subtly and increasing in volume as warp grows...or deteriorating manifold gasket I had on a Tdi 300 very easy fix.

list of things I would check:

1) the drivers side intercooler hose. The factory hose droops and rubs on the steering column. The silicone hoses are more rigid and tend to hold their shape better. Or a zip tie under the hose to the wheel arch panel (there are some holes you can poke a zip tie through) to hold it up if you are not happy about the clearance.

2) Also check if this hose is properly clamped to the hose end on the turbo. I ran an aftermarket turbo on a 2.4L and the hose end on the turbo for the intercooler hose was too small for the ID of the silicone intercooler hose. No matter how tight and what size or quality of hose clamp, it never properly sealed.

3) the turbo exhaust gasket. Or any of the gaskets on the high pressure side of the turbo. The exhaust gasket tends to rust and split.

4) the EGR cooler gaskets on the back of the engine. If they split, you will get high pressure exhaust gas leak. Not as forceful as a turbo leak.

5) if all else fails, remove the accessory belt and give each of the pulleys a roll and see if any are notchy. Could be a bearing on the way out.

Check the elbow underneath the throttle body. The 2.2 reads the mass airflow at the MAF sensor above the air filter and compares it to a reading from another sensor on the pipe after the hose from the intercooler. If there is an anomaly it throws an error code and puts the engine into limp mode. This means it’s unlikely to be a leak from either the intercooler or the two long intercooler hoses.

However, there is another small hose, an elbow, between the end of the pipe and the throttle body which is after the sensor. If this leaks it doesn’t throw an error.

I had a very similar problem which I spent months tracking down. Turned out the hose was not quite seated properly on the throttle body (I didn’t fit it) and would leak under high boost when cold - most noticeably in second gear. Once warm it sealed and the noise stopped.

Cheers,
Jon

It could be a failing intercooler as well, mine failed with a loud hiss at abot 140,000 KM. The aluminium tabs that fold over the plastic end failed and let go.

Regards,
Tote