POP QUIZ! What's the new noise from the pretty pig

[DT-P38]

Just got home from a little drive tonight and over the last 3 km's of the trip a brand new noise started eminating from under the Pígs bonnet.

Understanding that I can't be buggered getting under it tonight, but it has me curious as hell, I thought a pop quiz might be in order!

Clues:

1. The noise started out very quietly, but built to approx. same volume and pitch as a Vacuum cleaner within the 7-8 min's it was occurring.
2. I have had the pig for around 8 years (and have had about a dozen or so other cars in my time) but have never heard this noise before on a car.
3. The temp guage did not budge and no warning messages/lights came on.
4. Once I parked in the drive (with engine still running), popped the bonnet and listened under the hood, the noise was eminating from around the lower right side. Sort of behind the drivers side fog light area.
5. There were no bangs (or other strange noises) before, during, or after the 'event'.
6. There were no signs of coolant or fluid leaks (in the dark) and no new unusual smells.

So at this point I am guessing it could be a belt or a pump of some sort... as I am not familiar with that region of the vehicle I am open to anyones ideas/guesses/experiences!

Will post the result and photo's (if it turns out to be interesting!) when I get to it in the morrow/next couple of days.

HooRoo,
Dave & the pretty pig

[RR P38]

Plastic bag wrapped around fan/drive belt?
Split in your air bag?
Belt tensioner?

[bee utey]

A small pig that's got stuck there. They are reputed to squeal.

[jsp]

belt tensioner? Mine did it a month or so ago at 230,000 k's on the dot.

Sounded like the vacuum with a sock stuck in it.

[Keithy P38]

My money is on the belt tensioner bearing. I had that on my green p38. Sounds like dragging plastic objects over exposed aggregate - bearing grind!

It used to appear only when the engine was cold and disappear after 5mins or so...

Cheers
Keithy

[DT-P38]

Well... I think I found it and its pretty well sorted (for the moment anyways). And nope, its not a little pig stuck in there! Although that description probably resembles the sound that was coming from it the most.

It appears to be a very strange little thing that may actually be the end result of other problems. The headlight wiper blades (which AFAIK have never worked) decided to start working last night as I was driving home with lights and windshield wipers on. The wipers both then jammed fast between the perspex headlight protectors and the plastic light guards. The noise appears to be either the headlight wiper motor or the pump for the headlight washer.

Didn't have time to go at it, but will do tomorrow. And here's me thinking I've heard it all from the pig and everyone else's experiences with their P38's!!!

Don't tell anyone, and its probably an indication that I need some form of counselling or therapy, but I have to admit it did make me a little happy to have a new dilemna arise. There is certainly never a dull moment with P38's!

Might check that tensioner while I'm at it tomorrow too though, sounds like it could be coming up to due as my km's are coming close to the 230,000 jsp mentioned

[RR P38]

Isnt it a funny thing being a P38 owner?
I like it also when a new drama arises......and it can be fixed/identified in a timely manner.
At work today i was having a conversation with a colleague and a rude electrician kept interjecting and calling our Landys "Gayrovers" on account of their inherent unreliability, in his opinion.
He couldnt understand that we had a connection with our inanimate vehicles.
He kept telling us how good his hilux was.
I told him they are terrific so much so that one of the guys at work rolled one over and wrote it off in a backyard !

[PaulP38a]

At work today i was having a conversation with a colleague and a rude electrician kept interjecting and calling our Landys "Gayrovers" on account of their inherent unreliability, in his opinion.
He couldnt understand that we had a connection with our inanimate vehicles.
He kept telling us how good his hilux was.

Just smile slightly and nod in his direction, don't make eye contact as this could unsettle him further, keep walking as if nothing happened... ;)

Funny thing where I work... they just got rid of a Hilux (12-18mo) as it was becoming too expensive to keep. Mind you, the Navara that replaced it is not much better so far. They laughed when I suggested a Defender dual cab with tray back would be a better long term proposition.