diagnosis help - new engine noise that wasn't there yesterday

**BrianElloy** · 24th April 2017, 12:37 AM

Gents - went out with the Mrs today (yes, I survived) and starting-up and driving (low speed) my D4V8 through the car-park I noticed a new noise.

Sounded like a whirring / whining noise at idle and up to ~1500RPM (at which point it was too high pitched for me to hear)

I took it for another drive when I got home, and checked that it is not transmission related (was same in park/neutral vs Drive), and not power-steering related (at low speeds I swerved the car from left to right and it made no difference to the sound) ..

What do you reckon - alternator? and no, there are no warning lights on the dash..

car has done 105,000 kms and serviced

cheers all

Brian

**Graeme** · 24th April 2017, 05:41 AM

More likely to be caused by a failed serpentine belt idler or tensioner pulley bearing.

**PerthDisco** · 24th April 2017, 08:28 AM

So the whine disappeared when the wife exited? An intermittent left front seat area whine has been misdiagnosed previously.

Only joking - wheel bearing perhaps.

**BMKal** · 24th April 2017, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by PerthDisco

So the whine disappeared when the wife exited? An intermittent left front seat area whine has been misdiagnosed previously.

Only joking - wheel bearing perhaps.

I get that intermittent whine you refer to in mine occasionally as well. An almost identical noise is more frequently heard coming from the driver's seat in her Camry.

But as to the noise that Brian is describing - I doubt if it is wheel bearing considering that he hears it when in "Park" or "Neutral".

Could be alternator, but I suspect that Graeme is more likely on the money.

90 Rangie · 24th April 2017, 11:59 AM

Have you tried switching the air con off

**BrianElloy** · 24th April 2017, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by 90 Rangie

Have you tried switching the air con off

yep, AC and wiggling the steering wheel make no difference

**LandyAndy** · 24th April 2017, 08:20 PM

Hi Brian.
Did you deal with that horses head yet??????
Go to Jaycar,for about $20 you get a ciggy lighter voltage meter.Will give you an idea what the alternator is up to.Bare in mind these are electronicly controlled.They don't charge normally.When the battery is full or pretty full they only charge off throttle so you may not see many volts all the time.should show 14.6 or so when it needs charge all the time.Will show around 12.6 if its happy,that will increase up to 14.6 on the over run to use up spare energy.Not that you haven't got some to spare!!!!
ENJOY
Andrew

**kenl** · 24th April 2017, 08:26 PM

My money is on the alternator, the noise from my started suddenly and was most apparent at low revs.

Can you get into the hidden diagnostic screen on your model? That will give you an idea of the voltage in real time, with the engine running is it less than 12.3?

**LandyAndy** · 24th April 2017, 08:32 PM

The voltage kenl mentioned wont mean much until you know how fully charged the battery is due to the "smart" charging in these vehicles.The hidden screen is a pain to get working,the jaycar ciggy lighter readout is there all the time,and reasonably accurate too.
Andrew

**kenl** · 24th April 2017, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by LandyAndy

The voltage kenl mentioned wont mean much until you know how fully charged the battery is due to the "smart" charging in these vehicles.The hidden screen is a pain to get working,the jaycar ciggy lighter readout is there all the time,and reasonably accurate too.
Andrew

Is the volatage different at the Cig lighter to that on the screen? I thought both just showed the cars (battery) voltage? Never checked...

I agree that that the hiiden screen takes 10 seconds to get into for sure! But getting into JayCar the night before Anzac day could be a bit more of a struggle

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