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Whistling noise and slight smell



Coming from the engine bay in my 182 on the right hand side near the aux belt/alternator/inlet mani area.

At first i thought the smell was perhaps a bit of oil dropping onto the exhaust but i don't think it is.

The noise I thought was just an air leak by the inlet mani but i don't think I'm right unfortunately

I'v done a search and I'm leaning towards the alternator

Cars on 30k now so may be worth changing the aux belt at the same time as the alt if need be?

I cant really smell anything from the engine bay though. I will do some more testing at the weekend with someone else so i can ascertain wheather it's getting louder as the revs increase

What sort of symtoms do a failing alt show?

Thanks Guys
 
Get the engine running and then turn on every single electrical thing you've got on it and see if the revs fluctuate engine tone changes and whether the headlights dip, that will tell you if its struggling or not, my housemates 306 engine tone changes when you turn on fan/ lights etc.
If the alternator was feked I think the battery light would come on permanently, are you sure you haven't knocked something whilst you've been fumbling around in there?
 
  MK6 Fez Zetec S
It sounds like alternator bearing could have collapsed! if you can at weekend just loosen off alternator and take belt off, then spin the pulley.

You should be able to tell its its the bearing gone as it will be hard/rough when you turn it.
 
Get the engine running and then turn on every single electrical thing you've got on it and see if the revs fluctuate engine tone changes and whether the headlights dip, that will tell you if its struggling or not, my housemates 306 engine tone changes when you turn on fan/ lights etc.
If the alternator was feked I think the battery light would come on permanently, are you sure you haven't knocked something whilst you've been fumbling around in there?

Didnt think you'd be giving me advice Collage boy!! Im suppose to be the clever one!!LOL :lolup:

No thats a good idea actually thanks alot! I will get a volty on there tommrow or at the weekend

It is quite possible that theres a leak on the inlet mani as i had it off a little while ago.

If it was the Aux belt it would shurely get louder as the engine revs up

It does smell a little that what worries me the most - not alot but a tad. That could be my uber economical exhaust system though as i think it may be leaking slightly + it smells tangy
 
It sounds like alternator bearing could have collapsed! if you can at weekend just loosen off alternator and take belt off, then spin the pulley.

You should be able to tell its its the bearing gone as it will be hard/rough when you turn it.


should it get louder as the engine revs up?

thanks Clarkie
 
  MK6 Fez Zetec S
It sounds like alternator bearing could have collapsed! if you can at weekend just loosen off alternator and take belt off, then spin the pulley.

You should be able to tell its its the bearing gone as it will be hard/rough when you turn it.


should it get louder as the engine revs up?

thanks Clarkie

well as the revs get higher its spinning faster so i would say possibly could do.

Im not 100% sure on that but thats just what I'd check first.
 
Get the engine running and then turn on every single electrical thing you've got on it and see if the revs fluctuate engine tone changes and whether the headlights dip, that will tell you if its struggling or not, my housemates 306 engine tone changes when you turn on fan/ lights etc.
If the alternator was feked I think the battery light would come on permanently, are you sure you haven't knocked something whilst you've been fumbling around in there?

Didnt think you'd be giving me advice Collage boy!! Im suppose to be the clever one!!LOL :lolup:

No thats a good idea actually thanks alot! I will get a volty on there tommrow or at the weekend

It is quite possible that theres a leak on the inlet mani as i had it off a little while ago.

If it was the Aux belt it would shurely get louder as the engine revs up

It does smell a little that what worries me the most - not alot but a tad. That could be my uber economical exhaust system though as i think it may be leaking slightly + it smells tangy


Lol usually if I get a mechanical issue I give you a ring, it doesn't really interest me tbh as you know but seeing as it was you i thought I would give my head a scratch, i very rarely post in this section!
What type of smell is it? Electrical burning etc? Your exhaust just smells fumey. Also check theres no s**t caught up in there underneith I ran over a carrier bag once and it got caught up and melted on my exhaust, it stunk for a while!
 
Im sure i could figure it out but i thought maybe someone on here may have heard of it before (make life a little easier for me) Ill get some more info asap and post it up.
 
Not very strong to be honest mild sorta oil/petrol smell

My oil isnt going down and hasnt in the last 10k iv owned it.

The only thing I can think of is that i did an oil change the other day and when i took the filter off oil went everywhere. Also my crank breather leaves little to be desired lol so ill check that it aint spitting on the exhaust

The exhaust is merrily rattling away as usual i doubt theres a leak to be honest there im sure id hear it.

Im just suspicious as to why theres a faint smell and a whistle coming from under the bay!
 
Not sure about the smell, but with regards to the whistling noise, when can you hear it? Does it change pitch with engine speed?

When I first bought my 172 last year, I had a whistling sound that I could hear with the window open and driving very slowly with the engine between idle and 2krpm. It sounded like a very high pitch whistle. I had the idler bearing replaced (along with cambelt and aux belt) and the sound went away.

I now have a 182, and it has the same whistle sound again. But it's not due an aux belt or cam belt change for ages, so maybe they just do that after a while? It's on 25k and 3 1/2 years old btw.
 
Update: not to concerned about the noise at the mo - more concerned with the periodic blue smoke i get from my exhaust!!

Did an oil change the other day so i MAY have overfilled it.. Not a good sign though really maybe one of the rings is leaking...

Would oil thats overfilled be burned off or chucked out the crank breather?
 
  Nippy white cup
Our 182 has just stared with the whistle as well...getting it checked asap but Nics works mechanic rekons it could be the idler bearing or alternator. I think it is the supercharger tho ;)

Chris
 
Ill check it @ 1ish on my lunch break. Not much over really though im sure. I added a little more than the dipstick to compensate for the new oil filter as i always do.
 
Our 182 has just stared with the whistle as well...getting it checked asap but Nics works mechanic rekons it could be the idler bearing or alternator. I think it is the supercharger tho ;)

Chris

I had the idler bearing changed on my 172 and it disappeared. Sounds awesome though doesn't it lol. :D
 
  black gold 182
Our 182 has just stared with the whistle as well...getting it checked asap but Nics works mechanic rekons it could be the idler bearing or alternator. I think it is the supercharger tho ;)

Chris

i like everyone else have this noise. my mate asked if it was a turbo lol but could you let me know what the proffessionals say? i'd be keen to know.
once this is sorted ive got what sounds like a hissing from a gasket or something on cold start ups. the joys of french cars lol.

cheers,

dave.
 
Update

Its drunk a hell of a lot of oil!!

Can someone advise how much the piston rings will be to change??

Thanks a lot
 
Im using crappy oil atm so maybe that could be why guys??

5-40 fully synthetic but it was only 13 quid for a gallon!
 
  RS RIP
on a serious note .. headgasket blown ? This would make it use water as well....

and overfilling (oil change) will do more damage than underfilling . i always underfill and after a bit of drive; let it sit and then fill up according to dipstick
 
on a serious note .. headgasket blown ? This would make it use water as well....

and overfilling (oil change) will do more damage than underfilling . i always underfill and after a bit of drive; let it sit and then fill up according to dipstick

Thanks - Nah its not the HG, no coolant loss just oil. Like i said before im using crappy oil could that make a difference?

It was only overfilled a tiny tiny bit!
 
and again....every 7500 mls nice 5W50 full synthetic....overfilling of 0.3 ltr not a problem. over 0.5 liter cat converter will get oil and will be RIP !
 
maybe your right matey?

Ill PM him and ask but for now im just gunna keep her topped up

need a compression test to confirm
 
maybe your right matey?

Ill PM him and ask but for now im just gunna keep her topped up

need a compression test to confirm

Fek knows, get it compression tested asap, either Alex or ring my bro his mate at work (ex renault mechanic) will sort you out.
 
Been speaking to someone who reckons they may be able to help with a part payout at renault in poole. But wel have to see how it goes!
 
**UPDATE**

Right well after some more digging the guys at poole have NEVER had to change the engine on a 1*2 due to worn piston rings.

After a compression test today I got approx 155-160psi each cylinder

Valve stem seals anyone??
 
  RS RIP
is your oil/breather thing still connected to the intake/elbow piping ?

that would get smelly and make a hiss..
 


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