General Grande Punto 1.4 2009 engine rumour on 1500 RPM

[Indritk]

Hello guys,

Today I'm hearing a strange rumour from my engine when I'm at 1500 RPM..as you can hear on the video I'm attaching..what could it be please?

Thanks to everyone

 

[AnthonyH]

Possibly the alternator or fan belt.

If you have the clutch depressed while revving possibly that.

 

[Indritk]

Possibly the alternator or fan belt.

If you have the clutch depressed while revving possibly that.

Thank you,I have replaced the fan belt 5 months ago...I will check the alternator

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Thank you,I have replaced the fan belt 5 months ago...I will check the alternator

Do try the depressing of the clutch pedal first as it's so easy to do and will quickly rule out gearbox problems if no difference is heard in the noise. It may well be an alternator - if so most likely the front bearing, but could also be the timing belt idler or water pump bearings. However, and this is difficult to be certain about without actually being with you, it's not dissimilar to the sort of noise which many have reported to be made by the timing belt itself. Our 1.2 2010 Panda makes a noise very like this, although not so pronounced as yours, and I've established beyond doubt that on ours it caused by the teeth of the belt where they run into mesh with the camshaft pulley. Ours has made that noise since we bought her back around 2017 and I fitted a new (Gates) belt kit including idler and water pump around 2018 but the noise only got slightly quieter after fitting the new belt. The car runs just fine, the noise has remain about the same and there's never been the slightest hint of something failing.

How long have you owned the car? is this a new noise or has it always made it? If the noise has just suddenly started I'd be looking at bearings but if it's always been like that then the timing belt is more likely. Have to say though, it's difficult to diagnose this sort of thing without being there to listen and investigate.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Do you know about listening to it with a "listening stick" and/or "listening tube". These methods can let you narrow down the options considerably but are risky if you're not experienced as they need the engine to be running.

A listening stick is any solid metal rod which is long enough to touch stuff like the alternator with one end while the other end is held against your ear. You can buy a dedicated automotive stethoscope but, for many years I just used a nice long screwdriver. To check the alternator front bearing you would stick the blade end against the alternator casing just behind the pulley and listen to the handle end by pressing it against your ear - the noise is conduacted ip the screwdriver. Try it on several components, air con pump etc and it's pretty obvious when you hear a worn bearing. For Gawd's sake be very careful you don't get it tangled up in the moving parts - fan and timing belts being especially dangerous - You can end up with very serious, maybe life threatening, injuries.

A listening tube is a convenient length of tube - my present one is a length of nylon tube of about quarter inch bore - and it's used by sticking one end in your ear and moving the other end around near where you suspect the noise to be originating. In this case though the noise is not being transmitted to your ear by conduction so you don't touch the suspected component, just move it around very close to where you think the noise is coming from. Where it's loudest is where the problem is. Again, don't get the tube tangled up in moving engine parts!

 

[The Panda Nut]

Do you know about listening to it with a "listening stick" and/or "listening tube". These methods can let you narrow down the options considerably but are risky if you're not experienced as they need the engine to be running.

A listening stick is any solid metal rod which is long enough to touch stuff like the alternator with one end while the other end is held against your ear. You can buy a dedicated automotive stethoscope but, for many years I just used a nice long screwdriver. To check the alternator front bearing you would stick the blade end against the alternator casing just behind the pulley and listen to the handle end by pressing it against your ear - the noise is conduacted ip the screwdriver. Try it on several components, air con pump etc and it's pretty obvious when you hear a worn bearing. For Gawd's sake be very careful you don't get it tangled up in the moving parts - fan and timing belts being especially dangerous - You can end up with very serious, maybe life threatening, injuries.

A listening tube is a convenient length of tube - my present one is a length of nylon tube of about quarter inch bore - and it's used by sticking one end in your ear and moving the other end around near where you suspect the noise to be originating. In this case though the noise is not being transmitted to your ear by conduction so you don't touch the suspected component, just move it around very close to where you think the noise is coming from. Where it's loudest is where the problem is. Again, don't get the tube tangled up in moving engine parts!

Or for those of us born within the last centuary (oops sorry couldn't resist LOL) an automotive stethoscope.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12471945...R7FepCFKNbZvOsZc9Ah2LAqHXw==|tkp:BFBM5LvP_bpl

You can look as well as listen and being through both ears it gives you a bit better sense of direction.
You can watch face on as you are dragged into the alternator bearings LOL

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Or for those of us born within the last centuary (oops sorry couldn't resist LOL) an automotive stethascope.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12471945...R7FepCFKNbZvOsZc9Ah2LAqHXw==|tkp:BFBM5LvP_bpl

You can look as well as listen and being through both ears it gives you a bit better sense of direction.
You can watch face on as you are dragged into the alternator bearings LOL

That's actually the one I bought after many years with my trusty long screwdriver. I thought you were pointing out a spelling mistake in my spelling of the word stethoscope because you spell it stethascope? (my spelling is atrocious) but no, it's actually spelt with an "O"

 

[Indritk]

Thank you guys,I will check...the strange thing is that I hear the rumour only when the engine it's hot like 90...on cold one I don't hear nothing

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Thank you guys,I will check...the strange thing is that I hear the rumour only when the engine it's hot like 90...on cold one I don't hear nothing

Ours makes the noise all the time but maybe a little louder when cold.

 

[The Panda Nut]

That's actually the one I bought after many years with my trusty long screwdriver. I thought you were pointing out a spelling mistake in my spelling of the word stethoscope because you spell it stethascope? (my spelling is atrocious) but no, it's actually spelt with an "O"

Not as atroshus (bad) as mine. I still use my big screw driver too. I just couldnt resist having a pop when you wete talking of using other things. Im clearly not good at taking a pop politics.....
I think its time we had a built in spell checker on here for people like me! Now how do you spell a cilla scope?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Not as atroshus (bad) as mine. I still use my big screw driver too. I just couldnt resist having a pop when you wete talking of using other things. Im clearly not good at taking a pop politics.....
I think its time we had a built in spell checker on here for people like me! Now how do you spell a cilla scope?

Oh yes, a spell checker please. Mrs J was a school administrator before retiral and is passionate about correct spelling and grammar - My pathetic efforts are a constant source of annoyance to her. See, I just had to look up Grammar (I'd spelt it with an e).

I'm also well known for being slow on the uptake, and it's getting worse as I age - I'm the guy who laughs at the joke that was told a few minutes ago in the middle of someone else telling the next joke!

 

[Indritk]

Hello guys,

I got that tool to listen up ...so I think the noise comes from this part on the photo attached...what's this part?

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

VVT actuator valve. To be honest not very likely it's that as all it is basically is a tap which is switched on and/or off electrically - It's a solenoid - to allow oil pressure to vary the VVT pulley position. As you're picking up the noise in that area I'd be looking more closely at the alternator front bearing (ie just behind the alternator pulley.