Advise please – Strange noise from Ci

[GoCart]

Hi Lads,

Some guess work required here please.

This morning when I started up the Ci, it made a really strange noise, almost like a hydraulic pump, and it reacted with engine speed. It did eventually go away as the car heated up but what remained was a faint high pitched noise, barely noticeable…

Could this be the water pump on the way out, it’s obviously connected to one of the belts…

This car does not use a drop of coolant, I check regularly. All other fluids are OK. Nearly 130K on the clock now.

Any ideas?

 

[Sankekur]

Power steering fluid level also OK?

Power steering pumps tend to make a screeching noise when the fluid is low.

 

[SP33DYV]

Power steering would be my guess as well. :dunno:


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[GoCart]

Well the pump is a year old, but the fluid might be the problem.. I checked it last weekend and the res was like 50% full.... is there some sort of low level indication?

 

[SP33DYV]

Well the pump is a year old, but the fluid might be the problem.. I checked it last weekend and the res was like 50% full.... is there some sort of low level indication?

Well, IIRC there is a dipstick or some sort of marking to indicate the level required. It will make a noise if the level is too low or if there is a bit of air in the system.


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[GoCart]

Mmmmmm, no dipstick but I'll have a closer look for markings... and will brim it.

Thank you guys.

 

[Sankekur]

The cap of the reservoir is the dipstick, it should have a protrusion on the bottom with a full marking on it.

It might just be a little bit under the right level, hence it being noisy for a while then becoming quiet again.

Best would be to see if you could reproduce the noise...then add a bit of ATF to the reservoir, and try to reproduce again.

 

[GoCart]

You guys are making me feel like a Dumb Ass now !!! How on earth did I miss that the dip stick is the little attachment to the cap… :argh::bangdesk:

I’ll go get a new cap seal ring as well…

 

[SP33DYV]

:sorry:


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[GoCart]

:rollsmile: You know I always value the advice you lads pass my way...

 

[Sankekur]

holding thumbs its just the fluid that is slightly low.

Check the pipes under the reservoir as well as they can also get leaky with time on the e46's.

 

[Executer]

holding thumbs its just the fluid that is slightly low.

Check the pipes under the reservoir as well as they can also get leaky with time on the e46's.

true I have a small leak in mine

 

[Ralf*]

Herman

take a long thin screwdriver, place the handle inside your ear, the metal tip on various parts of the car, the screwdriver now acts like a doctors stephoscope and all sounds will be nicely amplified.

I woudn't discount the idler/tensioner pulley for the aircon unit or for the alternator.

Also don't rule out the Alternator bearings

the idler/tensioner pulley and the alternator bearing also make a high pitched screetching sound which goes away somewhat after it warms up, and is also directly related to the engine speed.

 

[Ralf*]

and any development on this ??
:fencelook::fencelook:

 

[GoCart]

Drained and replaced power steering fluid and cap seal... no other leaks... noise is still there.

Sounds like it is coming from either the PS Pump or Alternator!! Sounds a bit mechanical on idle, not too loud though, has a high pitch squeal when I give it a rev.

This damn car has been nothing but trouble since I got it!!!

I need a reliable car and this thing is starting to piss me off again.

 

[S1NGH 001]

Very likely it's one of the pulleys :thumbs:

 

[GoCart]

And just today I blew Kyalami off to go pick up a set of 330 brake callipers for an upgrade !!! :argh:

 

[Ralf*]

Drained and replaced power steering fluid and cap seal... no other leaks... noise is still there.

Sounds like it is coming from either the PS Pump or Alternator!! Sounds a bit mechanical on idle, not too loud though, has a high pitch squeal when I give it a rev.

This damn car has been nothing but trouble since I got it!!!

I need a reliable car and this thing is starting to piss me off again.

another "cheap" method to resolve this, is to spray or drip some form of lubrication, "Q20"/"3-in-one" or similar oil/lubricant onto the suspected noise part, if the noise goes away, then that is the offending part, otherwise move onto the next section/bearing/pulley

Thats how I resolved a tensioner pulley on my E36 325i, the "cheap" lubrication actually made the noise go away totally for a week or two, until the lubrication had been exhausted and noise came back.

This way you can get rid of the noise temporarily, and at the same know where to source the correct part to permanently repair the noise.

 

[GoCart]

Thanks Rolf, I'll try it tomorrow, with some C4 at the ready.

 

[Ralf*]

Thanks Rolf, I'll try it tomorrow, with some C4 at the ready.

:roflol::roflol::roflol:

BOOM !