Whining From Engine

[richie199]

Hi chaps,

Its my first time on the Citroen discussion website so any help is appreciated.

 

I have just bought a citroen xsara estate 1.4 on a 02 plate. There is a slight whine from the engine when in gear and driving at low speed. My neighbour seems to think it may be coming fromt he water pump? but it is definatly from that area of the car. I have google'd the serpentine belt assemberly but i can't find a diagram for where the water pump is in relation to the alternator etc.

 

If it is a water pump is it a diy job to change or will it have to go to a garage.

 

Thanks in advance

 

Rich Neale

[Johndouglas]

 

If it is a water pump is it a diy job to change

 

The question is - could you tackle a timing belt change, because the water pump is driven by the timing belt and the pump is usually changed at the same time as the belt and tensioners. The alternator is driven off the visible belt whereas the timing belt is internal.

[richie199]

The question is - could you tackle a timing belt change, because the water pump is driven by the timing belt and the pump is usually changed at the same time as the belt and tensioners. The alternator is driven off the visible belt whereas the timing belt is internal.

Would this explain the noise in your opinion.

[Johndouglas]

a slight whine from the engine when in gear and driving at low speed.

 

So if it's out of gear, but rolling forward at tickover, then there's no whine? If so, you can rule out the water pump because that's turning all the time the engine is running. Also water pumps give their trouble by loosing water rather than bearing noise. Try some more experiments. For instance does it whine more when turning or straight ahead? How about when the clutch is depressed?

[richie199]

So if it's out of gear, but rolling forward at tickover, then there's no whine? If so, you can rule out the water pump because that's turning all the time the engine is running. Also water pumps give their trouble by loosing water rather than bearing noise. Try some more experiments. For instance does it whine more when turning or straight ahead? How about when the clutch is depressed?

 

Hi Mate,

 

I have took off the timing belt and revved the engine and the whine whent away. I have put the belt back on (i love youtube) and put some wd40 and the pully's and started the engine and the whine has gone.

 

In hine sight i should of perhaps only oiled one pully at a time to see which one the troubled one is.

 

After all this there is a slight humming from the area near the cambelt - i should imagine this is a garage job as of the protection that is around the belt. Would the humming suggest that this is time to change if so is it a big job at a garage.

 

I really appreciate your help and opinions.......... thanks

[Johndouglas]

Hi Mate,

 

I have took off the timing belt and revved the engine

 

Timing belt and cambelt are the same thing. Once you take off that belt you mustn't turn the engine. Most likely what you took off was the auxilliary belt. They do sometimes make noises. Sometimes because they are too tight; too loose or even have noisy pulley bearings.

 

The cambelt is behind the three part plastic cover on the end of the engine. It should be replaced every 75000 miles or 10 years and in a garage it's a two & a half hour job - or all day in my case.