A whistle is heard under the hood. We are looking for the cause of the "whistle" under the hood of the car and eliminate it

Many motorists are faced with the fact that a whistle appeared when starting the engine on a cold one. What is the reason for this effect? Those who had a "classic" Zhiguli in operation immediately know where to look for the cause.

Causes

For older cars, a whistle on a cold engine meant that the water pump drive or the pump itself had become unusable. For newer vehicles, there may be several reasons for this effect.

It is worth noting that this malfunction is related to the mechanics of the engine, and there is no need to go into the electronic unit management. Therefore, consider where the motorist needs to look for a malfunction if he wants to repair the vehicle with his own hands:

Drive belts.
Videos.
Water pump.
Generator.

Debugg

When the root causes are predetermined, you can proceed directly to the troubleshooting process. We stock up on time and tools. Now that everything is assembled, you can start. It is worth being prepared for the fact that details are required.

It is worth noting that for each specific make and model of the car, the design features of the repair and the location of the parts will be different.

Drive belts

Usually, whistling in the engine, especially at cold start - this is due to belt drives. So, the stretched belt slips along the pulley, which creates a characteristic squeak. Often, this effect is characteristic of the timing belt on newer cars. There are two ways to troubleshoot.

The first way is to tighten the belt (only for cars with a belt and a tension roller). To do this, you will have to dismantle the protective cover that covers the timing, and then, using tension roller pull up the drive. Sometimes it happens that the belt is in a very worn condition and needs to be replaced.

The second way is to replace the belt. Replacing the timing belt is a rather complicated and long-term task. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out this operation at a car service by professionals. Many motorists, out of ignorance, when replacing the drive belt, knocked down the gas distribution phases, which subsequently entailed serious consequences for power unit such as overhaul.

For different automakers, the timing for replacing the timing belt will be different, but the average indicator is that the element must be replaced after 40-50 thousand kilometers.

The process of replacing the timing belt is quite simple, but at the same time it is difficult to do without knowledge of the design. vehicle and repair methods. So, consider the basic provisions for replacing the timing belt:

To begin with, TMV marks are set. This is necessary in order not to knock down the valve timing when replacing the belt.
The camshaft or shafts are fixed on the pulleys against turning. There is a special tool for carrying out this operation, but as practice shows, motorists carry out fixation using improvised methods.
Next, loosen the belt by unscrewing the tension roller.
If necessary, on some car models, the pulley is removed crankshaft.
We remove the belt from the seats.
Usually, the assembly of the node is carried out in the reverse order. For many american cars there is a specific sequence for installing the timing belt. Therefore, before replacing it is recommended to study the manuals.

Videos

Together with the timing belt, whistling can be caused by a worn idler pulley. This is due to the fact that the belt slides over the part, creating a whistling sound. Car rollers change along with the timing belt.

On some vehicles, rollers can be replaced without dismantling the drive belt. It is worth remembering that when changing the element, it is necessary to adjust the tension of the drive belt, because if this is not done, then the whistle will appear again very soon, and the belt will be subject to increased wear.

water pump

Many Zhiguli owners are familiar with the whistle that appears after starting the engine on a cold one and disappears after warming up. This effect was caused by faulty pump parts. In both older and newer vehicles, the whistling effect can be caused by the water pump.

As in the case with timing belt whistling may be caused by worn water pump belt. On old domestic-made cars, the pump is driven from the crankshaft pulley, while the gas distribution chain operates on a chain installed directly in the block. For newer vehicles, the pump is part of the timing belt drive.

Consider this variant of the occurrence of a malfunction only for the old generation of vehicles. To fix the problem, you will have to determine where exactly it comes from. To begin with, you can change and tighten the drive belt. Tension adjustment is usually carried out using a generator.

Before dismantling the pump and understanding the internal elements, you should pay attention to the condition of the drive pulley. During operation, this part could be deformed and bring a lot of problems. Therefore, first examine it for deformations and position.

If the whistle has not disappeared, after changing the belt, then we go even deeper. In this case, means that the whistle comes from within the structure. What can make such a sound? Depending on the design features car models, a worn bearing or water pump drive shaft can whistle.

For most car models, this means replacing the water pump. But, for old GAZ models, such as the Volga 24 and 3102, as well as the 53rd Lawn, in order to save money, you can directly change the bearing and shaft itself. But, not all even the most experienced motorists are able to perform this type of operation, so it is recommended to contact a car service.

Generator

Another automotive item that can cause whistling under the hood of a vehicle is the alternator. So, as in the case of a water pump, it is worth examining the drive belt and pulley. Unlike the pump on the generator, the shaft is weak, which can be slightly deformed, which will disturb the position of the pulley.

In turn, the belt will not only slip, but wear out quickly. Therefore, before climbing directly inside, it is worth examining whether there are any external damage to the product.

In the alternator itself, whistling can be caused by worn bearings. So, they can slip on the seat or the drive shaft slides on the inside of the bearing, which causes friction of the metals, which is heard as a whistle.

To eliminate the malfunction, it is necessary to dismantle the generator from the car. Disassembly of the part should be carried out strictly clearly in the service manuals for diagnostics and repair. Further, when the product is disassembled, it is worth examining the condition of the shaft, bearings and seats. If defects or damage are found, these parts must be replaced. You don't have to change anything extra.

If the motorist has not repaired such products or the sequence of actions seems complicated, you should contact auto electricians. Specialists will be able to inexpensively replace the bearing, or repair parts of the generator. For example, by replacing the shaft with a used one that is in good working order.

Output

The causes of the whistle in the engine are considered. This effect is usually caused by worn parts. To eliminate the trouble, it is necessary to replace one of the elements: belt, tensioner, pump or generator parts. Not all motorists are able to do the process on their own, so it is recommended to contact a car service.

The motorist is driving calmly and suddenly hears an almost mystical whistle. Why can a whistle be heard under the hood? There may be several reasons. And methods of their elimination too.

Although it is possible, it should be sprayed with a belt tensioner. On the other hand, perhaps it does not slip, and the roller whistles when it vibrates.

In some cases, a whistle under the hood appears during frost. However, after a good heating of the car, the whistle under the hood stops.

Sometimes at low speeds (1500-2500) a characteristic whistle may appear under the hood. it appears when you let off the gas, but when you pick up speed, the whistle under the hood disappears.

In this case, the alternator belt has nothing to do with it. This suggests that in the near future it will be necessary, because in the cold the grease freezes, which is why it starts to whistle, and stops after warming up.

An option to combat whistling under the hood in winter, if the cause of the whistle under the hood is frost, then you can spray VD-40 pulleys. Still, it will have to be replaced next winter.

Another cause of whistling under the hood may be a torn regulator membrane. It just needs to be replaced and the whistle under the hood will stop.

To make sure it's whistling under the hood, twist the oil filler cap. Then, if the whistle disappears, the valve of the exhaust gas recirculation system. In this case, one will need to be replaced.

According to some motorists, the whistle under the hood does not particularly threaten the car, it just scares the driver himself. Most often, you just need to tighten or replace the alternator belt.

However, if this does not help, then it is best to contact a specialist who will correctly identify the cause of the whistle under the hood and tell you what to do about it.

The appearance of extraneous sounds after starting a cold engine, as well as during further operation of a warm engine, requires an immediate clarification of the causes. IN engine compartment engine knocking, belts and bearings can be heard attachments, crackling or crunching, as well as other noises. Such sounds are superimposed on the general smooth noise of the power unit, differing in strength, frequency and intensity.

Whistling in a V-belt drive is usually caused by friction. A whistling sound appears due to the loss of one or two contacting surfaces at once of their properties. In addition, belts, bearings and pulleys are affected by the humidity of the outside air, temperature, the degree of wear and damage, the amount lubricant in bearings, the quality of belt drive adjustment and other factors. Next, we will talk about what can most often make a whistle under the hood when starting the engine.

Read in this article

Whistle is heard when starting the engine

Let's start with the fact that a distinct whistle or a short squeak can appear even on a new car at the moment the engine is started. Often this happens in wet weather. After a few seconds, this sound disappears. There may be no other symptoms of a malfunction. Also, a whistle of this kind is constant, with an increase in engine speed, it starts to whistle louder. In both cases, the implement drive or drive belt is a common source of noise. Most often, a quiet or piercing whistle, depending on the design features, is emitted by:

generator drive belt;
power steering (GUR);
air conditioner drive;
drive unit ;

It must be added that they can whistle as themselves drive belts, and bearings in specified equipment. Also, extraneous sound occurs as a result of wear on the surface of the pulleys or dirt ingress.

Whistling alternator belt

The most common cause of whistling, which experts especially note, is the alternator belt. Whistle begins due to the fact that the specified belt is loosely tensioned and slips. With an increase in engine speed, the whistle usually stops, as the belt stops sliding and begins to work synchronously on the pulley.

Typically, these symptoms are observed in wet weather, as moisture on the surface of the belt and pulleys reduces the frictional properties of the materials. This indicates a loss of proper elasticity by the belt. Such a slight slippage of the alternator belt does not affect the stability of the motor, but it is recommended to monitor its condition and tighten it as soon as possible, as it will not receive full charge. Moreover, even after tightening, it is often necessary to prepare for an early replacement of the belt.

Also, slippage of the belt on the pulleys when starting the engine in cold weather can be caused by the fact that there is a significant thickening of the lubricant that is in the generator bearing. It turns out that the belt cannot turn the alternator pulley, as a result of which it slips. With warming up and thinning of the lubricant, the whistle can either disappear or be present.

In the second case, it is necessary to separately check whether the generator pulley is able to rotate. There is a situation when the generator shaft is jammed. Next, replace the grease in the bearing, check and tighten the belt. You also need to pay attention to the condition of the surface of the alternator pulley. It must be added that if the car is equipped with a toothed belt drive of the generator, then the pulley cannot be the cause of the whistle, the fault is localized in the bearing area.

The belt may whistle briefly after starting the engine or continuously. This often indicates not only insufficient tension or critical wear. There is still a high probability of dirt, engine oil or other technical fluids getting on the drive belt.

In this case, even a new alternator belt must be urgently replaced. Auto mechanics strongly recommend contacting a service station for diagnostics in case of a loud whistle when starting the engine, which does not disappear with warming up and continues after the start of movement.

It happens that the belt whistled constantly, but the whistle in motion suddenly stopped. In such a situation, there is a high probability of a complete break in the alternator drive belt. In this case, the warning lamp on the instrument panel will light up, which will indicate that the battery is not charged. If you do not take action in a timely manner and continue the trip, then the battery may be completely discharged.

The easiest way to check the tension of the drive belt with your own hands is to press on the belt. If its deflection is noted, then it is necessary to tighten it. Also, the belt should not have noticeable defects, delamination, traces of technical fluids. If antifreeze or engine oil gets on the alternator belt, it means that it needs to be replaced.

Other possible causes of whistling under the hood: power steering, air conditioning, pump

Similar to the main causes of alternator belt whistling, similar noises can also occur in other units that are driven by a belt drive. The air conditioning compressor, or rather the clutch drive belt, can whistle. This is easily checked by turning the air conditioner on and off. In rare cases, the whistle of the alternator belt is possible after turning on the climate, which occurs as a result of a significant increase in the load on the generator.

Also, do not exclude:

possible slippage of the compressor drive clutch, which turns more difficult due to insufficient amount of refrigerant (frion) in the system. The fact is that freon is a lubricant for the compressor;
in addition, it is necessary to check the performance and quality of lubrication of the compressor bearings and pulley, which will depend on the features of a particular design. Similar recommendations can also be applied to the power steering pump and its drive, as well as to the liquid pump of the engine cooling system;

During operation, it is recommended to treat drive belts with special chemical compounds that allow you to maintain elasticity, protect the rubber product from cracking and drying out. The use of special equipment allows you to reduce noise during operation and extend the life of the belt. Such means can be used for V-belts or serpentine type drive belts.

After replacing the alternator belt, especially with affordable non-original solutions, a whistle after starting the engine may occur due to the poor quality of the installed product. Also, the possibility of insufficient tension should not be ruled out.

An additional operation is the need to lubricate the tension roller, if this is provided for by the design. You should also pay attention to the fact that the desired coincidence of the pulleys along the axes is observed. Another cause of whistling may be too much tension on the drive belt. Retightening leads to an increase in the load on the generator bearing and idler pulley.

Finally, we add that in order to accurately determine the source of the whistle, it is recommended to treat the drive belt with a special tool. If the whistling becomes less intense or disappears, then the problem lies with the belt, and not with the condition of the pulley itself or the attachment bearings.

What can whistle under the hood

As described above, whistling can come from different mechanisms due to some reason. And it is important to remember that when a whistle appears, this does not always mean some kind of serious malfunction. So what can serve as a source of whistles of a different nature?

Generator belt;
Generator belt tensioner roller;
Power steering pump bearing;
Timing belt tensioner;
Air conditioning compressor bearing;
Water pump drive (pump);
Membrane pressure regulator valves.

The above are the main elements of the engine compartment of the car from where the whistle can be. But again, it is important to understand and distinguish the type of whistle. If the cause is a weakened alternator belt, then you need to know how the whistle manifests itself when rubber rubs against metal. If the whistle is similar to the sound of metal rubbing against metal, then these are bearings and rollers.

Causes of a whistle under the hood

Increased humidity. This is the main reason for the appearance of a whistle under the hood of a car. The fact is that when moisture gets on the alternator belt, the frictional ability decreases and, accordingly, a whistle appears.

Grease. In addition to moisture, the cause of belt whistling may be difficult turning of the alternator pulley due to the fact that the grease in the alternator bearing may thicken. But it is important to remember that this problem manifests itself when starting the engine on a cold one.

Belt tensioners not adjusted. It is also worth mentioning the weak tension of the alternator belt. With a weak tension, the belt slips along the pulley, which causes the appearance of a characteristic whistle. Below you can hear how the alternator belt whistles.

Lack of lubricant in bearings. An equally common problem is the whistling of bearings and rollers. In the absence of lubrication, a characteristic whistle also appears on the rubbing surfaces of the bearing, but as mentioned earlier, this sound will differ from the familiar whistle of the alternator belt. This sound can even be called not a whistle, but a full-fledged rumble. Below you can hear how the generator bearing squeaks.

The drive of the water pump is very similar to the sound emitted by the generator belt. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to have a clear ear to determine the specific location of the whistle. How the pump whistles can be heard below.

Conclusion.

From all of the above, it is important to conclude that the appearance of a whistle in the engine compartment, whether during acceleration or engine operation at idling this is in any case an alarm signal, although in most cases it is not critical. But still it requires attention, search for causes, adjustments or replacement of individual elements. And you should not eliminate whistles and squeaks with various liquids or oils. This will eliminate the sound, but will not fix the problem.

Causes and culprits of whistling in the engine compartment was last modified: October 3rd, 2018 by Administrator

All car owners are pleased with the situation when the car works properly and without interruptions, and from under the hood you can hear the even rustle of the power unit. However, it happens differently when the car makes a whistle, knock and other extraneous and annoying sounds. This is especially frightening for inexperienced drivers. Sounds and whistles can have a variety of origins that only an experienced driver can determine.

Of course, only a specialist at a service station will be able to determine the source of the sound as accurately as possible after complete diagnosis. Moreover, it is necessary to find out the cause of the appearance of extraneous noise as soon as possible after their appearance.

From under the hood, you can hear the sound of the engine, the whistle of belts and attachment bearings, crackling, crunching and other noises. Such sounds are superimposed on the general smooth noise of the engine, vary in strength, frequency and intensity. It must be remembered that extraneous sounds may not always indicate a serious breakdown.

Whistle when starting the power unit

It should be noted right away that not only used cars, but also new cars can make a whistle or squeak when starting the engine. This usually happens in wet weather. After a few seconds, such sounds disappear and there may be no other signs of a malfunction. Also, a distinct whistle and a short-term squeak can sound constantly, and with increasing engine speed it becomes louder. In both cases, it is usually the implement drive or the drive belt that is the source of the noise.

A quiet and piercing whistle is emitted by: the generator drive belt, the power steering (GUR), the air conditioner drive or the coolant pump drive. In addition, it is worth noting that both the drive belts themselves and the bearings in the above equipment can act as a source of whistling. Also, an extraneous sound occurs as a result of the development of pulleys or the ingress of dirt.

Alternator belt whine

The alternator belt is one of the most common causes of whistling. If this happens on a freshly started car or in wet weather - in general, this does not pose any danger. This is quite normal, no need to worry. But if the whistle continues while driving, you need to beware. As a rule, whistling begins due to a weak belt tension or slippage. With a set of revolutions, the whistle usually disappears, as the belt has stopped slipping and began to work in sync on the pulley. Often this happens when there is high humidity outside. Moisture on the surface of the belt and pulleys provokes a decrease in the frictional properties of materials.

This situation indicates that the belt is loose or has lost elasticity. In principle, this kind of slight slippage does not affect the stability of the engine, but at the first opportunity it is necessary to check the condition of the belt and the degree of tightness, since the battery may not receive a full charge.
The belt can slip on the pulleys in the cold season due to the thickening of the grease in the generator bearing. In this situation, the belt cannot turn the pulley - and slips. After warming up, this kind of whistle can either disappear or remain. If the whistle is still present, you should check if the alternator pulley is rotating. Sometimes it happens that the generator shaft is jammed. You also need to check the condition of the pulley surface.

A short-term or constant whistle when starting the engine is very often not associated with tension or critical wear of the alternator belt. The source of the whistling may be dirt on the drive belt, motor oil or other technical fluids. In such a situation, the alternator belt must be replaced immediately (even a new one).

In addition, it happens that the belt whistled constantly and suddenly stopped. There is a good chance that it broke off. If this happened, on dashboard the indicator light will come on, indicating that the battery has stopped charging. If you do not correct the situation and continue driving, the battery will be completely discharged.

You can check the tension of the belt yourself - just press it. If a deflection is noticeable, a tightening is necessary. Plus, the belt should be free of all sorts of defects, delaminations and traces of technical fluids.

Other sources of whistle under the hood (air conditioner, pump, power steering)

The source of the whistle can be the air conditioning compressor and the clutch drive belt. It's pretty easy to check - turn it on and off air conditioner. Very rarely, the alternator belt may whistle after turning on the “climate”, as a result of a significant increase in the load on the generator.

In addition, whistling may occur:

When the compressor drive clutch slips. This is due to the fact that there is little refrigerant (freon) in the system. The latter acts as a lubricant for the compressor.
In case of interruptions in performance and loss of quality of lubrication of the compressor bearings and pulley (depending on the design features). A similar situation may arise with the power steering pump and its drive, as well as the liquid pump of the power unit cooling system.

The occurrence of a whistle in the engine compartment during acceleration or engine idling is in any case an alarming sign, although most often this is not something critical. However, this fact should not be ignored. During operation, it is necessary to treat drive belts with special chemical compounds that will retain elasticity and protect rubber products from cracking and drying out.

, 09 Oct 2017

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