Good or bad noise

waveydave79 · 11 Jun 2006 at 02:31

I posted a couple of other threads regarding this car, its been a bit of a saga.

Firstly my brake pads got stuck on one side, I ve taken it to the dealer they sorted this, then the car was knocking when going over bumps. The exhust had moved, again this is now sorted.

I thought great no more problems, Now I am unsure....

Maybe its my lack of trust after this week of bad events with the car so far, and getting used to it. but when travelling on most roads Ive noticed the cars Whuurs, its kinda of like a dummbed down windtunnel. This has only been apprant since I had both windows wound down, after weather got hot, it doesnt seem to be getting any worse.

It doesnt matter if the car is in gear, doesnt seem to matter what road surface I am on, so this rules out noisey exhust or tires, all wheels are luke when when i pull up and not one HOT one so nothing is rubbing.

Surely if its something which needs doing it will get louder, humms and whurs are normal but this seems alittle louder, maybe I am not used to the car. Its a N16 Y plate Almera 1.5. I had a older model before that was very quiet.

The only thing I can think of is maybe tires as they are 5 years old the original ones, as the car was driven by an ederly chap before who only did 22K, its been well looked after and recently serviced.

Im i worried over nothing?

Mox3d · 11 Jun 2006 at 03:06

waveydave79 said:
I posted a couple of other threads regarding this car, its been a bit of a saga.

Firstly my brake pads got stuck on one side, I ve taken it to the dealer they sorted this, then the car was knocking when going over bumps. The exhust had moved, again this is now sorted.

I thought great no more problems, Now I am unsure....

Maybe its my lack of trust after this week of bad events with the car so far, and getting used to it. but when travelling on most roads Ive noticed the cars Whuurs, its kinda of like a dummbed down windtunnel. This has only been apprant since I had both windows wound down, after weather got hot, it doesnt seem to be getting any worse.

It doesnt matter if the car is in gear, doesnt seem to matter what road surface I am on, so this rules out noisey exhust or tires, all wheels are luke when when i pull up and not one HOT one so nothing is rubbing.

Surely if its something which needs doing it will get louder, humms and whurs are normal but this seems alittle louder, maybe I am not used to the car. Its a N16 Y plate Almera 1.5. I had a older model before that was very quiet.

The only thing I can think of is maybe tires as they are 5 years old the original ones, as the car was driven by an ederly chap before who only did 22K, its been well looked after and recently serviced.

Im i worried over nothing?

Tough one this but if it is speed related (regardless of what gear you are in) then I would suspect a wheel bearing, possibly even as a result of the sticky caliper creating excess heat which then will carry through to the hub. Or it could simply be wearing out as they do.

A relatively cheap repair I'm sure, but I would suggest that if it is this to get both sides done.

Edit: One possible way to diagnose this would be to take weight off each wheel by jacking the car on level ground and giving the wheel a good tug back and forth (clamp it with both hands either side and try to rotate it up/down & left/right etc). A duff bearing should reveal itself soon enough by any apparent play about it's axis.

waveydave79 · 11 Jun 2006 at 03:12

Mox3d said:
Tough one this but if it is speed related (regardless of what gear you are in) then I would suspect a wheel bearing, possibly even as a result of the sticky caliper creating excess heat which then will carry through to the hub. Or it could simply be wearing out as they do.

A relatively cheap repair I'm sure, but I would suggest that if it is this to get both sides done.

Edit: One possible way to diagnose this would be to take weight off each wheel by jacking the car on level ground and giving the wheel a good tug back and forth (clamp it with both hands either side and try to rotate it up/down & left/right etc). It should reveal itself soon enough.

As the heat going through to the HUB this is not happening all wheels are luke warm, this happened when the caliper went and one got RED hot.

I cant locate the noise, it dont even know if its coming from the front or back tell the truth, I only know that if I wind down the windows i can hear it, with the windows up the car seems silient.

Im in 2 minds about calling the garage, I think I will call and explain that they only changed one caliper, I want to know why they would do this, this would create uneven wear, I think some spanner monkey was rushing alittle.

Mox3d · 11 Jun 2006 at 03:22

waveydave79 said:
Im gonna ring up the dealship again for the third time, Looks like I have no alturnative. It shouldnt be like this. When they changed the caliper they only did 1 side I know this for sure. Im sure that they cannot charge me in any way shape or form as its there doing

The car is great but I am starting to get alittle wound up by this garage now!

It's is logical to only replace or repair a caliper individually for a dealer if it is sticky (warranty or not). I'm just suggesting that if a wheel bearing is going on one side, it may well be due soon on the other. However, if it is a wheel bearing going out as a direct result of excess heat build up to the hub from a sticky caliper, then just doing that one bearing will probably suffice.

Hope this helps, and try to be as calm as you can be with them however mad you might be feeling. Be infuriatingly nice! Help them to help you

waveydave79 · 11 Jun 2006 at 09:04

I`ll be nice to them. I have so far and admitadly they have dealt with things really quickly

I just mension the noise ask for them to check it out, Its definatly not meant to make this sound as I test drove other almeras before I got this and it NEVER made this sound.

Gonna ring them this morning, I think only there sales is open, but I should be able to get an answer on what they will do.

waveydave79 · 11 Jun 2006 at 13:02

the noise is auctually coming from under the bonnet, which is why its contant just gets more apperant, I heard it when I lifted the bonnet. stationary you cannot hear it when the bonnet is down. but its coming from the side around the cam belt.

I phoned the main dealer they said they will take a look.

The noise gives the impression of like wind noise. Any ideas? Obvoisly it is not wino noise or anything to do with bearings or tyres etc now.

waveydave79 · 12 Jun 2006 at 02:38

Im lead to believe the problem is with the breather pipe. Hope this is not hard to replace / fix

waveydave79 · 13 Jun 2006 at 16:47

I returned to the main dealer and asked them to check the car, for this metalic noise, one of the enginners got in, we went down the road between 30-50mph he said all he could hear was normal road noise.

am I just going mad :eek:

I have rotated the tires and wheel bearings were checked i believe that its a noise under the bonnest thats travelling or perhaps something generated by the front of the car as the wind hits at a angel.

Should i be worried or now try and put it to the back of my mind