ST220 - High Pressure Whistle from right of engine

Makhaira

Makhaira

Makhaira

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Mystery for all you automotive sleuths out there!

'04 plate ST220. I've noticed a whistling sound today, best described as the sort of whistle you'd expect from something high pressure escaping from a small gap.

Doesn't appear to vary with revs, clutch, brake. Occurs both moving and stationary. Car drives perfectly, no strange behaviour at all.

Opening the bonnet, it sounds like it's coming somewhere from the right hand side of the engine, possibly in the myriad of pipes there.

My money is on the fact that I've got a loose pipe or a degrading pipe on there somewhere - what do you reckon in light of the above? It's too hot at the moment for me to go poking around, so I'll let it cool down, and if I can't find anything then I'll take it to the garage tomorrow whilst it's still an annoyance rather than an actual problem.

Cheers!
 
Definitely a whistle and not a squeal? It's probably an air leak. The breather hose attached to the rear of the inlet manifold is known for degrading and leaking.

Best thing is to remove the plastic engine cover and put your ear close to the engine and see if you can pinpoint its source - does it come from nearer the front or the back right hand side?
 
Might be worth double checking if there's one of these installed just before the airbox:


ry17040_bov_ssqv.jpg
 
Right, just had more of a play.

Definitely a whistle. Definitely right hand side, with cover off I can see more but I'm none the wider for location. It's somewhere behind the right hand belt at least it's definitely not forwards of that.

It does seem to be a bit intermittent actually, and at times I can make it stop or start with revs now, but it seems random whether that works. If its happening and I stop the engine, it dies out like something losing pressure would. Aircon makes no difference.

I guess it might be a garage job as with the manifold off these things would be easy to grab and check...
 
put your hand around the back right hand side of the inlet manifold and you should be able to feel the breather hose (it's about 20mm in diameter iirc) - if you gently wiggle it around whilst the engine's running does the whistle's characteristics change?
 
Thanks Howard, I'll have a look tomorrow at that one. As I understand it, if it's the breather/vacuum/manifold control runner, then it's still fine to run the car anyways?

My preferred mechanic is around next weekend so I'll get him to look at it if I won't cause a problem.

Cheers!
 
Well it's hard to say for sure (maybe you could take a video?) but other than causing an engine management warning light and having a rougher idle if it gets much worse, I can't see it causing any real problems.
 
That's what I thought (and I've just spoken to my mechanic mate who said the same), so I'll ride it out until next weekend. Until then, one musical car for me!

I'll be sure to post back with the verdict for future benefit.
 
Howard, you are indeed a scholar and a gentleman.

Got an engine warning light today (solid, not flashing), so had a play with your suggestion. Bob's your uncle, if I wiggle that breather hose coming off the back right of the manifold, I can play whatever tune I like. There's therefore a crack in that, or one of the other hoses it lies next to (it and the vac are next to each other).

Just going to ignore it until next weekend, but full marks for your diagnosis!
 
:)


It's a fiddly job because you have to remove the inlet manifold, unless you've got sufficiently tiny enough hands to get behind it and remove the hose, but it's not too bad.
 
Not had to do mine :)


... yet.


I've had the inlet manifold off though to do the spark plugs so I've got an idea what the job is like.

If I had to do it I'd just get one from my local Ford parts dept.
 
Looks like the one - just need a ramp to be able to get under the car then, should be a doddle next weekend :). Did you have similar symptoms Imy?
 
I didn't hear any weird noises, just had the engine management light come on and error code showing bank 1 running lean.

Mechanic didn't put it on a ramp or anything, just reached under the engine from the front of the car and felt his way around. Took him 10 minutes or so and didn't charge me.

I got the part myself from Ford.
 
Fixed! 2 inch split in the pipe. Mechanic had changed a few of these before and did it in situ in about 5 minutes flat.

Interestingly, the ECU seems to have adapted over the past week's driving, so it stalled out the first couple of times, but now idles happily.

How long does it take for the ECU light to go out? Will it "learn" that it's now fixed, or do I need to get it reset somehow to dismiss the light?

Cheers for all the help guys!
 
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