Strange noise from car?

Terrier_Jimlad · 18 Jan 2013 at 11:09

Don't think I have ever started a thread in Motors, so be gentle please

The wifes 2007 Ford Focus 1.6 Sport (just hit 60k miles) starts and runs fine, then after 2-3 minutes on the road, when the accelerator is pressed a sound which I can only describe as a small turbine engine starting up can be heard from what appears to be down by the passenger side of the engine, and then it slows down as you let off the pedal.

I have uploaded a 30 sec sound clip of it here, although you only need to listen to the first 15 seconds

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yun04flzlqrw9en/ford_focus_noise.mp3

Does anyone have any idea of what it could be making the noise?

Ta very much

Maximum Triceratops · 18 Jan 2013 at 11:12

It seems you have a Boeing 747 in your engine bay.

Terrier_Jimlad · 18 Jan 2013 at 11:36

A friend has suggested it might be the alternator bearing(s)?

Scania · 18 Jan 2013 at 12:52

Bearings failed in the alternator on my truck a while back, sounded more like a bolt in a tin can being shaken....

Camalot · 18 Jan 2013 at 12:55

Surely alternator bearings would rattle, has the fan belt been changed recently?

TaKeN · 18 Jan 2013 at 14:02

Does it make the same noise whilst revving in neutral?

Does the noise change as you push the clutch in?

Tom_ed1987 · 18 Jan 2013 at 14:03

Very hard to make out in that clip but it sounds like a bearing whine from somewhere in the transmission.

Alternator bearings would make the same noise when you are stationary and just revving the engine.

Brookert · 18 Jan 2013 at 14:12

Terrier_Jimlad said:
Don't think I have ever started a thread in Motors, so be gentle please

The wifes 2007 Ford Focus 1.6 Sport (just hit 60k miles) starts and runs fine, then after 2-3 minutes on the road, when the accelerator is pressed a sound which I can only describe as a small turbine engine starting up can be heard from what appears to be down by the passenger side of the engine, and then it slows down as you let off the pedal.
I have uploaded a 30 sec sound clip of it here, although you only need to listen to the first 15 seconds

https://www.dropbox.com/s/yun04flzlqrw9en/ford_focus_noise.mp3

Does anyone have any idea of what it could be making the noise?

Ta very much

Sure it isn't a wheel bearing?

4T5 · 18 Jan 2013 at 14:19

Can't tell nowt from that clip.

bitslice · 18 Jan 2013 at 21:54

The alternator is on the drivers side (part of the belt loop), so unlikely.
You could turn on the heated screen and hear if the sound changes under load.

Turbine sound in line with acceleration? Suggest axle bearing.
Have you changed the belt yet?
Any bubbles in the power steering tank?