Whining noise - help needed

[b17e30]

[Vectra 54 plate 1.9 CDTi]

My Vectra began whining at about 65-70mph a few days back. I'd been suffering a loss of acceleration with some stuttering prior to this and with a bit of testing I learned:

- the whining does not get worse/better upon turning
- shifting into neutral/revving the engine has no effect on the noise
- brake sharply and the noise disappears (as the car drops below 65mph)

Guessing an air leak? I've tried the obvious hoses on top the engine but no luck though. Removing the oil filler cap has almost no effect on the idle as I would expect which seems to back up my theory.

I did think water pump or timing belt at first (which is due for replacement). But I've never known a timing belt sound this noisy - it's horrendous. If you crank down the window at 70mph and stick your head out it's very loud. And the pitch is too high to be a wheel bearing.

[GazVXLINE170]

Check the CV boots to make sure they havent split. If this happens dirt may have gotten in broke down the grease etc and that may explain the whining.

Wheel bearing are like you say another possibility but they usually drone too.

Gazza4

[DaveW555]

Could be diff whine, I know its a ball ache but drain the gearbox oil and check for contamination / metal in the oil, put some fresh oil in the box and see if it quietens it down. I have seen dodgy traders use thick engine oil in gearboxes in the past to quieten noisy diffs but I wouldn't reccomend it.

[b17e30]

Cheers people but what about the loss of power? Diff whine and bearings wouldn't cause this

[GazVXLINE170]

Cheers people but what about the loss of power? Diff whine and bearings wouldn't cause this

The only whine I can think of - although when you go round corners this shouldnt be affected - is the Turbo charger is giving up.

Gazza4

[DC6532]

Ive had a whine from somewhere in the engine bay for a couple of months now, couldnt hear it when the engine was ticking over but if you blipped the accelerator you heard it. It gradually got worse until last week on the A1 I lost power and went into limp mode. (There was now a rattle from the engine bay like a lose engine cover or something). Had it looked at by a stealer and they said my alternator was shot. Apparently they put it on the ramps and took a bottom cover off to confirm this.

Anyway they quoted £450+VAT so I took it to a local garage who managed to fit a brand new one for £264 inc parts, labour and VAT. The result? No more whine, no more rattle and the power seems improved.

Ask a stealer to check it out like I did and give them the impression that your impressed with their diagnosis. They thought that by checking it for me gratis I would come back to have the work done by them. Maybe I would have if they hadnt tried to take half a grand off me for the pleasure! Hope this helps.

[b17e30]

Thanks - looks like I'll have to leave it to the local mech. Spent all Saturday pulling all of the air pipes off and checking for leaks - none found. I did find one small black rubber pipe on the nearside of the engine block with oil dripping underneath it - problem found perhaps?

Either way, couldn't get to it as it was well and truly buried beneath coolant pipes etc. Tried sealing it with gaffa tap (dumb I know) and no difference. Starting to think this could be expensive.

[DC6532]

Keep us up to speed on what it is mate!

[b17e30]

Ok I have an update! The local mech has had the car for four days now....the computer readout is telling him it's either the AFM or the turbocharger. But he doesn't believe either. He's of the opinion that there's something stuck in the exhaust. How I don't know. Does any of this make sense to anyone?? Before I lash out £400 on a potentially unwanted turbocharger - I mean the cars only 6 years old with 85k on it. What are Vauxhall building these things from - paper?

[DC6532]

I think the only safe way to make sure you know what it is will be to have it checked over by a Vauxhall Mech. They can diagnose the prob but you dont have to use them for the repair.