Background faint hum/whistling noise in engine bay

[matth76 1]

Hi

I can notice a faint consistent hum/whistling noise in the background when my engine is running. It doesn't bother me and is hardly noticable but is there. I may be wrong but the sound seems to come from the passenger side (but that was from listening from inside the car so may be wrong on this). I suspect it is a belt or similar. When I rev the engine at a standstill the faint noise also increases, so is linked to the engine in someway or a belt.

I've just had my chains done and clutch. I also have a stainless 6 branch exhaust manifold, which has a different sound when the exhaust gases flow through it. The noise I am hearing today is different.

Any ideas what it might be or if it's serious? I don't think it's the fans as I have heard the fans before and their noise is different.

Thanks

Matt

[VRVIRGIN 0]

Matt does it sound more like a whiney noise rather than a hum? And does it seem to come from the cams, in other woprds the top of the engine?

[matth76 1]

Hi.. thanks for your message. No it seems more like a faint whistle.

[petervr6 0]

ive got that but only notice it when driving thought it might the the TB BUTTERFLY or somthing will have to check on standstll.

[SankysVR6 1]

Sounds like your Aux Water Pump.

Lift the bonnet up switch on the engine and have listen near the coil pack.When you switch the engine off the pump should be still going for a futher 10mins or so.

[vr6 g3 0]

It won't be the aux water pump cos it wont change tone when the engine is rev'd. It could be the 6 branch like you say or you might have a very slight blow from the manifold somewhere ?

[matth76 1]

Thanks for all your help. I had another listen to the car today and it seems very similar to the high pitch "shrill" sound of crickets in the garden. It is very faint mind you and I can only hear it if I open the window and really listen. I've heard many other normal cars sound like this, even my gf's 2 year old 1.2 polo does a similar sound, especially when you are in too higher gear and you try to rev it. It won't be my water pump as that is new and is a different sound. My 6 branch is very new too. It's not the PAS pump as that noise is different too. This is a mystery. I suspect it is a belt of some kind. Wondered if anyone knows?

My car drives lovely though - huge surges in power from 2000 revs onwards to the red line since I had my timing chains done at The Phirm.

Thanks for any help.

[VR6Pete 1,455]

Sure no one has secretly strapped a supercharger on ur car? lol

[matth76 1]

lol that is what it sounds like. Listened out for it this evening and couldn't hear it... seems intermittent whatever it is... hopefully nothing major.

[bazz780 0]

next time you hear it see if it goes away when you press the clutch, i had the exact similar problem and it disappeared when the clutch was pressed for a few seconds. immediately i knew it was the clutch release bearing which is now replaced and noise has gone for good

hope this helps

[matth76 1]

Thanks Bazz. Funny you say that yesterday while I was driving a long my foot lightly pressed the clutch (just lightly before the clutch was engaged) and I could hear a faint shrill noise and it disappeared as soon as I lifted my foot off.. did it each time I tested it.

My car has a new clutch - only fitted last week when I had my chains done. Surely the clutch release bearing, cylinder slave etc would all be replaced as part of the "clutch kit"? Thanks for your help. Could the noise simply be because my clutch is "bedding in" and will settle down? The noise is very very faint mind you, and only audiable from outside the car.

[RIX 0]

if its a kit the yes the bearing would be changed,but not the cylinder slave.

sometimes new bearings do that,you could get a spring mounted so there is a small preusser on the bearing.(that will not hurt the clutch)

regards

RIX

[matth76 1]

I'll prob leave it then if it's fairly common for new bearings to make a slight noise.

Cheers.