[Sharkdriver]

Hey guys,

Just picked up my 968 and I have a high pitched engine noise coming from the front area of the engine. It is definitely RPM related as it goes up and down with the revs. At first I thought it might be the classic pinion problem but it is definitely coming from the front of the car and not the rear. I did some searching and couldn't find anything.

Any help at all would be greatly appreciated, Thanks.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Johannvb]

Could be a roller, but when I had that sound it ended up being my water pump.

Another option is checking the fluid level on you power steering. The power steering pump can be noisy if the levels are low.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

could be a balance belt that is too tight

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Sharkdriver]

Thanks guys. The power steering fluid is all topped up so thats one I can check off the list. Any other things you saw with the water pump, like a coolant leak or anything out a weep hole that gave some other indications that the H2O pump was on its way out?

I'm have my fingers crossed that its not the balance belt as it looks like quite a job to get at that thing if it is the case....then again I guess the water pump isn't exactly a walk in the park. Thanks for the help guys, its time to go and get my hands dirty. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Lear35A]

Like Flash I imnmediately thought of the balance shaft belt tension when I read your post. Setting balance shaft belt tension is not that difficult in and of itself (a whole lot easier than changing the water pump). The catch is you need the right tools. Specifically the tension gauge and a thin 27mm open end wrench.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[rxter]

If you recently had your balance belt replaced you want to check the tension after 500 - 1000 miles. Mine whines a bit as well and I suspect the belt.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Sharkdriver]

Thanks for the input guys. I have to admit I've been doing a lot of keyboard wrenching. In other words, I've been trying to learn as much as possible on the car before diving in and getting my hands dirty. The more I read, I have realized 2 things:

1. This board is a great wealth of information with a bunch of great owners and I'm very glad to have found it.
2. I'm suspecting more and more that it is the balance belt tension as well.

Thanks to this site, I've found Arnworx and am trying to figure out which kit of tools I need to order to tackle this project.

Sorry, guys one last question. The noise is actually quite noticeable, should this be something I need to shut down the car for or is it OK to keep driving for a bit?

Thanks again for the help.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

can you describe the noise more?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Sharkdriver]

Alright, so after trying how to figure out how to describe the noise I figured a quick video would be much better than words. Check this out:


968 Engine Noise

Sorry for the crappy camera work, but the real meat is in the audio.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[SILVY968]

See if you can localize the whine. Sounds like accessory bearing noise like I heard when my AC compressor went out.
Try A large screw driver, touch the parts on the front of the engine(watch out for moving parts) and place the handle part of the screw driver onto your ear. It should amplify the noise and let you tell where it is coming from. They make a stethoscope style device for this, but I have always used a 2 foot screw driver.
be careful!!!!!!

If you are not comfortable doing this, see a mechanic, it is cheaper that even a small visit to the ER.
Brian

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

it certainly has a high squeaky component to it that is not normally associated with the balance belt, though i can hear what seems to be the balance belt in there too - i am wondering if it is both the belt too tight, and a roller going bad

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[968rz]

That doesn't sound like a belt, more likely a bearing in the alternator or one of the balance/t-belt rollers.
You can use a long screw driver like a stethoscope; place the blade end on the engine and the handle end on your ear and move it around, the noise will get louder when you hit the spot. Watch out for moving parts!

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[rxter]

I have no idea what it is, but this is like a low tech version of remote medicine. What a great idea - post the video and let folks diagnose. Next step will be to put the hand end of the screw driver up against your camera mic and post that [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]

BTW how many miles are on the car?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Johannvb]

Maybe my hearing is not sharp enough, but all I am hearing are belts. Belts that are correctly tensioned make this sound. Is the engine cold in the clip? If so maybe you should let it get to operating temparature before recording the sound. Once the engine is at operating temperature the whine from the belts should disapate.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Sharkdriver]

Ok guys, got the car up on stands and used a tire iron to probe around a bit. Best I can tell the power steering pump seems to be part of the sound. Crazy thing is I stuck the tire iron against the oil pan and it seemed to be the loudest there!! Maybe I spent a bit too much time in the garage with the car running but I don't know what that could possibly mean.

Rxter, the car has about 59,000 miles on the clock with the rollers, timing belt and H2O pump swapped out about 4,000 miles ago.

Johanvb, the video was taken when the engine was cold and I have noticed that when the car does get warmer the sound does get quieter but it is still there. Does this mean that this could possibly be normal?

I may have to pull the belly pans and start popping off the accessory belts and seeing if the sound goes away?

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

the cold noise getting quieter again points to the balance belt

any way you can drive over to pete's? i promise it will be well worth the drive

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Johannvb]

Once the car is warm you should not hear the belts as much, but when it's cold they are very audible. This is normal. Squeeking and metalic sounds on the other hand is not normal. When a 968 is cold and you do not hear the belts whining you should be worried and get them replaced.

So to recap, hearing "wheeeee wheeee" as you rev the engine is OK but hearing "chiki chik chiki"... is not

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[flash]

but it's ok at an after-party after a night at señor frog's

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[jpnezar]

Sharkdriver, my car makes the exact same noise, the belts and roller were also done around 4000 miles ago.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.

[Sharkdriver]

Thanks guys. It looks like this may be one of those overly cautious new owner moments. Especially one that wakes up with cold sweats over the timing belts in the middle of the night!! After living with a 928 for 8 years, timing belts and strange noises become a bit of an obsession.

To be safe I think I may change out the timing belt. It has been only 4000 miles but 4 years since that last timing belt change. Besides that I'm headed down the supercharger road so I'm guessing a belt change is cheap insurance.

Partial Post: Please Login or Register to read the full post.