Engine whining

[Greenhorn]

My 2.7 high mileage hilux has a whining engine, could this be from the chain ?

[Family_Dog]

Are you sure it's not the viscous fan?


-F_D

[BenHur]

Whining often comes from an alternator or aircon pump bearing. Try removing your fan belts and check if the whining disappears

[DOELLOOS]

Also try taking the wife out the car. The whining should stop.

[windy67]

Also try taking the wife out the car. The whining should stop.

I nearly feel off my chair laughing at that one.

I don't know how big you are but you might be treading on thin ice if she sees that chirp.

[SYRON CONVERSIONS]

At what speed or revs does it make this noise, is the vehicle in motion or standing still?

maybe it is the kids who are wanting ice cream, sweets, biltong, toilet, sleep etc etc........

[BenHur]

It reminded me of this ou toppie who told us he had a radar system in his car. When ever they were going somewhere his wife continually tells him: "Ry daar!'

[SYRON CONVERSIONS]

Yeah and he was my Uncle (from the furniture business)

This problem that this person is experiencing could be a number of things, tell us how high the mialge is and what terrain has this vehicle been driven through or over?

[Greenhorn]

I drove the bakkie with out the wife, and the whining still was there.

The bakkie has 316000 km on the clock, at idle there is no whining only on acceleration.

I have not tried to remove the belts yet, will try that this weekend.

[Family_Dog]

I'm beginning to suspect alternator. Is it worse when you have the all the lights on, fan blowing, i.e. the alternator is under duress?


-F_D

[Greenhorn]

I will test the alternator this weekend, but i also forgot to mention that two weeks ago that i did a river crossing a couple of times at a 4x4 training course.

[Family_Dog]

Then it sounds like a bearing got wet. Must admit I am very wary of water crossings, I don't believe the sudden plunge into cold water does any good on a hot engine or drive components. Not that we up here have many rivers to worry about... :)

-F_D

[Greenhorn]

I opened the bonnet yesterday and it seems the noise is coming from the aircon unit. How much work is it to get the aircon pump out and how much would it cost me to get it repaired?

[BenHur]

If it is the aircon unit, the sound should start or stop when you switch it on or off. If it is the bearing in the AC clutch the whining should stop if you switch the unit on, or if it is the pump the sound should only be there when the aircon is running. Rather remove fan belts if you are not sure.

[SYRON CONVERSIONS]

Yes remove the belts and then run the engine and this will tell you if it is the compressor pump.

Maybe it is the jockey wheel bearing for the main belt.

[SYRON CONVERSIONS]

If the noise is still there when you remove the air con pump belt, you can then remove the main V- belt for the fan, then run the engine, but not for too long, this will then determine if the noise is coming from the alternator or not.

[Harold]

Was the problem solved, what was the final result?

[DOELLOOS]

The final result? Where have you been? The Boks (read Bulls) won and brought the trophy home...hehehe

[BenHur]

Harold

I guess Greenhorn will only test it today or tomorrow as he indicated he will do it this weekend. So we all will have to wait in suspense here

[Greenhorn]

Just finished the testing, i removed the aircon unit belt and the sound has gone away. How hard is it to remove the aircon unit? I have the manuals from pietpetoors will have a look at them too.

Do i just take the unit to an aircon place and tell them to replace the bearing or do i tell them the service the unit? Then do i need to regas the aircon ?

[SYRON CONVERSIONS]

You have a few options.

1. take your vehicle to them, ask them to remove all the gas, they will tell you how they have removed.

2. Then take your vehicle home and remove the aircon yourself, then take it back to them to service.

3. You can fit a new bearing yourself, then take your vehicle back to them to regas your vehicle using the gas that they removed.

4. Or take the vehicle to them and ask them to remove the gas, remove the air con, service it, regas the system, put in some dye as well, then two weeks later take your vehicle back to them to check for leaks in the system.

5. There is no real cheap way of solving this problem, most times they will try and get you to buy a new pump, whatever happens it is going to cost you a few thousand rand.

6. Air con systems are expensive this is why I have not bothered fitting one to my truck.

7. They also make you sick (flu, sore throats etc).