Any mechanics about?

Neoshoegal

Our car started making a weird noise. Kind of like when you're going to high in the revs. It only happens when we're driving more than 50mph and are in 4th or 5th gear. It gets higher in pitch the faster we go (haven't gone faster than 60mph since it started, not been on a road that allowed faster).
The car has just over 150K miles on the clock and I think it's due to get a new cambelt. Could that be it?
Any ideas on what it might be?

Motmac

Neoshoegal wrote: »

Our car started making a weird noise. Kind of like when you're going to high in the revs. It only happens when we're driving more than 50mph and are in 4th or 5th gear. It gets higher in pitch the faster we go (haven't gone faster than 60mph since it started, not been on a road that allowed faster).
The car has just over 150K miles on the clock and I think it's due to get a new cambelt. Could that be it?
Any ideas on what it might be?

Any ideas as to what car it is?

ariba10

It wont be the cam belt.

A little more information would help.

paulsad

Yes need a bit more info - not the fan (alternator) belt slipping is it??? If it were timing belt you wouldn't be getting far

anewman

Fan belts can slip under acceleration, and you get a squeal noise. Hard to describe but once you've heard it you'll know it. Wet conditions can increase the chances of this. If the problem is the auxilliary fan belt, depending on your car you may need any of the following starting with cheapest. Belt re-tensioning (some cars let you adjust the tightness of the belt). The belt itself replacing. The belt tensioner needing replacing (some cars have a tensioner which takes control of how tight the fan belt is and automatically takes up any slack.

Cam belts are toothed and so by design cannot usually slip. As mentioned above if it did snap or jump some teeth you'd have more problems than noise.

The way the OP describes the noise in relation to speed makes me wonder if a wheel bearing is on the way out though. Does the noise change in intensity only with the speed of the car and does it remain there if the clutch is put down? A wheel bearing noise is often an annoying droning type noise, a bit like an aircraft. Put the handbrake on firmly when checking fronts and in first gear when checking rears on solid ground. Jack up each wheel in turn (the jack with the car is fine so long as you don't go too mad) and try rocking the wheel firmly to and away from you at 3 and 9 o clock, and also at 12 and 6. You are trying to see if there is any play there (movement), you shouldn't be able to rock them. Then spin each wheel as fast as you can (really go at it) then put your ear to the centre and try listen for a droning noise. Slight scrapping noises are not uncommon and not much to worry about.

thescouselander

Are you are sure this problem is related to engine speed and not road speed? My girlfriends car started doing this because of a dodgy wheel bearing.

Motmac

You could generalise all day but without knowing what vehicle it is,its almost impossible to give informed advice.

Neoshoegal

Thanks for the advice!
Sorry, should have mentioned the car make! It's a Fiat Multipla 1.6 ELX (petrol version), X-reg.

The noise stayed when the clutch was done, it wasn't until the car slowed down that the noise went down as well.
Also, it was road speed mainly (as far as we could tell).

We'll probably take it to our mechanic tomorrow morning. He's a good one, but we're being too nervous too find out. Can't really afford expensive repairs at the moment (wondering if it would still be worth it on a car of this age and mileage too), let alone a new car.

Shoshannah

Sounds to me like wheel bearing but none of us can tell without hearing the noise, you need to take it to a mechanic. In my experience replacing a wheel bearing costs around £100-130 but I expect it varies with car make and model.

harveybobbles

Wheel bearing or mud flap/arch linin catching?

asbokid

Find quite stretch of road, pick up speed then knock it out of gear. If noise persists u can eliminate g/box as problem.

Wheel bearings tend to drone or rumble more than wine. Often noise gets worse on corners. Not always clear which side has gone cos noise can travel to the other corner.