Strange noise coming from my i10?

barbiedoll

Warning: Long post!

I recently bought an i10 from my local (trusted) dealer/garage. It's 6 years old, has just under 50,000 miles on the clock and drives well, I've been very pleased with it. FSH, new MOT, garage has been trading in my home town since before the war, we have bought cars from them before and they do all of our MOT's and work, we have no issue with them.

The car emits a strange noise intermittently. I can only describe it as something between an owl hooting and the noise you get when you operate your electric windows. It appears to be coming from the engine on the passenger side, it can be heard even outside the car.

There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to it, sometimes I can start up and it's there straight away, at other times I can drive for several miles before it starts. It will stop and start (the noise, not the car!) when I'm at any speed, when I'm stopped with the handbrake on in traffic, when I'm changing gear, or when I'm speeding up or slowing down. There doesn't seem to be any particular trigger.

The garage gave me a 3 month warranty and they are very reasonable anyway so I have taken it back there twice. Of course, as soon as I drive up the forecourt, the noise stops. One of the young (trainee?) mechanics came with me around the local streets and he heard it, so I know that I'm not just a paranoid old woman! He said that he has never heard anything like it and he couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from. We drove back to the garage and I had 5 mechanics bending their heads over the bonnet but of course, the bloody car didn't make the sound at all, nor did it when two of the mechanics drove it around the block. They have told me to keep dropping in and sooner or later they will get to hear it, but I've just not had the time this week.

The mechanics offered suggestions such as "fuel pump" (someone said that there are two, one at the front and one at the back? Not sure if that's right?) Someone else suggested starter motor failing but it always starts first time and surely this would only happen on start up if so?

No-one else had any suggestions, there's nothing similar on Hyundai forums (or any other) and I've checked under the wheel arches for trapped twigs, leaves, stones etc. It does sound like something grinding or rubbing but there's nothing under the bonnet to suggest that a pipe is rubbing anything that it shouldn't, etc.

Any suggestions would be more than welcome, thanks!

building_with_lego

I've no idea about what might be making the sound, but could you use your phone to voice record your drives, then when you hear the sound again you've got it to play to the mechanics?

Richard53

Impossible to diagnose noises over the internet, sadly, but my money would be on a dry bearing, possibly the alternator. If it's only intermittent, it will probably keep on going for a while, so keep an eye/ear on it and take the garage's advice. I doubt if it is anything too serious from what you say.

barbiedoll

Thanks for replies: Lego...I have tried to record the sound on my phone, it hasn't come out great (lots of background noise) but they may be able to pick it up when they hear it.

Richard: Would the alternator need replacing or just a bit of greasing up? If it's a replacement job, I want to get it done while I've still got the warranty! The noise was present from the day I took it home, (although not during both test drives) and I think they'd be reasonable about doing any work required.

Am off to google alternators!

Richard53

You can replace alternator bearings, although often it is cheaper just to fit a reconditioned unit. Quick and easy job on most cars.



Edit: By the way, the alternator is a guess from your description of the noise. Nothing more

If the car is under a warranty, then provided you have notified them of the problem within the warranty period you should be OK.

barbiedoll

Yes, I realise it's not possible to diagnose a noise from a description on a forum.

I was out with my mum and pointed out the noise to her. I asked her what she thought it sounded like and she replied....

"It sounds like the car is talking to you"

Very helpful! :rotfl::rotfl:

Mr.Generous

could be water pump squeal, or auxiliary belt slipping, both screeching noises.

barbiedoll

I googled all of your suggestions, found some videos with sounds of faulty alternator bearings, water pumps and slipping belts. None of the noises sounded like mine so I trawled through the Hyundai forums (again) and found a thread from 2011 about a faulty headlight adjuster switch.

This was apparently a very common fault on i10's and new switches were supplied from Hyundai (several times in some cases) and fitted under the 5 year warranty. I've just been playing around with my headlight switch and sure enough, the sound went crazy every time I adjusted the dial. I did check all of the lights before buying and as I've only actually needed to use the headlights a couple of times since I bought it, mostly in heavy rain, I didn't connect the sound with the lights.

Thanks again for all replies!

arcon5

Common also of some of the vw golfs.


To those suggesting water pump alternator etc, op has already said passenger side

mr_accountant

barbiedoll wrote: »

I googled all of your suggestions, found some videos with sounds of faulty alternator bearings, water pumps and slipping belts. None of the noises sounded like mine so I trawled through the Hyundai forums (again) and found a thread from 2011 about a faulty headlight adjuster switch.

This was apparently a very common fault on i10's and new switches were supplied from Hyundai (several times in some cases) and fitted under the 5 year warranty. I've just been playing around with my headlight switch and sure enough, the sound went crazy every time I adjusted the dial. I did check all of the lights before buying and as I've only actually needed to use the headlights a couple of times since I bought it, mostly in heavy rain, I didn't connect the sound with the lights.

Thanks again for all replies!

[FONT=&quot]it could be that, as has been said the water pump, alternator and accessories belt is on the driver side (assume you have the 1.25 engine) so it unlikely to be that

on my i10 has the same problem with the light, occasionally (at random) it would make a whirring noise for a few seconds then stop, it was replaced with a new motor during the 2nd service for free (around 2011) it must have been a know problem for Hyundai to fit a modified part.[/FONT]

barbiedoll

Yes, according to the i10 forum, lots of people had their new switches fitted in 2011-12, it was apparently a very common problem.

Mine is now out of (Hyundai) warranty but my garage is very good so I'm hoping that they'll order and fit it under their 3 month warranty. Even if they won't, I can't see it being an expensive job?

I don't know why the previous owner didn't get it sorted, the noise drives me mad!