Strange Noise from Car (Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi - 2007)

MahatmaAndhi · Traffic Copper Joined: 10 Jun 2015 Karma :

Hi guys,

Not sure if this should go in the Workshop section, but as it isn't related to bikes, I thought I'd ask here.

My car has started to develop a strange noise.
My wife (who uses the car about 90% of the time) noticed it this morning. It happened twice. First time, she stopped, the noise disappeared and she went about her business.
The second time, about 5 or 10mins later, she couldn't stop, but it went again anyway.
I just jumped in and went for a spin around the block. It happened to me too.
The tricky part is describing the noise. Right now, I think my car is a portal to Silent Hill. The noise is somewhere between that half-arsed growling sound that cats make when they're threatened and the moaning that old water pipes make.

When you speed up, it changes to a gradual higher pitch. And when you slow down, it gets deeper. If you stop, it stops but doesn't seem to start again right away.

I can't pinpoint its location, but I think it's somewhere on the front-passenger side. Whether it's something in the engine, or part of the wheel, I can't say.

The car itself performs as shit as it normally does. No change there.

Any clues?
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2008 Aprilia Sportcity 250

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

Could be all sorts of things, but it's obviously drive related.

First stop would be wheel bearing or CV joint, but as it's passenger side, could be gearbox related - I've experienced a few gearbox/diff failures on those and they can make some horrendous noises, on the way to total loss of drive.
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yen_powell · World Chat Champion Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Karma :

MahatmaAndhi · Traffic Copper Joined: 10 Jun 2015 Karma :

Bikeless · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Karma :

Your tyres have worn inner edges because the tracking needs adjusting, this normally would not make any noises.
Your noises could be anything, wheel bearing, binding brakes/shims, cv joint, driveshaft bearing or a gearbox issue, hard to diagnose over the Internet.

MahatmaAndhi · Traffic Copper Joined: 10 Jun 2015 Karma :

One part of me wants it to be knackered to the point where we need a new one. The other part knows that I can't afford a new one. Boo.
It's booked in for Friday now. My wife tried it again today and it carried on and even when the car was stationary.
She also said "it got worse too, some sort of grinding noise" so it's off limits until it gets diagnosed.
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2008 Aprilia Sportcity 250

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

If it's still coming from the nearside, probs clutch release bearing breaking up.

Costs around £4-500 I would think.
____________________
Things get better with age; I'm close to being magnificent........
20 RE Interceptor, 83 Z1100A3, 83 GS650 Katana
WooHoo, I'm a Man Point Millionaire! https://www.bikechatforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=234035

MahatmaAndhi · Traffic Copper Joined: 10 Jun 2015 Karma :

Billy Balthorpe · Trackday Trickster Joined: 05 Oct 2008 Karma :

Get it so it makes the noise, press the clutch, does it go away? If it doesn't hold the clutch down and press the brake does it go away? If it goes away when you press the clutch its probably something in the engine/box/clutch, if it goes away with the clutch down and the brake on its probably a wheel bearing.

Also wheel bearings can be funny things, they can be noisy when the wheel is turned to a certain point, I had a VW Polo which did that.
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