Odd engine noises...

[rayray086]

Hi guys,

My car has the ADY 2.0L 8V engine. Recently (well, for the past half year), there's been some slight changes in the sounds the engine makes.

1. It makes some kind of a background noise, similar to those old TV chatter when you flip to an untuned channel (except much quieter). This noise is consistent and occurs as long as the engine is on (louder in gear but also occurs in neutral; low and high revs as well), but it gets quieter after the engine is warm.

2. When the engine is cold (first ~10 minutes), the engine makes some kind of whistling noise (think a kettle with boiling water) that occurs from around 2800RPM and gets loudest at ~3000RPM. This only occurs when I maintain those RPMs for more than half a minute (when I'm on the motorway in 5th), but other than that, they don't usually occur.

I only had the timing redone about 10k-15k km ago. I don't have any oil leaks and I've checked my oil and the dipstick level hasn't changed since last oil (~8000km ago).

What could be the problem? It started happening after a spirited run one night (car was warm - had to travel quite far to get where I wanted to be ). Car drives perfectly and pulls just as well as when I first had it, it's only the noise that it's making that's worrying me.

Thanks in advance to anyone with any info.

[Pullstarter]

Some kind of air or vacuum hose issue maybe?

[sydVR6]

Some kind of air or vacuum hose issue maybe?

The TV chattering sound you describe could be the water pump getting noisy. The kettle boiling sound could be HVAC related?

[rayray086]

I don't think I have a vacuum system problem as I've had one before and these two sounds are different.

And it's funny you mention it being HVAC related - around the same time, one of my switches on the HVAC (the one that directs air to the main dash vents/footwell vents/top dash vents etc) started getting really hard to switch around and now it's stuck at one of the settings. I can't budge it at all. Related?

[Golf Loon]

Did you do the waterpump at the same time as the timing belt? They get noisy and have a grumbly noise, like a bearing in the motor.

[rayray086]

Matt, no the waterpump wasn't redone. I think I'll go about changing the waterpump (and I suppose the thermostat while I'm at it) while I attempt the coolant flush. PM sent.

[rayray086]

The TV chattering sound you describe could be the water pump getting noisy. The kettle boiling sound could be HVAC related?

Reef, it WAS the waterpump Had it changed along with the thermostat and a coolant flush largely with the help of Pedro and now there's absolutely no TV chattering sound anymore, even when cold.

As for the whistling noise, it comes and goes and I haven't noticed anything yet.

[Golf Loon]

Good work on the waterpump lads.

I have seen that on so many Golfs, bet it sounds sweet now.