Hello,

My car just hit 200k km. I went out to take a short video but noticed a whining sound, potentially coming from the water pump. In theory, the water pump had been replaced around 36k km ago, but of course the mechanic might've just charged for work not done. It's not really leaking, although the coolant level had dropped slightly between changes (2cm in the reservoir).

Please have a look at the videos and let me know how bad you think this is.

This is the engine bay:
This is going closer to the pump area:
This is walk-around. Notice that this noise is more obvious from behind the car:
Thanks

 

 

 

Thanks Bgw70,

Yes, all supposedly done. I wasn't so sure, and have opened up the upper TB covers on both sides to check the belt --- the belt looked new and felt soft, but I've read people say even old belts look new and feel soft.

And I'm not sure whether it's the WP. Could very well be the alternator. I'll do the screw-driver trick and see.

 

 

Just listened again with a screwdriver:

Without the screwdriver, the noise does seem to originate from the WP area. With it against the metal parts that I could reach, everywhere sounds "normal".

Does it also sound "whiny" when you put a screwdriver against the source of the noise, or will the pitch change?

 

Didn't find the source

Actually, just remembered that it has been like this for over two years. Just today when I took that walk around video noticed it.

One other possibility I see is the electric fan on the passenger side. It's on all the time. I didn't test it. Will do it next time.

 

I think it may be the electric fan:

Tried this morning when I turned on the car to check again, but there was no noise. The fan doesn't turn when the engine is cold. Once warmed up, the faint noise came back.

Will do nothing for now and replace when it worsens.

 

Made a video & uploaded some photos: https://www.jlteng.com/galleries/object/sc430-200k/

I hope it can run another two years without repair.

 

 

Probably was some resonance from the radiator fan & exhaust. I heard a faint whirring noise. I'll worry when there's a coolant leak or something like that.

Thanks!

 

If you turn on your a/c your fan will go on

 

Does sound like the electric fan. Another Idea is if you think it's an accessory (Power Steering/AC/Alternator) you can remove the accessory belt and start it and see if the noise is still present.

 

Indeed.

I'm sure it's not the PS, as that one I could hear with a screwdriver easily and it's good. Not the AC as the sound is not from that corner. Alternator would be a possibility, but I guess not.