The article tells about the reasons and ways of eliminating the whistle of the alternator belt on Lanos, Priora, Kalina, Lancer 9, Renault Logan and other cars in cold weather, in rain and under load.

The first sign

Many car owners have an unpleasant situation when a loud and very unpleasant whistle is heard from under the hood. Moreover, it can occur at very different moments - when starting the engine, while driving, in winter, in rainy weather, and so on.

The time of the unpleasant sound can vary from a few seconds to constant while the power plant is operating.

Almost always, the reason for this phenomenon lies in the belt drive, which drives the generator.

In many cars, the alternator belt additionally ensures the operation of a number of equipment - a hydraulic booster, an air conditioning compressor. Therefore, this belt drive is already called the "accessory drive", although in the old fashioned way everyone calls it a generator belt.

The resulting whistle is not only unpleasant for perception, as a rule, this is not the problem. A nasty sound is a signal of problems.

Many blame everything on the belt drive itself, although this may indicate other malfunctions.

Attachment belt drive

Belt drive for drive attachments, the main of which is the generator, is not used in vain.

No other type of transmission will have as many advantages as a belt drive.

And the advantages are as follows:

• The cheapness of the drive;
• The ability to transfer force over a distance without auxiliary elements (although in some cases it is still used tension roller);
• Flexibility, which allows you to transfer effort to several devices at once;
• Relatively long service life with minimal maintenance.

In practice, it has been proven that a belt as a drive is the most the best option and if the conditions of its operation are met, then the belt drive also ensures quiet operation.

But any violation leads to the appearance of a whistle under the hood. Although not always the problem lies in the belt, but the majority of drivers, as practice shows, "sins" on it.

The peculiarity of the belt drive is that the transfer of force is carried out due to the friction forces that arise between the working surfaces of the belt and pulleys.

The drive element must be properly tensioned to ensure this friction.

The main causes of whistling

Belt tension.

If the tension is insufficient, then the belt slips along the surface of the pulley, which causes a squeal.

But it often happens that after an additional stretch, the sound does not go anywhere, on the contrary, it can even intensify. And in this case, the problem is clearly different.

Worn generator drive.

The second of the main reasons for the whistling of the alternator belt lies in its strong wear.

Delamination, cracks and chipped areas affect the tightness of the adhesion of the working surface of the drive to the pulleys, which is why slippage appears.

Hit technical fluids (primarily oil) also affects the friction between the working surfaces.

In addition to these problems, the drive may squeal for other reasons:

The sound is heard when starting on cold.

Most often this happens due to poor quality material for the manufacture of the alternator belt or its natural wear and tear - "aging".

For normal transmission of force, the belt must have good elasticity. But if hard rubber was used for manufacturing, then due to excessive hardness, it will not properly "stick" to the surface of the pulleys, but slide over it.

The same result is obtained by "aging" of rubber, it "dubs", losing elasticity.

The reason may also lie in the bearings of the units that drive the belt, especially at negative temperatures.

This is because the lubricant in the bearings hardens due to frost, which increases the resistance to rotation, as a result of which the belt slips along the pulley.

A squeal appears when creating a load on the on-board network or when turning on additional equipment (air conditioner).

The reason lies in the same poor-quality material of manufacture, loss of elasticity, the development of working surfaces.

If the whistle of the alternator belt appears only when certain equipment is turned on, then this indicates a malfunction of the bearings of this unit.

Rainy weather.

If the sound appears in rainy weather or in high humidity, then this is often the reason for insufficient stretch.

As a result, moisture deposited on the belt reduces the frictional force between the pulley and the drive, and the latter begins to slip.

Other reasons.

For example, on old VAZ models, a V-shaped belt is used, for which the side surfaces are the workers.

So, if the groove of the pulley is strongly developed, then the belt will sag more into it, because of this, the contact area of \u200b\u200bthe surfaces decreases and it is easier for the belt to slip.

In multi-ribbed belts, this problem is not relevant, but there are other nuances in such a drive.

What can screeching on different cars give?

Daewoo Lanos.

For example, in Daewoo Lanos, the belt only drives the generator. That is, in most cases, the drive element itself becomes the fault of the squeal.

But sometimes there is such a problem as a violation of the position of the pulleys or a slight misalignment of one of them (most often - the generator, due to wear of the bearings).

And because of this, unpleasant sounds will be made under the hood. Therefore, if everything is in order with the alternator belt, then you should pay attention to the pulleys.

Lada "Priora" and "Kalina".

These car brands have different types power plants.

At the same time, the configuration of the drive of the generator and attachments (if one is included in the package) is also different.

But in any version of the motor, to ensure the proper tension of the drive, there is a tension roller in the design. And if the reason for the whistle lies not in the belt, then the next element that should be checked is the tension roller.

Drive unit auxiliary units by car Lada "Priora".

Mitsubishi Lancer 9.

Have this car there is another problem, the power steering pump, which runs from the belt and is practically on the same level with the generator pulley, while there is no drive protection.

As a result, not very successful constructive solution During operation, dirt and moisture gets on the working surface of the belt, which causes slippage.

And it is almost impossible to solve such a problem, therefore a short-term squeal of a belt in such a car is considered a "disease".

Other car brands.

But in Renault Logan, the reasons for the whistling of the alternator belt do not differ from the Priora and Kalina, that is, the problem usually lies either in the belt itself or in the tensioning mechanism.

What can be done?

As you can see, the main reason lies in the drive element itself. Therefore, when third-party harsh sounds appear, it is necessary:

You can do the listed work yourself, but if you have any difficulties with self-repair, compare at https://autoreshenie.ru/zamena-remnya-generatora-711/ the prices for replacing the alternator belt among all car services in Moscow, read the reviews on them and choose the closest one!

Many car owners note that unpleasant third-party sounds appear only under certain conditions or after replacing the drive element. It is noted that the belt tension is normal, but there is a whistle.

The reason for this is usually the poor quality of the product and its increased hardness.

To solve the problem, you can use two methods - change the alternator belt for a high-quality one or try to process it with means.

Such, for example, are silicone lubricant in the form of a spray for the treatment of rubber elements and the Hi-Gear conditioner.

The use of these means leads to increased elasticity and "sticking" of the drive to the pulleys.

But the use of WD-40 for these purposes is not recommended. This spray contains oil refined products that can have a negative effect on rubber and lead to its rapid "aging".

Such treatment can really help eliminate squeals under the hood, but only for a while, and after a certain period they will return again. Therefore, it will only help to get rid of third-party sounds for a long time.

Possible consequences

Finally, let us note the consequences that belt slippage, accompanied by a loud and unpleasant sound, can lead to.

Firstly, the wear of the belt increases, because when it slips, it rubs against the pulley and heats up.

Surely every driver noticed a characteristic whistle in the engine compartment. Indeed, this is an unpleasant moment, both for the driver himself and for the people around him. The most important thing is to understand that the whistle, depending on the places of its manifestation, will differ significantly and, accordingly, in the nature of the whistle experienced driver or a master at a service station can immediately identify the node from which unpleasant sounds originate.

What can whistle under the hood

As described above, the whistle can come from different mechanisms for some reason. And it is important to remember that when a whistle appears, this does not always mean some kind of serious malfunction. So what can be the source of various whistles?

• Generator belt;
• Alternator belt tensioner roller;
• Power steering pump bearing;
• Timing belt tensioner;
• Air conditioner compressor bearing;
• Water pump drive (pump);
• Valve pressure regulator diaphragm.

The above are the main elements of the car's engine compartment from where the whistle can be. But again, it is important to understand and distinguish between the type of whistle. If the reason is a weakened alternator belt, then you need to know how the whistle manifests itself when rubbing rubber against metal. If the whistle is similar to the sound when rubbing metal on metal, then these are bearings and rollers.

Reasons for the appearance of a whistle under the hood

High humidity. This is the main reason for whistling under the hood of a car. The fact is that when moisture gets on the alternator belt, the frictional ability decreases and, accordingly, a whistle appears.

Grease. In addition to moisture, the cause of the whistling of the belt can be difficult turning of the generator pulley due to the fact that the grease in the generator bearing can thicken. But it is important to remember that this problem manifests itself when the engine is started on a cold one.

Belt tensioning elements not adjusted. It is also worth mentioning the weak tension of the alternator belt. With a weak tension, the belt slips along the pulley, which causes the characteristic whistle. Below you can listen to the alternator belt whistling.

Lack of lubricant in bearings. An equally common problem is the whistling of bearings and rollers. In the absence of lubrication, a characteristic whistle also appears on the rubbing surfaces of the bearing, but as mentioned earlier, this sound will differ from the familiar whistle of the alternator belt. This sound can even be called not a whistle, but a full-fledged hum. Below you can listen to how the generator bearing beeps.

The water pump drive is very similar to the sound made by a generator belt. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to have a clear hearing to determine the specific place of the whistle manifestation. You can listen to how the pump whistles below.

Conclusion.

From all of the above, it is important to conclude that the appearance of a whistle in the engine compartment whether it is during acceleration or when the engine is running on idle this is in any case an alarming signal, although in most cases it is not critical. But it still requires attention, search for reasons, adjustments or replacement individual elements... And you should not eliminate whistles and squeaks with various liquids or oils. This will clear the sound but will not correct the problem.

Causes and culprits of whistling in the engine compartment was last modified: October 3rd, 2018 by Administrator

Many vehicle malfunctions can be identified by sound. When there are some kind of third-party noises in the form of rattling, howling or whistling, this can signal a breakdown of one of the auto units. Some malfunctions are quite easily eliminated along with accompanying symptoms in the form of annoying and nasty sounds. But there are certain signs of breakdowns that appear most often. Most often, when starting the engine, a whistle is heard, which can be caused by a number of factors. At the same time, such unpleasant sounds can be even with the motor already running. Next, we will talk about the reasons for such phenomena and how to eliminate them.

Engine whistle when starting and running

It is always nice to know that your car is fully functional and will not cause inconvenience at the most inopportune moment. However, this is not always the case, and many car owners are faced with a number of manifestations of failure of some parts of the car. This makes people doubt their "iron horse", and such a car will obviously not add positive emotions. The most common signal of a breakdown is a whistle when starting the engine. Moreover, not only the owners of old cars, but also practically new ones that have recently left, face it.

The reason that whistling is heard when the engine is running can be a number of different malfunctions in the car engine. Usually this is not as dangerous a sign as annoying. Although if the engine began to emit such extraneous sounds and the engine whistles more and more, then it is clearly impossible to delay the elimination of this problem. Some neglected faults can lead to costly repairs and a host of problems.

Belts

One of the main reasons for whistling when starting the engine is the belts of all kinds of drives in the engine compartment of the car. Poor tension and their wear leads to the appearance of that very annoying whistle, which can increase with an increase in engine speed. Or maybe, on the contrary, disappear when you press the gas pedal. In any case, the sound made by the belts is very well audible and it is impossible not to notice it.

The first step is to check the tension of all drive belts. If any of them is weakened, then slippage is possible, which leads to a whistle when the engine is running. In this case, it is necessary to tighten the belt to the permissible limits in order to leave it with normal free play. Dirt and oil on the belts can also cause the belts to slip. In this case, it must be thoroughly cleaned, and it is best to replace it with a new one.

The most common problem in terms of noise emitted is the alternator belt. A whistle appears when the engine is started and disappears when the engine speed rises, since the belt is in the same amplitude with the rollers and pulleys. This can threaten with insufficient battery charge and all the ensuing problems. It also happens that the engine whistles, and then suddenly stops making this sound. At the same time, no changes are immediately observed. And the reason for this may be a break in the alternator belt. After it breaks off, charging the battery while the engine is running stops. This is usually signaled by a special light on the instrument panel, but not all drivers notice it and attach any importance to it. Such inattentive car owners risk being left somewhere in a deserted place with a dead battery.

Another most common cause of whistling from the engine compartment of a car is. Here the consequences of ignoring the problem can be much more serious than in the previous case. The problem here is not so much in the belt as in the bearing, but you should definitely pay attention to this. A broken timing belt may be followed by overhaul motor due to the bending of the valves, standing big money... Therefore, it is necessary to react in a timely manner to all kinds of whistles during engine operation and not to bring the situation to extremes. This does not apply to all types of motors, but this problem is widespread.

In most cases, the whistle in the engine on a cold one is caused by the same belts. If it disappears when the engine warms up, then the reason is definitely in them. In the cold season, there is a chance that the grease in the bearing of the alternator belt can thicken strongly and the belt will not be able to rotate the alternator pulley, simply slipping. The solution to this problem may be to replace this grease and tension the alternator belt. But before that, you need to make sure that the generator pulley spins on its own at all and does not jam. Therefore, as you can see, whistling on a cold engine is quite easy to eliminate.

If you hear some kind of whistle when starting the engine and subsequently when it is running, then first of all pay attention to the tension of all belts in the car engine and check their condition. It is possible that some of them need tensioning or replacement.

Rollers and bearings

More elements car enginethat can make unpleasant noises are all kinds of bearings and rollers that are present in many parts of the motor. Often, in the event of a malfunction, they emit sounds slightly different from the usual whistle - a low pitched howl. This sound appears when running engine still at idle, but increases with increasing revs and immediately disappears or becomes much quieter. If you have determined that the engine whistles precisely because of these elements, then you can "cure" this by replacing the failed parts.

Intake system malfunctions

If a whistle is heard during engine operation, and you have already made sure that the reason does not lie in something else, then, most likely, some kind of malfunction has appeared in the engine intake system. It could be either throttle, which periodically jams and creates specific air turbulence, or the PCV inlet valve, which is responsible for recirculating crankcase gases.

In the first case, the whistle during engine operation is eliminated by thorough flushing. But in order to clean it well of dirt, it is necessary to completely remove this unit, which should not be forgotten.

In the second case, the problem is a clogged intake PCV valve. Hot air from the crankcase cannot circulate normally because of this, which leads to the squeezing of oil through the seals due to excessively high pressure and the appearance of the very whistle when the engine is running. The real problem is "cured" by ordinary cleaning of this valve. To do this, you need to dismantle the valve, which is located either on the valve cover or next to air filter on the crankcase ventilation pipe. If the valve is metal, then all cleaning products that will not scratch the surface are perfect. In the event that it is plastic, then too aggressive aerosols and liquids should be avoided. After that, simply put the valve back in place and the whistling will stop.

Turbine malfunctions

Many modern cars equipped with turbochargers, which significantly increase their power and driving performance... But this is another unit in the engine, which can signal its malfunction with a characteristic and loud whistle. This can be caused by an air leak at the junction of the motor and the turbocharger. Usually, such sounds indicate the imminent "death" of this important detail. Most often this malfunction occurs on machines that consume diesel fuel... Therefore, the owners of such cars know that the whistle of the turbine diesel engine does not lead to anything good.

What to do when a whistle appears from under the hood?

We have listed all possible malfunctions, in which the motor and its components may emit a whistle when the engine is started or when it is running. To eliminate most of them, the car owner does not need to have any special professional skills. Replacing many belts and rollers, tensioning them, and cleaning the intake system can be done on your own. But if you are not sure that you can cope with such problems, then it is better not to delay with them, but contact the car service to the masters of your craft and then you can avoid much more expensive repairs and a lot of unnecessary troubles that can catch you by surprise.

Mitsubishi Lancer 9. Grinding, knocking or whistling sound when starting the engine

The appearance of extraneous sounds in engine compartment during or immediately after starting the engine is a reason for diagnosing and checking the internal combustion engine. Various abnormalities can occur as a result of wear on individual attachments, drives, bearings, pulleys or belts. Also, you should not exclude the possibility of damage itself power unita and its nodes. Drivers often notice that when starting the engine on a cold one, a grinding noise is heard, something creaks in the engine, a whistle appears, etc.

It should be noted that usually many sounds are better listened to precisely at the time of cold start, although in some cases the noise does not go away even after the power unit warms up. It should also be added that in some cases the problem progresses noticeably, that is, the sound increases each time or gradually. In other situations, extraneous noises may not change their tone and intensity for hundreds or even thousands of kilometers.

In this article, we will talk about what breakdowns can lead to the fact that noise is heard when the engine is cold started, as well as how and by what additional signs you can determine the malfunction yourself.

A grinding sound is heard when starting the engine

If the driver turns the ignition key to the "start" position and at this moment a grinding sound is heard, and the noise disappears after the engine "grabs" and starts to work independently, then the most common cause is a starter malfunction.

If, when starting the engine, the grinding of the starter is heard on a cold or hot, then there may be several reasons for such a malfunction.

As a rule, it is necessary to check the solenoid relay, starter bendix and flywheel. The fact is that the bendix may not engage with the flywheel properly, as a result of which a crackling sound is heard when the engine is started or a characteristic grinding of the starter appears.

A whistle is heard when starting the engine

A whistling sound at the time of starting is usually made by the alternator belt or the water pump of the cooling system (pump). The malfunction manifests itself in the form of a high-frequency squeak or squeal after starting the internal combustion engine, and can also make itself felt on a warmed-up engine when hard pressing on the gas pedal and increase the crankshaft speed.

If there is a problem with the belt, check its condition and tension. Sometimes applying temporarily helps special formulations for rubber care, which allow the belt surface to remain soft and elastic, protect against cracking, etc. If the tension is clearly loose, the alternator belt must be tightened, while checking the condition of the pulleys and the tensioner in parallel. We add that it is not recommended to tighten a strongly stretched belt, since the whistle will appear again after a short period of time. In this case, and also when it is not possible to tighten the alternator belt further, only replacement is shown. If the belt is properly tensioned, does not slip on the pulleys, but still whistles, then it may be of poor quality and needs to be replaced.
We also add that the cause of the whistle can be not only the belt, but also the generator itself. More specifically, problems may arise with the bearings of its drive. This is indicated by the characteristic rustle, whistle, slight crackling during engine operation at XX.
The pump also emits a subtle whistle when idling and may cause a rumble or crackling noise. This feature is the reason for the mandatory check and replacement of this element.
To check the generator and / or pump, you can take a block of wood, you can also attach a tin can, etc. to the end of a wooden stick. Then one end of the bar or stick is applied to the drive area of \u200b\u200bthe generator or pump while the engine is running, and the other end of the bar or a tin can attached to the stick is brought to the ear. This solution allows you to more accurately identify the source of the noise and localize the fault. By the way, if possible, instead of homemade device to listen to the noise, you can use a so-called car stethoscope (sometimes a medical one is also used).

If the source of the noise is not completely installed, then it is necessary to remove the alternator belt, after which the pump or alternator pulley turns sharply by hand. Noises, difficulty in rotation, wobbling, play or other abnormalities will indicate a problem. In the case of a generator, the device can be repaired by replacing the bearings. It is recommended to change the pump immediately, since on many cars a jammed water pump leads to a break in the timing belt.

We also recommend reading the article on how to check the pump on the machine without removing it. From this article you will learn about how to check the performance of a water pump, as well as how to independently determine the malfunctions of this element of the engine cooling system.
An additional reason for replacing the pump is considered to be the appearance of drips of antifreeze or antifreeze at the place of its installation. Coolant leaks pose a danger in the form of overheating of the internal combustion engine, a break in the timing belt means that the piston hits the valves, as a result of which the valve bends. Ultimately, if these problems are ignored, the motor may need expensive or even major repairs.

A knock is heard when starting the engine

The appearance of knocking in the engine should be divided into problems with the gas distribution mechanism and elements of the internal combustion engine itself (KShM and CPG, pistons, connecting rods, crankshaft, etc.) Extraneous sounds in the timing area may indicate significant wear of the rollers, defects in the belt or timing chain.

Rollers can whistle, howl, crunch or tap. In some cases, the timing belt overwrites protective cover... We also note that on motors with a chain, when the chain itself is stretched or the tension is insufficient, the sound resembles a rustling chirping, and pops can also be heard. If you increase the revs, such sounds disappear and appear again after the throttle is released. In this situation, the timing chain must be tightened or changed.

The characteristic knock of the gas distribution mechanism is the knock of the intake and / or exhaust valves... This knock differs in frequency from other knocks, and has uniform intervals. The fact is that the camshaft rotates twice as slow as the crankshaft. Incorrect adjustment of the thermal clearance of the valves can lead to knocking.
On motors with hydraulic lifters, a common reason is the failure of the latter or clogging of the oil supply channel to the main engine. In this case, the sound is clear, clear, and well heard in the area of \u200b\u200bthe valve cover. Note that on many cars, after a cold start, hydraulic lifters knock for several seconds until it reaches them. engine oil... This is considered the norm. If the knock does not go away after the internal combustion engine warms up, then you need to contact the service or solve the problem yourself.

Now about the knocks in the engine itself. After starting a cold unit, you can hear the pistons knocking in the cylinders. The knock is dull, similar to the blows on earthenware. The knock of the pistons is most pronounced at idle, as well as at low revs under load.

Also, a knock of the crankshaft main or connecting rod bearings (crankshaft sliding bearings) may appear in the engine. This knock has a metallic tint and is slightly muffled. As a rule, at the initial stage, the malfunction appears after starting the engine in the event that you sharply press the gas in idle mode.
The knock increases in frequency in parallel with the increase in speed. The axial play of the crankshaft also leads to the appearance of knocks, while the sound is sharper, differs in that the intervals between the blows are uneven. It is most clearly audible when the crankshaft revolutions change smoothly.

When it comes to knocking connecting rods, a common cause is a problem in the connecting rod bearings. Such a knock is sharp, it is clearly audible when the gas pedal is pressed sharply. During diagnostics, a knocking piston or connecting rod can be detected by alternately disconnecting the spark plug on each cylinder.

What else can knock, make noise or whistle in the engine after starting

As you can see, there are many reasons for the appearance of knocks and noises. It should be added that during starting a cold engine, especially in winter, increased noise and chirping can be emitted by the injection nozzles themselves on units with a pressurized fuel injection system.

In some cases, this does not indicate any malfunction, since after a slight warm-up, the noise intensity decreases or extraneous sound disappears completely. A knock can also occur at the time of start-up in the cold due to strongly hardened internal combustion engine cushions (the engine is conventionally supplied at the moment the starter rotates slightly forward, after starting it will "bounce" back).

Another cause of whistling or rustling may be the power steering pump. At the time of start-up, a squeal, squeak, howl or whistle can be emitted by both the pump itself and its drive, and steering rack, in which the power steering fluid begins to move.
Also, do not forget about the air conditioner compressor, especially if the engine starts in parallel with the air conditioner switched on or the climate is activated immediately after starting. The compressor drive or the compressor itself is often the cause of abnormal noise. 33 ..