Another wierd noise

[megab]

Well, I've been reading quite a lot on here about funny noises recently, now I have one of my own. I don't think it's exactly the same as any in the big topic but maybe I'm wrong.

When I bought my car I believed it had a little bit of belt noise, nothing horrendously loud, but when fully warmed up there it was. My two belts (alternator and aircon + power steering) were a bit old so I decided that I would just replace them. That was a few months ago now and having lovely new belts on, and having checked their tightness about once a week since then, the noise still seems to be there.

So, recently I've thought that maybe it's not belt noise. It happens mostly when the car is warm, though a little now when it's cold too. It seems to happen in any gear, and I've recently noticed it seems to be directly related to road speed - if I rev the engine with the clutch in there's no noise, but when I'm slowing down if I let the clutch in and the revs drop the noise persists. It's not very loud, so I only hear it between 20 and 30 mph, though I'm pretty sure it's there when going faster, just drowned out by everything else. It's not there when stationary or driving very slowly (maybe less than 10mph).

I also have a very rattly gearbox, especially in 2nd and 4th, and I believe a previous owner has fitted a short shift kit. However, I don't really mind the rattling as the shift quality is excellent.

So, is it gearbox, or are my belts still bedding in and should I just carry on adjusting them? I'm not sure tightening them makes any difference, though I'm not convinced it doesn't yet; my brain's a bit garbled with constantly listening out for noises!

Thanks!

Gabriel

Edited by megab on Saturday 1st November 14:42

[anonymous-user]

You haven't said what sort of noise it actually is?

[megab]

Well, it's pretty high pitched, just sounds like a belt really. I checked my belts again today and tightened the alternator one a little, but there is no difference. It is very quiet though, so I only really notice it when I'm slowing down pulling up to a junction or driving pretty slowly, otherwise the engine drowns it out.

Another idea; could it be a front wheel bearing? I've never had one of those go on one of my cars before so I don't know how that would sound. It's done about 57000 miles.

Cheers

[snotrag]

Brake caliper sticking and squeaking? Pull off a dual carriage way after a long stint, and try and stop with minimal brakes. Get out, see if one wheel/brake is much hotter than the rest...

Or lift the car up and feel for binding...

[megab]

Thanks for that, the car is being lifted for new gearbox and diff oil soon so I'll check that at the same time. I think that last time I cleaned it there was more brake dust one one side than the other though... fingers crossed.

Thanks

Gabriel