I have recently developed a whining sound from the front of the car. I'd say engine, but it seems to be more apparent in the cockpit than under the bonnet. Could just be the amount of revs and other noises.

It is a fairly high pitched whine that occurs once the car has been fully warmed and driven hard. It is RPM related not vehicle speed as it changes pitch with engine speed and continues when the car is stationary, in gear or out, clutch in or out.

I have done all sorts of mods to the car. I run the LoveFab turbo (I don't think it is turbo related) but more recent mods are an oil cooler and filter relocator and a restrictor in the oil supply to the turbo.

I suspect the sound is related to either the belt driven accessories or the clutch throw out bearing. The fact that I can hear it clearly in the cockpit and not so clearly under the bonnet supports the throw out bearing theory. I changed my own clutch a year or so back and remember the supplied throw out didn't look brand spanking new at the time.

Next suspect is the alternator. I've had all sorts of charge and battery related problems but everytime I've had the alternator checked it's got a clean bill of health.

Anybody had problems like this before? Can anybody confirm or deny that a worn throw out bearing would result in a whine at engine speed? Or are there easy ways to test accessories for wear or noise?

Vehicle is a MY00 with about 40k miles on it.

 

The TO bearings make the most noise sitting at idle with the clutch out, then go away with the clutch in. Every new one I've been in does that.

I'd pull the drive belt off and briefly run the engine to isolate it to the accesory drive. I've seen noisy belt tensioners that chatter at high RPM, as well as a missing lower alternator bolt that was making a funky rattle under decel at high RPM.


if you turn the radio up can you still hear it?

 

Not if I turn it up real loud.

I'll get the noise happening, then pull the belt and run a for a few seconds and see if it is still there. If not I'll check all my accessories for play or roughness. I would much rather it be the alternator than the throw out bearing.