Wheezy engine

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Wed Jul 03, 2002 9:52 pm

An odd one this... My car has recently started sounding "wheezy" for the first couple of miles after starting it. It's hard to descibe the noise, but it's a sort of delayed rattle, a bit like someone with a wheezy chest breathing, and isn't that noisy but is noticeable.

The car's a 2.0 SE, only 4 months old with just over 4000 miles on the clock. Any ideas?

Eye See · Post by **Eye See** » Thu Jul 04, 2002 8:48 am

Gareth,

Does this happen continually or is it whilst turning?

Power steering makes a wheezing or groaning sound that is quite normal as it pumps fluid around. However, this is normally only heard at low speeds and particularly at or near full lock.

Our car is a 9 month/4500 mile old 1.6, which presumably has the same power steering as your 2.0, and makes the normal sounds. However, more recently I have regularly noticed the power steering is audible above the engine noise whilst pulling away at the 1st few junctions in the morning.

It may be worth checking your power steering fluid reservoir to see that it is full. The power steering on a Belmont I had became excessively noisy and the reservoir was empty, but no sign of leaks externally. It was leaking internally and the bellows were full to bursting point!

Eye See

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Thu Jul 04, 2002 7:21 pm

Eye See

Thanks for the reply. I don't think it's related to whether I'm turning or not, though I'll keep a listen out just in case. I'll also check fluid levels...

Gareth

Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Tue Jul 30, 2002 11:00 pm

An update: this was a cracked mainfold (thanks to nx's post for pointing this known problem out). It's on order - I'll have to see whather they get it in before I've done 6000 miles - just 800 to go after crusing round sunny Cornwall the other week...

SNVL · Post by **SNVL** » Thu Sep 12, 2002 3:51 pm

mmmm....I have had exactly the same problem.
Cars only 4 months old too. Does this have any bad effect on the car if left for a while.

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Gareth · Post by **Gareth** » Thu Sep 12, 2002 8:45 pm

I don't know for sure, but I was told that if left the noise could get worse over time. There may also have been a slight loss of power, but it's hard to tell.