MG-Cars.net

Welcome to our resource for MG Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGF Technical - Unusual Engine Noise

I get an unusual noise from the engine of my 1997 VVCbetween 1500 and 1700 rpm.

The garge have been very good at attempting to fix it under warranty and have changed just about every component (including replacing the full engine). The noise persists - has any one else experienced this.

Its hard to describe the noise - it isn't harsh, it isn't metallic - its a sort of warbling sound.

Help appreciated.

regards
Duncan Owen

warbling?

Hey wait, I got such a strange whirring noise at 1600-1700 rpm with my VVC.

But I know what it is :)

It's the alternator belt. First they had fitted it too loose, causing it to slip everytime I started the car. Then they fastened it, no more slippin' but they were a bit too enthusiastic, coz it's too hard now, causing this whirring weird noise.

They will fix it next week at maintance.

New engine or fiddling with alternator belt... oh well, rich people!
Dirk

Duncan

I puchased a VVC in Mar 98 and immediately complained of a warbling noise from the engine. the engineer stated it was a 'charateristic, of the VVC engine. I believed him even when the VVC mechanism packed up at 1200miles.....then again at 15000 miles. The end result was that the supposed characteristic was in fact a warped cylinder head which resulted in a replacement head and valve gear.
iain campbell

Dirk

There is a big difference between Warbling and Whining.

Warbling is what song birds do - a wonderful sound.

Whining is what you do - a err... well lets forget it.

Ted
Ted Newman

Duncan

Based on my experience with a similar noise, I agree with Dirk's assessment that the noise is coming from the alternator belt.

The MG Technicial at Sewards in Portsmouth listened to the noise my car was making at about 1500 revs in low gear. He reassured me that it had nothing to do with the VVC unit, but was the alternator belt settling in. He said that some cars take a few miles before the noise goes away. A replacement could be fitted he said, but in all probability, the replacement would itself make a noise for a number of miles.

For my part the noise has now persisted for 5,555 miles and I am finding this particular characteristic of the F increasingly irritating. I will give it to 6,000 miles and I will insist on a replacement if the noise is still there.

Why not call the MG Technician at Sewards. Andy is very helpful and should be able to allay your concerns.

Regards

Brad (V3 VVC)
Brad Stubbings

Sorry Brad but belts only make funny noises if they are wrongly adjusted or are damaged.

Sounds a bit like a mechanic not admitting to being baffled and trying to waffle his way out.

Ted
Ted Newman

Ted

Thank you - I'll investigate further. I have the car booked in on the 6th Sept so hopefully they will identify the real source of the noise and sort it out

Brad
Brad Stubbings

Ted, you're getting kinda boring ya know. Praise yourself to be lucky if your F is in perfect condition, top British quality and all the other deFending blahblah you talk about, but remember there are less fortunate people out there which enthusiasm for their F has totally gone due to plenty of such sometimes small but highly annoying niggles. So stop playing an ostrich pls!
I got the problem with the alternator belt since my engine was replaced, I wonder if they will have fixed it when I collect my car this evening.
Dirk

Sounds like an air induction thing. Check the air filter etc (perhaps a wee timorous beasty has built a nest)
Terry Cox

Dirk

We make a fine pair!

Ted
Ted Newman

news from alternator & cambelt. Dealer enquired Rover BeLux for info on VVC noise. Rover gave him specific tension rates for the belts. Too lose: risk of VVC blowing up, too tight, risk of excessive noise. So conclusion: start live with it!
Dirk

I do not think a loose alternator belt is going to cause the engine to explode, it might cause it to run out of charge. Nor would a tight alternator belt cause it to explode - might make it a bit noisy!

The cam belt is a different story, it is also a totally different type of belt and in a totally different place. The cam belt is a 'cogged' belt and it is tensioned using a special tensioner spring and it has a special tensioner pulley and any dealer worth his 'salt' would know how to adjust this belt correctly - it does not require 'rocket science' and is well within the capabilities of the average DIY mechanic.

Of course if you have air-con fitted then there is another belt to be checked which again if not adjusted correctly can cause strange noises.

As I said before a damaged belt or an incorrectly adjusted belt can be the source of strange noises. If the belts are not damaged and are adjusted correctly they should not make any noises other than the noises they have always made along with all the other noises that any moving parts will make.

And with the engine just behind your ears you are going to be more aware of the noises than with the engine up front and away from you.

BTW this is not a 'knock Dirk' posting but is meant to be a useful contribution (I hope).

Ted
Ted Newman

This thread was discussed between 21/08/2000 and 31/08/2000

MG MGF Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGF Technical BBS is active now.