Engine Squealing (sounds like a house alarm)

[amit87]

Hi guys,

Before anyone says anything, I have had a search on the forum and on google and still a bit confused. Points to a number of things. Hoping someone has experienced the exact same thing and can tell me same fix.

Car: Audi A3 Sportback 2.0T FSI Sport 55plate.

When the car is warm and at idle, the engine squeals. At first I thought it was the Aux belt but surely this would make squealing noises at idle too?

As soon as I put throttle on, it disappears. I have turned the steering wheel full lock left to right and does not affect the noise.

Any ideas what it could be? I did have my car misfiring last week and the engine was violently vibrating (2 coil packs had gone) so as I drove it one mile down the road to garage, engine vibration might have done something?!

Any thoughts be great. Thanks in advance

 

[NHN]

Spray aux belt/tensioner with a little wd40 & see if goes, if does then there's your answer.

 

[amit87]

I was thinking to do that but after an hour of googling spraying lub on aux belt I got the impression it can do more damage than good so was put off the idea. But I might give it a go next time it is warm and squealing. Thanks.

I also read somewhere that it could be the waterpump seal?!

But the Cam belt was done 15k miles ago, assuming so was waterpump. When my mechanic took front end off to do radiator couple months back he brought a new water pump but didnt replace as he said my existing one is perfectly fine and so is cam belt.

 

[Chillout]

Pcv ?

 

[amit87]

Thanks for the reply... is that likely to make the same noise as a squeal?!

(I am not really familiar with the PCV value but from youtube I have the impression it is to do with pressure?!).. educate me lol.

Thanks again for your input though

Pcv ?

 

[amit87]

Just having a google, appears if it is PCV, I should open the dipstick or oil cap and should make suctions ound and if squealing stops, its PCV.

Thanks for the direction, will get back to everyone when I have resolution.

 

[Chillout]

When mine went it squealed but mines in the cover and can't be bought separate of course but I have a v6 but vacuum is vacuum so it should sound similar.

 

[amit87]

I just took it out now to get it to squeal which it did after a normal drive for 10minutes. When I parked up, I put in "P" (DSG) so I could get out and try pull the dipstick out to see if squeal went away....

but when I put it in park, it disappeared, when I put it in "D" it came back again a little, so thought let me turn aircon on (Turn off Econ mode) and it got louder! Soon as disengaged air con, it went quieter.

the warm but on idle points to PCV but getting louder points to Aux belt.. or could that affect PCV too?

 

[S3_Jacko]

Hi... reading your thread.. i'd suggest you try using only items with electrical drain and see if the squeal gets louder... Aircon i'd imagine increases your rpm ever so slightly with could in turn affect your pcv also i'd imagine...

i'm a newby, but i'm also an electrical engineer... unfortunately not on cars tho... but it would give you a better direction to head if you isolated both to test???

And i'd imagine even spraying a little wd40 on the aux belt isnt going to hurt, at least you would find out if its that straight away

Good luck

 

[amit87]

Thanks for the response.

I guess a small bit of WD40 can not hurt but hoping today when I get to work, I will try take the coil cap off and see if I am easily able to take it off. After listening to many youtube video's etc, I seem 80% sure its the PCV.

 

[NHN]

Small bit of wd40 on the belt wont hurt at all, so eliminate this as a possible, then start looking at the more involved, most times when there's a squeak like this on a car, its due to a belt, could be tensioner, but discount the obvious 1st.

 

[amit87]

Sorry for the late reply, I have been busy with work. The noise did get worse and I had to go away so left it with my mechanic who thought it was tensioner.... so greased it etc and still made noise when driven for 10minutes.

So he than brought a new aux belt and tensioner and still makes noise and is convinced it is the aircon compressor (but I do not see how as I never have it on)

Anyways still squeaking and now squeaks even when in park (DSG) so I stepped out and pulled off dipstick and as the engine made a slight hiss (releasing pressure?!) the noise went. When I replaced it, noise started.

Now it could be a coincident as when I normally throttle on the noise goes and when you remove dip stick the rev's increase... but I think I will try to change the PCV.

Any ideas where to get? What the part number is? How much it is? Had a look before and seem quite difficult to find as they go by 101 names.

 

[amit87]

Would this one be ok for my 2005 Audi A3 2.0T FSI DSG (Non Quattro)?

GENUINE AUDI 2.0T FSI PETROL PCV PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE 06F129101N | eBay

 

[turbonutz]

get mechanic mate to fit, PCV valves are common parts in vag group and easy fix i think i got chaged peanuts at an audi specialist garage to change.

 

[amit87]

ye it looks easy to fit so I will just do it as I will have required tools for something like that. Even if I was to take it to my mechanic mate, if I wanted to wait while it was done I would be best to take part to him (Incase TPS or Audi don't have stock and need to order).

Do you happen to know how much the part was minus labour? or if you dont mind me asking, howmuch was you charged at audi garage?

get mechanic mate to fit, PCV valves are common parts in vag group and easy fix i think i got chaged peanuts at an audi specialist garage to change.

 

[turbonutz]

i think i have bill in the car, i will reply tomorrow morning with answer in mean time is NHN not an audi supplier that can quote you? think 40 odd for that part bit much, not entirely sure tho

 

[amit87]

Thanks for that. Well I have emailed ebay store to see if my car compatible but will ring audi tomorrow as I work down the road so would be nice to just pick up from them. LEast will give me an idea of the cost. I am sure fitting it will take me 30mins. I am hoping this is the fix!! I don;t get erratic revs but other symptoms are exactly same.... guess I will find back and post back!

 

[amit87]

Ok finally... I have it fixed!! It was the PCV!! (or PRV or CVV or breather or....) haha.

Paid £38 inc VAT from Audi Milton Keynes (had 2 in stock... well one now).

Valve P/N: 06F129101N (<-- N denotes the latest revision of the part)
Seal P/N : 06F103483E (did not get this, was around £18 alone! And my seal looked brand new luckily, have never read people replacing the seal when replacing valve)

Took me 20minutes to fit in total and I have never touched engine of this car! It can not of been easier, it was so easily accessible (Once engine cover off)

Engine cover was the toughest part of the job... and it was easy but does require to be tough and not paranoid to break it.


But thank you guys for responding and I hope this helps someone else.

So to conclude my symptoms were:
Once engine was warm (Well heat was no factor, it was pressure, so once the engine had time to build up pressure in the crankcase) the chirping/squeaking started. Under load/acceleration (heavy or light) it would disappear but when off the throttle would come back.

Sounded like came from aux belt area but if you listen extra careful, only appears like it does because engine cover is open that end but really listen and is coming from front centre of engine cover (PCV valve under it).

I had no deterioration in performance, rev's did not bounce about at idle, oil was not coming out of oil cap. At first the noise was on there when I had it in "D" (My car is a DSG) but as got worse, started happening in "P". When I pulled out the dipstick the noise would stop. then when replaced start up again.

Anyways thanks again guys, hope my story helps someone in the future!

 

[turbonutz]

Yeh part cost me just over 30 but think thts pre vat.

Glad ya solved it!

 

[Hamid]

Very useful discussion. My Audi A4 2008 developed same symptom and I was not sure what it was. Initially thought it was noise from fan bearing or the fan belt. Sprayed a bit of WD40 but no improvement. Going through this chain of discussion, I could relate to the problem and hence found the solution pretty confidently.