Squeaking at 55mph +

By the way, it's a 1.1 Petrol Manual.

From that wonderfully vague description, it could be anything from a slack fanbelt to water pump bearings or the brake pad low wear indicator.

Well Conor, you tell me what you want to know (please explain things though) as I am probably the worse bloke in the world when it comes to cars!

If you have the engine in neutral, at or a little above idle, and turn on the window demister, headlights, ciggy lighter, and don't hear the noise, then it's _probably_ not a slack fanbelt - if that belt also runs the alternator.

And Conor's renowned here for his patient understanding approach to problems ! :-)

Andy

I thought this was supposed to be a forum where people gave advice to others. All I have been given so far is sarcastic crap on something I am worried about.

Actually Ian gave you advice on ruling out the alternator.

However given the attitude above I think the most constructive advice you can expect is to f*ck off and take your car to a garage.

Sorry if that came over ignorant. I just read it back to myself and it sounds bad. To be honest though, I thought it was another sarcastic comment as I've taken into account advice from other sources and I got back suggestions of Gearbox oil, Gearbox bearings or Wheel bearings (as I said before, up until last night, thats where I thought it was coming from). So bottom line, I'm sorry for sounding like an ignorant prick.

OK.

Does it only do it when you are braking? Does it only do it when you are cornering or braking? Does the noise change when the engine speed changes, especially in neutral or changing gears?

Trying to narrow it down to whether it is an engine problem or a wheel area problem.

What I'm going to do is take it out for a drive and see when it's making the sound (ie: under what conditions etc...) so I can hopefully give more info. I'll report back later. One way or another though, whatever it is, it's still going to have to be sorted as I need the car all week round. The reason I am askingr help before going to a garage is because the last time I had a problem, the garage used the phrase "It's probably the...." and "The chances are that will rectify it" and they were wrong!

The message from "Simon Lee" contains these words:

That seemed like good sound relevant advice to me.

On 26-Feb-06 11:09:31, Simon Lee said

Simon, I believe the above was useful advice, although, as a mechanical white belt, I understand your misunderstanding. I want you to know that up until now I had resisted the temptation to suggest you check for cats under your car given the whining and squeaking description. :)

Joking apart, despite the rather abrupt response you had initially, the people here are generally very pleasant and helpful, so I suggest you take a deep breath, enhance your calm, and hang on in there.

All the best, Angus Manwaring. (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga Game reviews by Amiga players

What would be ideal is if you can narrow it down to when you do something specific, i.e you can deliberately make it do it again just by doing a certain thing.

Also, how good have you been at keeping up to the servicing and maintenance?

Ok, here it is. It's only happening when in 5th Gear, only starts after 20-25 minutes at

65mph + and gets louder the faster you go, although once started, it will continue at speed below 65mph as long as you are in 5th gear. It tends not to happen as you slow down (braking stops it) and it sounds like it's a noise coming from the front left wheel until this new humming nosie starts coming from underneath and the back of the car when at which point, I get extremely confused.

Have you checked for a front seat passenger?

Well considering it's happening when I'm alone in the car, I doubt that anybody is sat there screaming.

Well, it's always impressive when someone has the guts to apologise for something they've done. Not many people know the word sorry

Rob Graham

An Update! When I take it out of gear, it still squeaks. Does this mean it's probably the Wheel Bearings? I am taking it to a mechanic tomorrow anyway but it would be nice to have some idea about it beforehand.

Thanks Simon