Alfa rameo GTV

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Does it disappear when the radio is turned off ? :)

Ha ha!

Depending on how mechanically adept you are, either take it to a trustworthy garage and ask them, or try the following:

Firstly, determine whether or not the water pump's driven by the cambelt or auxiliary drivebelt (commonly known as the fan belt, even though they've not driven fans on the majority of engines for centuries) - if it's driven by the cambelt, quite simply slacken the aux drivebelt and remove it. Then turn the engine on, making sure anything electrical's turned off as the alternator won't be being driven, and give it a good rev. If the noise has gone, then bingo, the problem's in a tensioner associated with the aux drivebelt. No risk involved in running the engine without that belt as all you lose is drive to the alternator (manageable for a small amount of time) and drive to the PAS pump.

You could also see if there's a central bit that the tensioner pulley revolves around that remains stationary in the middle. Find a bar with a fairly thin end, and put this on there, and see if the noise is transmitted down there. Compare it to another similar part to confirm beyond a fair bit of doubt that that's where the noise is coming from.

HTH.

Peter

Cam belt tensioner or balance shafts tensioner / bearings. I would check sooner than later!

Tim..

A lot of Fiat group twin cams make a noise like that. I think the workshop bods like to put loads of tension on the cambelts which makes them whine.

OTOH the ex's Cinq Sporting makes a supercharger noise also. No idea what causes that.

Agreed. I've driven a few of these now, and most did.

(well, not GTVs but the 2lt TSparks)

It's especially pronounced in the 145/146.

Cheers everyone, it was the tensioner!

Poor build quality.

Fraser