Hi - having viewed Briskoda over the last year or so, thought it time I actually registered. I'm the owner of what is possibly one of the best cars a cyclist can have - even better with the internal carrier! Much better than my previous focus estate.

I've owned the car (BTW a 2008 model) for two trouble free years and been impressed with the little sewing machine of the engine - I looked for a 1.9 but couldn't find the ideal age/cost/condition/location combo so settled for a 1.4 thinking of a remap, but as it happens I haven't touched it.

Anyway a few weeks ago I began to notice a faint and intermittent electrical noise - like a small electrical motor kicking in - after about 5-10mins of start up. It's now pretty much on all of the time. It's coming from the front (possibly left) and wondering if it's a warning for power steering probs or something else?? No warning lights or other signs.

Anybody experienced something similar?

Thanks in advance..

I have a faint electrical whine when I use the brakes, doesn't happen when the car is stationary but if I'm driving and brake, then the whine occurs and will continue even after stopping until i release the brake pedal. I thought it might be something wrong but 2 VW Polo loan cars I've used do the same thing, so perhaps it has something to do with the abs?

Thanks for the reply I wondered about the ABS but noise occurs before the brakes are touched. Also the whine can be continuous, say on a long motorway journey. Funny how it's only recently started. Other possibility is the power steering pump - the fluid level may be low but I understand the reservoir is underneath the battery??

Sometimes whining noises comes from fuel filters or water pumps.

power steering on roomy is electro hydralic, like fabia so pump should not run unless asistance is needed

you say electrical noise? please explain further, do you hear it through radio? or is it just a whine like noise you can hear in the cabin?

i assume you have checked all the normal levels like oil, water etc

its not one of the cooling fans for the radiator / aircon?

I'll try and be more specific - checked all fluid levels and noise doesn't seem related to radio, i.e. radio off and you can hear it. It starts about 5 mins after starting the car. Seems to come from the front - it could be my imagination but towards the left. First noticed it a few weeks ago. It doesn't change volume - it's an intermittent but fairly regular moany vacuum pump/small electrical motor/slightly high pitched noise. Reminded me of the headlight height adjuster kind of noise but slightly higher.

Air con doesn't seem to make a difference and it's not the radiator fan. Bizarrely using the horn makes it briefly disappear.

A gremlin?

A gremlin?

best be careful when you open the bonnet then, in case it gets you

left had side of the engine bay for sat inside the car is very little, gearbox, battery, power steering pump, air intake (nothing stuck in this?) and washer bottle, left hand end of engine you have the vacuum pump

left hand side of engine bay looking from in front of car you have more options

water pump, alternator, vacuum block (black box top of wing just in front of screen) have a listen here as these can buzz as they adjust vacuum to turbo and egr valve (also has pipes to non return valve in vacuum line, vacuum reservoir(ball in front of engine ) and normal air pressure (small pipe going to air filter box))

no odd warning lights like power steering?

brakes not got any heavier than normal (losing a bit of vacuum)?

battery ok?

does the noise vary with engine speed at all? (if not rules out timing belt, alternator, water pump gearbox etc)

That's really helpful - thanks. No warning lights, but I have noticed that if I pump the brake the pedal goes all of the way to the floor. I checked the fluid for leaks but as it looked okay l dismissed it - brakes still work. So, does that sound like the vacuum?

Thought about the battery - it's showing a slight tint of green and no problems re starting etc but lights do dim when hard steering, but isn't this common??

Cheers again for the help.

vacuum leak would show as brake peddle being harder than normal / more effort required to stop the car than normal

brake peddle going down to floor i would be concerned about as that could be a master cylinder issue leading to brake failure when you need them, that would also be nothing to do with noise you are hearing

Edited 18 December, 201213 yr by bluecar1

Lights will dim when stationary and turning the wheel which sucks juice for the power steering. I wouldn't think it would do this as well when moving as that would be annoying and probably dangerous.

Just to provide an update on this in case anyone else has a similar problem - a 'blown' turbo on the M6 two weeks ago identified a snapped bracket holding a pipe to the intercooler leading to a hole. Over time this caused the pipe to rub against the engine block causing a vibration and the noise. New pipe and bracket - no noise and a fix to the blown turbo!