I sold my trusty 2.0HDi to my brother about 5-6 years ago, and he is now reporting a problem, as detailed below. I am not up to speed with the HDi engines (90bhp, 1999). He popped it into the local garage and they suggested the turbo could have been making the noise but that seems unlikely to me. The garage is a trusted place, and there is no reason to think they are trying to pull a fast one (and generally I mis-trust garages!)

Description:

Sounds like a metal on metal squeal. Only happened 3 or so times - when the temperatures were cold, e.g. -3. Would occur after 3-5 minutes of driving and often making a right-hand corner; would then last for approx a minute. Could carry on making it even when car was stationary.

Seemed to come from the front right side of the car and sounded fairly clear. Stopped when passenger door was fully open (I did find that one of the securing nuts on the brace that prevents that door was opening fully was a bit lose - but can't imagine that would be the cause!

Just over 110k. I think the noise the garage guy heard was different - as it was under acceleration.

Any ideas welcome :-) I will find out how the performance and economy of the car is.

Thanks,

Matt

Additional comments from my brother:

Probably around 45mpg

There’s a bit of light noise when accelerating hard – which is what I think the garage bloke heard – but it’s been doing that for a fair old time now! The other noise was when doing town driving and in 2nd/3rd at less than 2k rpm.

Have one suggestion is it could be the PAS / aux drive belt needs tensioning up, due to the extra load of the cold PAS fluid. Fluid has never been changed to my knowledge.

There is a problem with the crank pulleys breaking up on these engines,the bonding fails & worse case the aux belt gets into the lower cambelt cover & throws the cambelt off!

Sound is from the front nearside of the engine, so that rules out the pulleys / and belts, etc.... the plot thickens....

The cambelt was changed at 75k, and the lower aux pulley (iirc) was replaced about 6 months ago because it wasn't running true, and could be observed when the car was on the ramps.

check the heat shield on the exhaust, I had a similar sound on mine which sounded like it was coming from the front but it was actually underneath and the heat shield had come loose.

It has been concluded it is the fan/heater blower assembly making the noise. Thanks for all the suggestions guys.

Cheers,

Matt