Hello, I'm new here, just wondering if anyone could help me out with some advice...

I have a 2000 (W reg) Fabia Elegance 1.4, about 70,000 miles on the clock. Until recently I lived really close to work and didn't drive much, but moved a month ago and now doing a 40 mile roundtrip every day. Yesterday I noticed that my car is suddenly sounding like a van when it's idling or accelerating at low speeds. It might be doing it at high speeds too but I can't hear it! It's also making a bit of a whining sound when I take my foot off at speed to slow down.

Checked the oil and coolant this morning and they were both below min (I know I know, forgot I need to check them more often now doing more miles - there's a tiny leak in the radiator that the garage said isn't a problem unless I start seeing fluids on the driveway when it's been parked) so topped both up and hoped that was the problem... But no luck, still doing the same thing after the trip in this morning.

Any ideas as to what it could be before I take it to the garage and spend a lot of money I don't have? I don't know anything about cars really! Could I have damaged something by not topping up the oil and/or coolant, which will go away once that's worked it's way through the system?

Could it be a blowing exhaust?

Should have said - I did think of that, but it doesn't sounds like the blowing exhaust on my old car did. Seems to be coming from the engine rather than under the car, almost like something is vibrating too much in there?

Let someone with mechanics experience have a listen, it could be a boat-load of possibilities.

Any lights showing in the instrument binnacle ?

Nick

Mine used to do that. (16v - you don't state if it's 8v or 16v.)

You can hear its tickover noise (amungst others!)

.

Never did find out why it did it really, but the performance never changed - although it did drink a fair amount of oil, as I think the piston rings were dying.

Mine would only ever whine in 2nd gear on the overrun, I just assumed it was the gearbox.

When was the timing belt changed? Could be the tensioners are giving up. I remember when I had mine it was really kinda rattly but after the belt and tensioners were replaced it was much smoother... So it could be the belt starting to have excessive play due to lack of tension??

at 70k on a 2000 car, even if it's been done you may well be at the point of needing it's 3rd?

..... if it's a 16v, that is.

Edited 3 February, 201115 yr by Rob.