I have the same noise on my 2.0t, noticeable on idle and increasing in pitch to around 2k rpm when it is drowned out by engine noise. Does anyone know what it is? I'm concerned it may be the turbo failing.
It's driving me mad.

Edited 12 March, 201313 yr by Clark

Alternator bearing?

Would that give any other symptoms? How could you diagnose?

Stethoscope..one designed to listen to acute sounds in an engine. This can determine to a person who knows what their listening for to confirm bearing but it does sound that way.

Edited 12 March, 201313 yr by Ema_jane

Take the aux belt off, start it up and see if it still does it.

That will narrow it down a bit.

Or if you don't have a stethoscope try using a long screwdriver and touching various parts in the engine bay and pressing your ear against the handle, just be careful where your poking the screwdriver

Or if you don't have a stethoscope try using a long screwdriver and touching various parts in the engine bay and pressing your ear against the handle, just be careful where your poking the screwdriver

This also. Take time to listen around the whole engine, the injectors can be heard working which to me is pretty cool i need to get out more i think..

You do Ema_jane :p

A stethoscope is great for this sort of thing. As mentioned a long scewdriver works almost as well. Just don't touch any whirly bit with it, and any loose bits of you or attached to you, secured out of the way.

You could strip the alternator down and get the bearings out to get the number or size, and go to your local bearing dealer. Try and get SKF bearings if you can.

The screwdriver advice was a great tip, 99% sure the noise is coming from the alternator, that's where it was loudest anyway. Thanks for all the help, really appreciated.

If you don't want to get too involved dismantling the alternator, A decent autoelectrician should be able to rebuild it for you. But As Meta says, its not a major job.

The trick is when your rebuilding it, there will be a hole in the casing in line with the brushes. Stick a rivet in there to hold the brushes back till you have the ???? Can't remember it's name ( the thingy ) with all the copper on it lol, back in place then pull the rivet out. That will then allow them to sit back in place. Just remember if you take the brushes out, put them back in the housing they came out of, don't swap around.

Off topic sorry op,

What colour is your vrs meta55b, Ill have to wave if I see you!

I think rebuilding it is beyond my very limited skillset, there are a few auto electricians near where I live so I'll leave it to someone who knows what they're doing! Thanks for all the help.

Off topic sorry op,

What colour is your vrs meta55b, Ill have to wave if I see you!

silver and have xenons. there is another silver pre FL but i don't think it has xenons and might be a 07 plate as mine is a 08.