I have a 11' vrs which i have had from new. I have had a few problems in the past but not too serious. Now i have an intermittent problem with a whizz or buzzing for half a second or so, then it goes and then comes back in 10-20s time.

 

I hear it mostly (exclusively?) when stopped, such as traffic lights. at first i thought it could possibly be something to do with the power steering, but the noise is not similar. then i thought it could have been to do with the spark plugs as i have had these replaced before, as this was a previous problem. Then now i have noticed i can turn the engine off and it still occurs, which leads me to think its electrical. I can turn the key (before the engine ticks over) so the radio and lights come on and it *sometimes* causes the problem. The most recent investigation points to the lights being on causing the noise? could this be the alternator or am i being silly?

 

Has anyone else experienced this issue or got any suggestion to what it could be and whether i should start to panic how serious it is...

 

I will try and film it the next time it happens and upload it so you can all hear it...

 

Thank in advance

Sorry but i am a bit confused by the issues you say are not the possible cause.

 

So how many miles has the car done from new.

You say the Spark Plugs were changed, how long ago / miles ago.

Has it needed or had the DSG Service Campaign Work.

No idea what you mean about the steering noise but some members have had issues with them.

 

So what happens if you have the DRLS off,  

and you put no Sidelights / Headlights on,

& no Radio on, and adjust the Heater & A/C controls, vents with the engine running or not running?

I do not know for sure what the cause is, but my un-mechanical brain tells me that since the engine is switched off it cannot be the spark plugs (e.g. a misfire or alike). I do not think it is the power steering (but i geuss i t could be?).

 

The car has 38k miles. spark plugs were changed when the dealers ask for a recall to 'upgrade' them, then i think they have been replaced at last service ~3 months ago? and i have  sneaky suspicion that the wrong type of plugs were replaced, i dont know for sure. what dsg, the update on the ECU? i have had an update i am not sure if this is what you are alluding to?

There is no issue where steering its when i am at a stand still (sorry for not making this clearer), i just thought it could possibly be the powersteering as it makes a rumbling/growning/whizz noise which you sometimes get when still and the power steering is assisting but its not the same noise.

 

Today when i noticed the noise again, i was stopped and turned the engine off, it still remained doing the noise, then i turned the lights off and it went away, then i turned them back on and it came back, all while engine was off but the electrics were on. e.g. radio and lights on.

 

I will have to try other lights, that a good suggestion! I usually drive around with drl and headlights on.

If it is when the car and engine is hot and you switch everything off, ignition off, then any noise is likely 

to be the coolant pump which can be running, if not cooling fans.

 

So try just everything off, when the engine is hot,

stopped safely and open the bonnet and see what or where you think the noise is.

Sorry to butt in as I am having a distinct impression that we are trying to find something here which simply does not exist.

Cars make all sorts of noises, which can be taken as signs of some subsystem going to pot, especially by non-professionals.

The pertinent question is, is there anything wrong with the car apart from some vaguely suspicious soundtrack? 

check nothing is in the cooling fans , i had a crisp packet caught in one once , sounded horrific