New member to the forum so first off hello all!

 

My gf purchased a Fabia 1.6 Estate a few months ago and I liked it so much I picked my own one up a few days ago. A 2009 Skoda Fabia 1.2 HTP with 38000 miles on the clock from a private owner.

 

I'm a little concerned as I've only just gotten to drive it properly this weekend and I noticed it makes a whirring sound when accelerating, deccelerating (also pressing clutch in) and in neutral when stopped when I raise the revs. Happens in any gear and I think it is happening all through the RPM range but ost obviously around 1500/2000RPM before the engine drowns it out. I don't think it does it as idle though.

 

At first I thought it sounded like an induction/air noise. I had a look under the bonnet and could not really locate it, seems to be coming from everywhere although I think it's louder on the nearside of the engine (left hand side looking at it from outside standing in front of the bonnet). I couldn't really locate it to the aux belt with my gf revving the car. It is louder in the car, like it's being amplified by the cabin and harder to detect with my head in the bonnet.

 

I asked my friend at work who had one of these cars a while back and he said he had a slight induction noise with his so I don't know if it's a quirk of these 3 cylinder engines or it's something nefarious :(. If it is a problem I don't think it's gearbox as it happens in neutral, I'm hoping it's a aux belt issue and not cambelt or anything.

 

I have just made a video in neutral, link here to youtube: 

 

Please let me know your thoughts or anything I can try to diagnose this issue. I'm pretty broke right now and can't afford garage diagnostic charges but if it's cambelt would like to know as would probably contact the guy I purchased from and see where I stand.

 

Cheers guys,

Will

The whirring/whining noise, which peaks around 2000 rpm is a characteristic of 3 cylinder htp engines. It comes from the counter rotating balancer shaft which is gear driven directly from the crankshaft.

 

The balancer shaft has a hefty offset weight and is used to balance out vibrations that a 3 cylinder design  would otherwise inherently have.

 

So, its normal, they all do that. And yes it sometimes seems quite loud, but dont worry...

 

Heres what it looks like....

 

https://seat.7zap.com/en/e/ibiza+st/ib/2011-639/1/105-105003/

 

Everything you need to know about the htp engine...

 

http://pierro777.free.fr/DOCVAG/SSP260_The%201.2Ltr%203%20cylinder%20petrol%20engines.pdf

 

Btw the engine has a cam chain, not a belt. The 2009 has a roller chain which is fit for life unlike the later revised engines which use an inverted tooth design (aka silent chain) which is more fragile.

Edited 1 October, 20178 yr by xman

Same speed as the crank judging by the gears being the same.
Interesting though; it's a very distinctive sounding engine. You can tell one at 50 metres.

Thank you that's put my mind at ease. Quite funny little engines, apart from that whine I really like the engine noise it produces and it pulls way more than I thought a 1.2 would.

 

One other thing I noticed is it idles quite lumpily, particularly when facing downhill. I was going to check over the airbox/egr/maf/throttle body and give it all a clean and inspect the plugs. I thought it was misfiring at first although when I plugged my OBD2 sensor in there was no CEL's (cheap eBay unit with torque Android app so not sure if it ever works that well) and the idle RPM sits pretty solidly at 840ish. It smooths out completely as soon as I start driving. Another 3 cylinder characteristic?

 

As the cars in good condition and low mileage I want to take good care of it (usually drive cars into the scrap yard). Would the cambelt/water pump etc be due now?

 

Thanks again :).

 

 

Yes can be a little lumpy at slow idle. (Idle increases if a/c is turned on). Might need some trashing/good quality fuel to clean the fuel injectors if its been mollycoddled, and run only occasionally with weeks old fuel in the tank. Thatcs when I notice the lumpiness becomes worse in ours.

 

As I said the camchain is a for life part and doesnt need replacing unless it starts to rattle loudly because its stretched due to neglecting oil changes.

 

I ran a 2004 example from new to 140,000 miles, didnt require chain or waterpump. Our 2009 model is on 57,000 miles. Just oil and filter changes every 10k or one year which ever occurs FIRST.

 

Spark plugs and air filter every 40k. Pollen filter when pongy.

Edited 1 October, 20178 yr by xman

2 minutes ago, xman said:

Might need some trashing/good quality fuel to clean the fuel injectors if its been mollycoddled

 

I think you're on to something as it's barely done any mileage in 8 years and I can certainly do that!

 

I've filled her up with good fuel  already and will give her a few spirited drives over the course of this week and see if it improves.

Thanks for all your help, very appreciated!

 

Kind regards,

Will

 

If you are not sure when it was last serviced its always good to change the oil and filter as a precaution. Its a very easy thing to diy (need a 6mm allen key socket for the sump plug and a a pair of pipe pliers for the filter housing if it screwed down too tight)

 

Oh it may also be a good idea to carry a spare coilpak as sooner or later, one will go pop. They always do. Only about £25 from Eurocarparts.

 

Read up on how to change them (its quite easy on the htp, two flat bladed screwdrivers to lever them out). It will be handy to know if one pops miles away in the middle of nowhere.

 

Oh I noticed its on 38,000 miles, time for plugs and airfilter.  In that case youll need to pull those coilpaks and use this to get the spark plugs out.

http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/hand-tools/laser-spark-plug-spanner-t-bar-16mm

 

Cheaper from ebay

 

Edited 1 October, 20178 yr by xman
Noticed service due