I'm curious about this new one...

 

Something is making an oscillating noise, only ever audible at low speeds (up to around 30mph) and it seems dependant on varying circumstances, i.e. road surface, going up or down, sometimes while steering, sometimes while in a straight line.

 

It is likely something going round, as it changes with speed.

 

Steering is unaffected, car seems fine, in all honesty it has been doing it for around 8 months, maybe more. No issues raised at service/MOT so I don't think bearings, plus it doesn't sound like that.

 

I would say it sounds like it is from the engine bay, definitely forward and central. Put the windows down and you can't even hear it.

 

I have no idea how the modern assisted steering works, so not sure if that could be linked...it does it while not steering sometimes though.

 

It isn't getting any worse, as I say no ill effects, so I don't know if it is just one of those quirks some cars have?

 

Any thoughts?

 

I am seriously loathe to take it into a garage for a spurious noise with a slim description as above, as the odds say they'd take the car to pieces and say they can't find anything amiss.

 

Thanks.

This is a complicated one ... try to record it, at least 😁

Could it be the power steering pump which I find makes a whooshing sound for 10-15s after manoeuvring when at or close to full lock ?

13 hours ago, Gabbo said:

Could it be the power steering pump which I find makes a whooshing sound for 10-15s after manoeuvring when at or close to full lock ?

 

I thought these now had some all-electronic system with no pump? 

 

I don't think it is steering though as it sometimes does it while not steering.

14 hours ago, leolito said:

This is a complicated one ... try to record it, at least 😁

 

I'd honestly have to have my phone on record permanently and then look for the relevant part and edit the rest out, as I cam be driving 45 minutes and not hear it once, then there'll suddenly be a random five second burst of weeh-weeh-weeh-weeh-weeh and it'll stop.

To close the loop on this and potentially help anyone else who experiences this...

 

It was nothing more complex than rust on the rims of the front brake discs.

 

I knew from the MOT in June they were getting closer to needing replacing, but the rust had expanded to the point it was causing some rubbing at times.

 

Discs changed, noise gone.

 

If you get a noise like this, I'd recommend checking the outer edge of the discs for rust.

 

I will say that's the first time with any of the 20-something cars I've owned that I've ever had a noise sounding like that and coming from a bit of rust on that part of the brake discs, and in all honesty it wasn't like there was 1cm of rust or anything, so I take it the Skoda brake-assembly doesn't leave much wriggle-room at all for slightly expanded rust on that location.