Well, I now have a problem with my beloved - it now produces a constant whine that's proportional to speed. It's noticeable around 30-40 and then you can really hear it at 65mph+ :( Cruising on the M'way around 70 is a most annoying experience now.

I think it's a wheel bearing 'cos it sounds as if it's coming from the right hand side under the hood. It's not related to gearbox or clutch (still makes the same pitched noise no matter what gear I'm in, including neutral or clutch down) and not engine revs related either.

I did a fair amount of ICE install work this weekend and I've first noticed it today. And it's definately most audible - not like it may have crept in over the last week or two. But I can't think what I could have done that could cause that noise. I've installed some chunky 4gauge power cable, but it steers well clear of any moving parts.

I'll take it to a dealer so they can have a look (and listen) asap - I don't like the idea of driving a car with a constant whine!

Any ideas or suggestions of things to check or try out ?

Overall, most annoyed, and my first big :thumbdwn: to what has been till now a massive

Strange that it's osf, usually find it's nsf as that is the one that takes the most abuse (especially with track use). Slightly daft suggestion, is it rev or speed related? Does it do it with the radio off?

Strange that it's osf, usually find it's nsf as that is the one that takes the most abuse (especially with track use). Slightly daft suggestion, is it rev or speed related? Does it do it with the radio off?

It's not engine revs related and still happens when the stereo is off (you were going to suggest it's alternator interference coming from the amp, weren't you )

Purely speed related. Pitch of sound is the same at a given speed regardless of engine revs and/or gear I'm in. As I said, it's still there when coasting down a hill with the clutch in.

So I reckon it's something after the box/driveshaft, hence prolly a wheel bearing.

I'll drop in Jacksons at Basingstoke today and see if a mechanic has 5 mins to have a look or listen. It's 30 secs away from where I work.

If it's ICE-install related, the only thing I could possibly think of is the hole in the bulkhead was "enlarged" to help feeding the power cable through and I haven't sealed it up yet, so could be a breeze making a whistling noise. But thinking about it, that's under the glove box and that's not where the noise is coming from unless my ears are tricking me

Me? Suggest a dodgy ice install? Like mine?

As you said, yep probably a wheel bearing or something in that area. Oh well, that's what warranties are for Seems a bit low mileage for that to be happening though.

Oh and yes I do.

A hole in the bulkhead shouldn't really increase engine noise unless you drilled a 15mm wide hole for a 5mm power cable... :P

For me I actually (by fluke) got the hole almost exactly the same size as the cable so it was a nice tight fit through. (also the amount of insulation around the glovebox should limit any engine bay noise coming through)

Good luck with the diagnosis... :(

Well, I popped into Jacksons on the way in to work and they said they'll do a quick test drive and have a look at it. I'll give them a ring at lunchtime and see what the report is.

On the plus side, they'll clear my airbag fault code in the ECU

Phoned Jacksons and the verdict has landed....

It is the wheel bearing on front driver's side (is that nearside or offside, can never remember).

They can't understand why (only 7800 miles) but hay ho, they've ordered a new set in 'cos they don't have them in stock and they'll be fitted tomorrow during the day. I'll just drop off the car in the morning and pick it up later on in the afternoon.

Not too shabby service really, so a big to Jacksons (after cocking up a sale )

The "side" is the kerb for future reference... (near=left, off = right)

And it does sound like good service.

The "side" is the kerb for future reference... (near=left' date=' off = right)

And it does sound like good service.

[/quote']

Hmm. Cheers for that Jason

But does it change over if driving on the continent ?

And is it any different if driving a LHD car in the UK or a RHD car on the continent :confused:

Thats a very "deep" question, but to be honest I think Europeans are more sensible and probably say left-hand side and right-hand side... - I never remember anyone mentioning "nahe-seite" when driving in Germany... ("a" with an umlout)

Well, took it in this morning.

Received a phone call on my mobile around 3pm, really happy, only to hear.....

..."We're sorry Mr Walker, but there seems to be a back order. There aren't any more in the UK"

Now I asked him how come, considering he had ordered them yesterday and why wait till 3pm this afternoon to tell me when he should have known yesterday there weren't any in the UK :confused:

I thought when stuff was ordered on etka, it showed immediately (because you're "online") what the status is.

He said "well, we ordered it yesterday on etka, expecting to see it this morning when we came in (delivery for all skoda parts arrive overnight). When we saw it wasn't in our list of delivered items, we checked on etka and it now displays a back order with a lead time of 7-10 days.

Is he pulling my leg or is the etka system really that bad, i.e. there's a "lag" between what it says it has and what there really is in stock. ?

I'd rather not want to wait another 7-10 days with a bearing which is becoming more and more audible as the miles clock up :( But then I'm not going to chase around and try and find another skoda dealer to sort it out if there genuinly "aren't any available in the UK" (that's what he said "backorder" means).

On the other had, if there is a backorder of wheel bearings, maybe I'm not the first to have this kind of problem? :confused:

K, any ideas or comments? cheers mate

Xavier, make a couple of calls to other dealers, just in case they're talking out of an orifice not usually used for conversation.

I wouldn't worry about normal driving with a noisy wheel bearing in the short term, ie until your dealer can replace it. However track use would be inadvisable.

My Octavia RS is making exactly the same noise - i even switched the ignition of whislt on a straight road to ensure it was drive train related. It is in to the dealer for the verdict today along with 4 new coil packs, a loose radiator and a tempertaure sensor fault. Still a fantastic car irrespective of the little niggles.

Well, spoke to my local dealer (where i bought the car from) and they can't get hold of them either. They can raise a VOR (I think) which is the super duper urgent order, but wouldn't receive the parts until sat or monday at the earliest, so kind of back to square one.

Thanks for the reassurance, Denis. I think I'll just live with the whine until it gets sorted. Just as wel this happened now and not in 5 weeks time, eh?

Xavier,

VAG parts supply is terrible mate at best.

Just make sure if they havent changed one as yet they have the toolong, seem to remember the Audi A2 (same system) had a big box of tools turn up to do front wheel bearings 9never had to do one though). Seem to remember its all part of the hub assy for some reason.

Good luck mate

Ross

Xavier,

I wonder if this is the same wheel bearing as fitted to the Polo , Ibiza and A2. My guess is that its the same. Get the part number from your dealer and try using the old phone to call a few local seat / vw / audi dealers (each brand uses independent computer systems) to see if they have any, quote the part number not what you want to fit it to. Might be good to stick to the bigger named dealers. Worked everytime when we were having coilpack issues and skoda had none. If they have one, buy it yourself and get your dealer to fit for you and refund the purchase cost.

Good point, Manny.

I think I'll wait now though. I don't think the dealer would "approve" if I were to undercut him and source the part myself then asking him to fit it. I think they'd get quite shirty and give the 'well, it won't be a warrantied item if it wasn't sourced by us directly' answer.

Jacksons did say 'just take it a little easy and don't go mad on the bends'. If ever something does happen - like the wheel falls of and causes massive damage (god forbid), I'll just say I wanted it sorted asap and they couldn't do it in time but said it "should be ok to drive".

Lets just hope they get the bits soon and they can sort it out asap. The sound is definately getting louder.

BTW, I think the part number is 6Q0407621AJ

Thats a very "deep" question, but to be honest I think Europeans are more sensible and probably say left-hand side and right-hand side...

Yeah - but is that when you are in the car or looking at it from the front :P

Well, I had this hunch on the way in to work, hesitating whether to stop at Jacksons and ask about my bearing (hadn't heard anything since trying to sort it out the week before). I didn't stop, but at around 10 am, received a phone call from them saying the part has arrived.

Promptly took the fabia over there and left it.

Was promised a phone call when done, but nothing happened. Eventually phoned at 5 to learn that...

...car's done and ready

Go over to pick it up and they've even washed it. Still a little cruddy from the freshly applied Mud Brown colour scheme thanks to the tailback on the A33 yesterday and TomTom kindly offering a very cross-country route home

Still, top marks to Jacksons for (eventually) sorting it out. I certainly wasn't expecting a nice clean.

However, there's another thing I've spotted which bothers me but I'll post in another thread...

nipples? (terrible thing-lol)

Really, Jason!!! I never made any mention of nipples :confused:

Oh, you're probably talking about this post :P