Anybody recognize this sound? http://www.georgeco.org/audio/MINIsound.mov 2004 MCS w/120K miles. Original PS Pump, fan and tensioner pulley. Recorded w/car at idle after 10 minutes, heater blower off, not turning the steering wheel. Not the engine fan. Not a barn owl. Not stanley steamer... Any ideas?
Holy crap, that's a new one on me! That's really coming from your MINI? Weird. Well, I'm obviously no help. Here's hoping one of our many experienced types will chime in. Good luck and welcome to M/A!
Isn't that what Blimey's horn sounds like? That or you have a harmonica stuck in your intake. Can you pinpoint where on the engine it's coming from?
PCV valve? Had a car that made some very weird sounds and it ended up being a plugged PCV valve. It caused some pressure in the valve cover and it was escaping around the oil filler cap.
I like the sound of that (pun intended). That sounds like something I can fix. Where do I look for it? If I loosen the oil filler cap a little when I hear it I guess that would check your theory, no?
Sounds like a good test. This has got me thinking... I don't know when (if ever) my PCV has been replaced. Just ordered one. The PCV is the thing plugged into the passenger side top of the valve cover - connected to the rubber hose. #1 in the pic:
Rats. Replaced the Valve and that's not the source. It's hard to figure out where exactly it's coming from -- the fact that it's raining and I'm standing with my head in the engine compartment as the rain fills my ears isn't helping either. It really sounds like steam blowing off, like some sort of pressure relief valve. I think on the back side of the engine. I checked the fluid reservoir and I have enough coolant. I put a towel around the cap as the sound was being made and the pitch didn't change. After I replaced the PCV Valve I checked the hose and there's a good vacuum there. Power steering fluid is good and the pitch of the sound didn't change when I opened the PS reservoir a crack. I'm stumped.
I second the mechanic's stethoscope advice. You can get one pretty cheap (less than $20) and you'll likely find more reasons to use it over the years.
How's your Oil level? I would do an Oil Change right away. See if there are any metal shavings in the oil. My car was making that sound last week and I changed my oil to check for shavings. But the the oil change fixed the sound. If it doesn't change the sound... Pull the valve cover again and check for a bad lifter. It could be possible that a lifter clip broke and you might have to replace it. It's under $100 from the dealer... So i've heard.
Changed the oil today. Ran car on ramps afterwards to check for leaks. Once good and warm, PS fan kicks on: woo-hoo, hoo-hoo. Turned off the car, turned key so the fan came on. That's it.