Alas

A while ago I posted a question about a whistling noise coming from the engine. Seemed to be the alternator so stopped worrying. Other day I had it in the garage and mechanic and I traced it to the operation of the clutch. On idle it whistles and pitch & tone change when the clutch pedal is pressed. Can be there one day and gonre the next. Can appear & disappear on the same journey. He was baffled. I don't have a clue!!
Any ideas anyone.
Alasdair MY97

Neil G

I have a similar 'feature' on my '96 car.
When I start up with the clutch pressed in there is no noise at all, but when i release it in neutral it makes a whine (sounds a bit like a v. quiet turbo or fan). You can still hear it when driving slowly in 1st/2nd gear with the radio off and the window open, but above that speed and it is not audiable.
I have a standard UK tubo with 35k miles of the clock.
I have no idea what it is thought!!
Does this sound like a similar problem to yours?

Anyone else ??

Neil

InvisibleMan

me too,'96. Garage reckon its the bearings in the clutch that need replacing. It could be worse they say...the clutch.
£80 for the bearings and as they have to take the clutch/gearbox? out before they can see what state its in, it should be replaced there & then because of labour costs. New clutch £800

Alas

Neil
Sounds exactly as you say - also disappears after about 2nd gear. Tempted just to ignore it until something happens.
Invisibleman
Bit of an expense to go on what the garage thinks it may be. Labour cost will be huge to fix. Let me know if you go ahead. Would not be too sure about it being the bearings as it would be constant(not intermittent) and would continue to happen in each gear.
Just my opinion.

Anybody else got this prob.
Alasdair