M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine + Driveline => Topic started by: xwill112x on December 03, 2008, 11:01:00 AM

Title: weird noise?
Post by: xwill112x on December 03, 2008, 11:01:00 AM

ok so my e30 started makin a weird noise, like a belt whining...or maybe the pwr steering pump going bad...
its comming from the passenger side it seems....

i just the engine bay for the noise to see if i could pin point it...couldnt hear it. so what do you guys think?

Title: weird noise?
Post by: Jtuner on December 03, 2008, 11:04:32 AM

Power steering pumps make more of a groaning, air bubbling type sound.. Is this whatcha got? Check the fluid level, if its ok, check it while the car is running and see if there's any white foamy stuff in the reservoir,, if there is foamy stuff you have air entering your power steering system from somewhere,, a loose line, leak in the rack, or possibly an internal leak in the pump... Usually the fluid is just low and you can top it off and the sound should go away! Good luck, and let us know what you find :)

Title: weird noise?
Post by: txleadfoot on December 03, 2008, 12:03:05 PM

a locked-extended timing chain tensioner could be causing the whine.

Title: weird noise?
Post by: xwill112x on December 03, 2008, 12:22:04 PM

it doesnt sound like any of that inside the engine bay though. its only from inside the car, and from the passenger side. i was thinking either, fuel pump, MASSIVE vaccum leak, or maybe oil presure/oil oil pump straining bc im running 20-500 with lucas oil stabilisor...maybe the oil is too thick?

the noise seems to increase with intensity with rpms..... it has me stumped...
argggggg!


but ill try listening for the tensior sometime today when i get out of school.

Title: weird noise?
Post by: nicknikolovski on December 04, 2008, 02:31:43 AM

can you post a video?

Title: weird noise?
Post by: EN318isPDX on December 04, 2008, 02:37:35 AM

water pump?

Title: weird noise?
Post by: roundel318 on December 04, 2008, 10:29:35 AM

while i wouldnt think that thick oil would have much to do with it, you should probably drop to a 10-30/40? what is your location?

Title: weird noise?
Post by: xwill112x on December 04, 2008, 11:10:40 AM

Quote from: roundel318;62238

while i wouldnt think that thick oil would have much to do with it, you should probably drop to a 10-30/40? what is your location?

north carolina

Title: weird noise?
Post by: xwill112x on December 04, 2008, 11:15:00 AM

Quote from: EN318isPDX;62230

water pump?

would i be able to hear it through a screw driver pressed to my ear?


and nicknikolovski, i dont think it's loud enough to be able to pick out in a video from all the other noise...especially with my crappy camera.

also, how would i know the water pump was going bad? it still keeps a good temp..?


arggggg :confused:

Title: weird noise?
Post by: nicknikolovski on December 05, 2008, 04:02:52 AM

Remove your power steering pump belt and see if the noise goes away.

Or make sure the car is cold and remove the water pump/alternator belt and briefly run the engine and see if your noise goes away. If both these check out then continue looking.

Title: weird noise?
Post by: Jtuner on December 05, 2008, 09:54:51 PM

might be a fuel pump, but I don't think those get louder with rpm...... got me stumped :( Wish we could hear it!

Title: weird noise?
Post by: xwill112x on December 07, 2008, 06:47:47 PM

havent had time to do much...

but im going to jack my own thread for a moment...brake lights arent working...the lights them selves work, but dont come on when you hit the brakes.


i think i may need to get a "stop light switch"..

any opinions on that matter ?

Title: weird noise?
Post by: xwill112x on December 07, 2008, 06:54:42 PM

Quote from: Jtuner;62316

might be a fuel pump, but I don't think those get louder with rpm...... got me stumped :( Wish we could hear it!

oh, i just replaced the fuel pump last febuary...so idk bout that... :confused: