[Freddy2210]

Hi guys, on the way to work this morning I noticed a new and interesting noise coming from the engine area. Whenever I reach approx. 1800 RPM to 2200 there is now an additional (unwanted noise) coming from the engine, which sounds like the noise a bicycle wheel makes when there is a piece of plastic or wood hitting the spokes when the wheel goes round. This noise is evident when the car is moving at all gears in this RPM range and when stationary. The car is a 1997 Alfa 145 Cloverleaf, which I have owned for the past 3months, and it has not given me even the slightest hint of an issue so far, so I really do want to nip this one in the bud. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[langers]

Have you had your head down the side of the belts yet to see if you can acutally see anything out of place?

 

[Freddy2210]

I checked as much as possible during my break, saw nothing out of place or loose, but have not checked from underneath. An other thing though is that it does sound like it is coming from the left hand side, near the wheel arch, so will be checking that when I get home and see if I can pinpoint it, and hopefully fix it.

 

[Freddy2210]

Just a quick update to the conclusion of my issue. Looked as far under the car as I could yesterday with a friend on the accelerator, it turns out is it is a loose exhaust latch that vibrates like crazy when the RPMs reach 2000, so in all an easy fix and not an expensive one either. Must have done it on one of those evil massive speed bumps that the car caught the other day. To be repaired this weekend and then the Alfa will be just fine.

 

[Ralf S.]

Aye... I was going to say exhaust. The Younger Mrs S. Cinquecento had (past tense) a heat shield on the catalyst that wore out a weld and so rattled at a particular speed.. Bit of a nuisance.. but easy to solve.

Ralf S.