Citroen Xsara Picasso - Strange Whining Noise Under Acceleration

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SteveH1908
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Citroen Xsara Picasso - Strange Whining Noise Under Acceleration

Post by SteveH1908 »

Hi, my Xsara Picasso (HDi 110 bhp diesel / 57 reg plate) has developed a rather strange noise when I accelerate. It can be best described as a sort of whining / whirring type noise, which is most noticeable in lower gears. The performance and drivability has (currently) not suffered. The noise is not too loud presently and it is very hard to accurately determine where it's coming from within the engine. But, I am just wondering if anyone has experienced this and whether there is a possible problem along the line that I could try to prevent? Many thanks, Steve.
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Re: Citroen Xsara Picasso - Strange Whining Noise Under Acceleration

Post by johnny625 »

Checking and possibly changing your gearbox oil might be in order. They tend to whine like that with old oil or possibly low level of gearbox oil.
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Rp0thejester
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Re: Citroen Xsara Picasso - Strange Whining Noise Under Acceleration

Post by Rp0thejester »

Does it make the noise when not driving, as in acceleration when in neutral?
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SteveH1908
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Re: Citroen Xsara Picasso - Strange Whining Noise Under Acceleration

Post by SteveH1908 »

Hi, sorry for the delay in responding. You can hear a slight whining type noise when you are stationary and press the accelerator. It's now been like this for probably over a 1,000 miles or so and has not yet affected performance/economy from what I can judge. I just worry that something might ultimately 'break'...
SteveH1908
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Re: Citroen Xsara Picasso - Strange Whining Noise Under Acceleration

Post by SteveH1908 »

Thanks as well johnny625 for the tip about the old/low level of gearbox oil - I will get that checked out as well.
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Re: Citroen Xsara Picasso - Strange Whining Noise Under Acceleration

Post by Moog »

SteveH1908 wrote: 07 Jul 2022, 07:36 Hi, sorry for the delay in responding. You can hear a slight whining type noise when you are stationary and press the accelerator. It's now been like this for probably over a 1,000 miles or so and has not yet affected performance/economy from what I can judge. I just worry that something might ultimately 'break'...
Don't know if it's the same thing, but for 40k miles mine has had a whirring sound 1) in neutral (it goes when I press the clutch and car has had a complete new clutch and nose cone) and 2) on overrun. I'm guessing it's a bearing on the input shaft on the gearbox getting worn. I've changed the gearbox oil and used genuine Citroen oil. It doesn't affect how the car drives and isn't getting any noisier. Just assume it's an elderly Citroen noise.
SteveH1908
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Re: Citroen Xsara Picasso - Strange Whining Noise Under Acceleration

Post by SteveH1908 »

Thanks for your reply. A mechanic thinks it probably is in fact the alternator. He's recommended though not bothering to replace it unless the noise starts to become worse. I'll just have to keep an eye (ear) on the noise as don't want to replace the alternator to then find that has not cured it. From the responses and through looking over related threads, there seem to be several possibilities...
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Re: Citroen Xsara Picasso - Strange Whining Noise Under Acceleration

Post by moizeau »

Dead easy to confirm if it's the alternator or a pulley, whip the aux belt off and see if the noise goes away.
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