Back from the garage

[xantiagreen]

Not sure if this is a good or bad sign or an impending fault. When I bought the xantia 110 Hdi back 6 months ago it did not sound like a diesel very quiet on idle and through the gears, yesterday I got the car back all that was attended to was alternator bearings replaced (making a whooshing noise on acceleration, noise present when I bought car) new drive belt, both front abs reluctor rings replaced, new pulley tensioner and both side airbag connections repaired/cleaned under both front seats.

The clock and date were incorrect which means the battery was disconnected and the ECU was unplugged as I remember it around the engine bay area.
When I started the car I noticed it sounded more like a diesel now on tick over and on acceleration, puzzled as to why the change of noise, ECU was unplugged for around 6 hours or so.

When I had it on lexia at savoy everything was ok regards engine side of things injectors and so on, so can't understand why the change of noise.

Thanks in advance.

[Peter.N.]

'Diesel' type noise is usually caused by injection timing being advanced but can't see why it should have changed. It can also be caused by the engine being cold, is it quieter when it gets warm?

Peter

[Hell Razor5543]

Is it possible that when the battery was disconnected the ECUs have gone back into factory default? If so, won't they re-learn the optimal settings after a short while?

[RichardW]

I've never noticed any difference in mine when the ECU has been disconnected. The HDi is 'quiet' by IDI standard, especially when warmed up. It's possible that if the alt was making a high pitched racket, it was masking any low pitched noise the engine was making. I would check that they have tightened up the intercooler hose properly, but otherwise I would ignore it!

[xantiagreen]

'Diesel' type noise is usually caused by injection timing being advanced but can't see why it should have changed. It can also be caused by the engine being cold, is it quieter when it gets warm?

Peter

Had the car running for an hour yesterday and still can hear the engine on idle sat inside the car and more noticeable when outside. No loss of power and will have to monitor mpg, when outside of the car theres a slight metallic clangy noise that occurs every 5 or 10 seconds.

Going to get the service book stamped will ask mechanic to run diagnostics and check hoses and other areas members have mentioned.

Cheers all.

[electronmirror]

That " slight metallic clangy noise that occurs every 5 or 10 seconds" might be a sign of a knackered accumulator sphere.

To check, you should be able to feel it by putting a hand or use a long screwdriver/stethoscope on the sphere/regulator, it's visible just behind the radiator on the right hand side.

If the accumulator is not replaced there is a risk of high pressure hydraulic pipe fracture, an undesirable scenario

A healthy accumulator should produce that sound at not less 30 second intervals.

[xantiagreen]

That " slight metallic clangy noise that occurs every 5 or 10 seconds" might be a sign of a knackered accumulator sphere.

To check, you should be able to feel it by putting a hand or use a long screwdriver/stethoscope on the sphere/regulator, it's visible just behind the radiator on the right hand side.

If the accumulator is not replaced there is a risk of high pressure hydraulic pipe fracture, an undesirable scenario

A healthy accumulator should produce that sound at not less 30 second intervals.

Had all spheres changed 6 months ago by Dugg at westroen, acc sphere certainly working fine clicking at right intervals. Could it be with the new belt, tensioner pulley being fitted that it's brought all movement a bit tighter causing the diesel type noise.

Cheers Ted