Funny whirring noise from the engine

[JimH]

Hi All,

Quite some time ago i switched the ignition on and heard a funny whirring noise coming from the engine. Thought it strange that the fan had come on without me starting up. Popped the bonnet but the fan wasn't going. turned ignition off and on and it stopped. Recently however it is doing it nearly all the time. Still sounds like a fan sort of noise but it can be quiet and while the fan is going and visa versa. Don't think it's heat related as it can start after only a few mins driving. Please help. starting to freak me out !! 99% sure it's not the fan..

cheers, Jim.

[jotto]

Hi All,

Quite some time ago i switched the ignition on and heard a funny whirring noise coming from the engine. Thought it strange that the fan had come on without me starting up. Popped the bonnet but the fan wasn't going. turned ignition off and on and it stopped. Recently however it is doing it nearly all the time. Still sounds like a fan sort of noise but it can be quiet and while the fan is going and visa versa. Don't think it's heat related as it can start after only a few mins driving. Please help. starting to freak me out !! 99% sure it's not the fan..

cheers, Jim.

Is the air con on? If so it could be the fans for the air con rad under the front!

[JimH]

Air con isn't on. know what you mean by the diff noise it makes but def not that. Will still make the noise though if the ac is on or off.

[TonyN]

We had an odd noise that came on with the ignition, it turned out to the rear heater blower, with something rubbing on the fan.

[BUSHWHACKER]

We had an odd noise that came on with the ignition, it turned out to the rear heater blower, with something rubbing on the fan.

I second that theory, It caught me out last winter, much head scratching for a couple of days.

[JimH]

Thanks for replies. Just wondering if this would be intermittant though ? During a 10 min drive the noise can start and stop 20-30 times if not more.

[JimH]

have found the source of the noise. found another fan at the very front which i hadn't noticed before. Is coming on nearly all the time now. Have turned a/c off and heaters/ blowers off and is still happening !! Any ideas ? Also still coming on just with the ignition. Thanks for any advice.

[NiftyNev]

have found the source of the noise. found another fan at the very front which i hadn't noticed before. Is coming on nearly all the time now. Have turned a/c off and heaters/ blowers off and is still happening !! Any ideas ? Also still coming on just with the ignition. Thanks for any advice.

Have a look at this pic. ----> http://groups.msn.com/toyotasurf/nif...o&PhotoID=6633

Check the connection is not loose on the sender in thermostat housing.

Neville

[JimH]

cheers nev, will do

[JimH]

had a look and seems to be slightly different from the photo. Where the wire goes in on Nev's i just have a blank nut. Around the corner from that there is something pretty similar looking to the photo. I pushed the clippy bit as much as i could but it has made no difference . Any other ideas ?

[NiftyNev]

had a look and seems to be slightly different from the photo. Where the wire goes in on Nev's i just have a blank nut. Around the corner from that there is something pretty similar looking to the photo. I pushed the clippy bit as much as i could but it has made no difference . Any other ideas ?

Yep.Sorry about that.Yours will be an auto then.They are slightly different.The correct one to look for is the one with a single wire.This is what controls the thermo fan and maybe it's faulty.It is meant to switch on the front mounted fan when extra cooling is needed with the air con on.

I was looking at mine a few days ago and out of curiosity I started the engine and switched the air con on while engine was still cold and the fan would cycle on and off every few seconds.Mine remains off as long as air con is switched off.The only other suggestions I have is clean the terminal for the sender or try a replacement.

There is another sender with two wires and this is for temp gauge.The blanking plug is a handy place to install an extra temp gauge for the autos.

Neville

[JimH]

cheers mate, will give it a go. Is it difficult to replace the terminal for the sender ? ( the highlight of my mechanical life has been to change a wheel, and an oil change on a mondeo that went wrong ). Jim.