Whistling noise

[clarkedj]

My sons 78 124 1800 cc started making a whistling noise while accelerating. He also told me the other night while he was driving the car lost power and died. He turned the key off and turned the car over and headed on down the road. He also said that when he steped on the gas the rpm increased but the car did not go any faster. Again stoped the car and all was fine.

The noise is certainly noticeable but not a load screaching. It does not happen during idle that I can hear. Ususally easily hearable about 2000 rpm. The timing belt is 4 years old with probably 50K miles on it. The belt looks good no obvious wear. Could a bad timing belt cause the car to lose power like that and make the whistling noise?

Thanks

Ed Clark
404-234-7366

[vandor]

It's really hard to diagnose the noise without being there.
However, it that timing belt really has 50k miles on it, change it! Fiat's recommended interval is every 30,000 miles.
Timing belts often don't show any signs of wear, just let go...

[124ADDHE]

Sounds like a clutch problem if the rpm goes up and the car does not accelerate.....

[dmwhiteoak]

Is this an automatic or standard shift? For it to increase rpm and not speed up sounds like a drive train problem to me. Tourque converter or clutch but the eingine dieing has got me stumped.

[124JOE]

yes i think its the clutch also look at the rubber giblio on the drive shaft

[blurple124]

Whistling? Did someone sneak forced induction on his engine while he was asleep???
Sometimes a whistling sound can be as simple as an gap in the air intake system where air is rushing through a small space. Below 2000rpm the air velocity wouldn't be fast enough to make noise, and above 2000 other noises probably drown it out. I could be wrong, but its worth checking. I had that with my Jeep's intake.

It could be that you have several different issues, though, rather than one causing all of these problems. Clutch sounds probable, if not something else in the tranny-does it only do that in a certain gear?)
Were there electrical problems when the car died? If it was a timing belt issue, the car wouldn't have gotten going again, and your engine would be seriously damaged, so I would replace it and then look elsewhere for problems.

[clarkedj]

Guys,

Thanks for the responses. The clutch was my first thought on the slippage issue. I had just put a new clutch in about 5 months ago. So i know the disc and pad are good and had the differential rebuilt about 18 months ago. On the clutch issue I do find my self having to tighen the clutch cable down about once a week. It seems that the bolt on the clutch arm seems to loosen or work it's way back up the threading to loosen the clutch cable. Does anyone else have tis problem? I was thinking of putting a lock nust behind the adjuster to see if this helps. Make sense?

On the whistling not sure where the air intake is other then the carb. Since the whistling is loudest over 2000 rpm not really sure how to pin point. I will use Marks suggestion on the other forum questions to use a rubber hose to listen for leaks just to continue the diagnosis. I have all the anti pollution stuff off the car and all hose are sealed. My first guess was there was a leaky air intake hose but not sure the location of all the hoses.

On the timing belt was not sure if slippage would cause the loss of power. You are right after 50K miles needs to be replaced anyway.

Thanks

Ed Clark
404-234-7366

[coise]

It is suppose to have a lock nut on the clutch fork to hold the adjustement in place. If you don´t have this nut your adjustement won´t hold.
Have a good one.

[blurple124]

Search through the forum. I recall reading something about an electrical issue or something where wires or cables are contacting either the body or each other and it causes the car to to through clutches at a high rate. That could be your issue and if you can find the thread, it may be very helpful.

Also, when diagnosing the air leak, you can spray carb cleaner around the carb and if the engine rpm goes up, it might be an indication that air is getting in there. Based on what you are saying, I think that an air leak is the most likely cause for your whistling sound.

[clarkedj]

Coise and blur,

Thanks for the response. I thought there had to be a lock nut. I forgot about the carb trick. I will search the forum for the electrical condition you are talking about.

Thanks

Ed Clark
404-234-7366

[manoa matt]

If you are going to change the timing belt check/change the tensioner bearing. That too can make a whistling/squealing noise.

[Ragno124]

If you are going to change the timing belt check/change the tensioner bearing. That too can make a whistling/squealing noise.

And while your at it, change that water pump cause that will surely die on you shortly after you change your timing belt (ask me how I know ).

[divace73]

Search through the forum. I recall reading something about an electrical issue or something where wires or cables are contacting either the body or each other and it causes the car to to through clutches at a high rate. That could be your issue and if you can find the thread, it may be very helpful.

The cause of the high clutch rate is when the earth cable is not connected from the engine to the chassis, when it is not connected the clatch cable then completes the electircal circuit causing that issue.

[mdrburchette]

You could also be losing vacuum from a faulty brake booster. While you're checking the engine for a vacuum leak with carb cleaner, you may want to block off the vacuum hose to the booster and see if your problem is fixed. Caution: when driving with the booster bypassed, the brakes will require a bit more effort to engage.

[ga.spyder]

Denise hears whistling every time she drives her top down.I mean with the CAR top down