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Intermittent whirring and shuddering at around 70mph

Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:34 pm
by clarky_fto
Hi all

Due to the UK FTO owners forum being down at the mo I was wondering if anyone over here could shed a light on my recent problem. :D

Once the car is up to running temp, when I take the car up to 70ish mph I start to get a lot of whirring from the front and the car shudders a little.

It started as an intermittent problem but seems to be getting a bit more frequent.

I have changed all the plugs to iridium ones about 5-6000 miles ago.

Nice site you have here aswell!! :wink:

Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:40 pm
by mxysxy
are you sure this is an engine related issue?
What condition are your tyres at? balanced and alligned?

Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:44 pm
by aza013
wttc
it may just be a wheel alienment problem that would give a whirring noise and a shudder out of the frount end

Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:44 pm
by clarky_fto
I had new 18's put on around 5000 miles ago. All were balanced up and all tyres are good. The tracking was also done shortly after.

It only happens once the car has warmed up though so all I can assume is that it's engine related :?

Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 10:14 pm
by mr-charisma
Greetings from the land of Oz! As usual, here is my absolutely random input & stupid questions... :P

My first thought was "Whats a MPH?" :P

2nd & 3rd thoughts "Sounds like it needs a wheel alignment" & "What tyres did you get put on? Could the whirring just be road noise?"

And finally for the dumb questions... ;) Do you have any reason to suspect the engine? & "Can you get it to make the same whirring noise if you pop the bonnet and rev the engine manually?"

Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 10:28 pm
by clarky_fto
mr-charisma wrote:Greetings from the land of Oz! As usual, here is my absolutely random input & stupid questions... :P
Thanks :wink:

mr-charisma wrote:2nd & 3rd thoughts "Sounds like it needs a wheel alignment" & "What tyres did you get put on? Could the whirring just be road noise?"
The wheel alignment was only done around 3 months ago, the same time the wheels were fitted. Both steering and wheels have been fine up until this point.

I haven't hit any kerbs or big pots holes either so the tracking in theory should be alright.
mr-charisma wrote:And finally for the dumb questions... ;) Do you have any reason to suspect the engine? & "Can you get it to make the same whirring noise if you pop the bonnet and rev the engine manually?"
Only reason I have to suspect that it's the engine is that the problem only occurs when the engine is at running temp.

However, I noticed that when I applied the brakes they didn't feel as they should. I'm taking it to the garage after work to have the brakes and bearings checked anyway. Hopefully I can get my P&J fixed asap as I'm have my quad exhaust fitted end of next week :D

Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 1:40 am
by kay_8
This might be will off the point. have you checked your front tyers??? i have 18's on my FTO with low profile tyers, I hit a pot hole on a wrong angle once, it was doing the same thing. i thought it was the wheel alinement, it had turned out that i had pinched the inner rim which had damaged the tyer. i suggest to take it to a wheel shop, to get it looked at. :)

Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 2:16 am
by pmacFTO
Since the wheels are new check to see if they all still have the weights on from when they were balanced - you may find some sticky stuff on the wheel where the weights were - they seem to fall off easily - especially if u ever jet wash the car ;)

Posted: Wed May 23, 2007 3:43 am
by clarky_fto
Just come back from the garage. The passenger side front caliper is binding.

I'll order some front brake pads as they need doing anyway and while the calipers are off I'll regrease the sliders.

Thanks for all your help chaps!! :wink:

Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 4:59 pm
by SchumieFan
ummm

warped brake pads,

or bent engine mount,

mivec dieing?