Lucan Posted October 6, 2005 Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 My Lupo Sport has been running well, without any problems until yesterday. The engine was warm, I pulled into the petrol station and topped up with petrol as normal. When I switched back on the 'oil' notice came on where the mileage or the service warning usually shows up.I started the engine and it was making a high-pitched whining noise. Definitely coming from the engine cos the noise rises and falls with the revs, not the roadspeed.I stopped and checked the oil and it shows max on the dipstick. I took the top off the filler cap and there appears to be oil up around the cam as normal.My uneducated guess is that there is a blockage somewhere and oil isn't getting to everywhere it should, but can anyone suggest where or what's best to do to resolve it?I'm thinking a full service is due anyway, but will it be sufficient to use an oil flush to clear it out or do I need it dismantling further during the service?Any advice would be welcomed.Cheers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted October 6, 2005 Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 The service light is not related to the engine so to speak - it just comes on at service intervals.As for the whining - how loud is it and whereabouts in the engine? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucan Posted October 6, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 It's not the service light but when it's due for service the mileage reading is replaced by "service" flashing up. This time, even before I fire up the engine, it flashes "oil" in the same place. It's not one of the warning light symbols on the dash panel.I'm not sure where the noise is coming from cos I've not run the engine with the bonnet up, but it sounds like engine as opposed to gearbox.And it's loud. Definitely a whining, not a graunching or scraping noise. As I drove it slowly home it got quieter, as if some oil at least was getting to the affected area, but it was still there, rising and falling with engine revs.The odd thing is that the oil level shows full but wherever the sensor is for this warning signal must not be getting oil through.Thanks for the quick reply TWi. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted October 6, 2005 Report Share Posted October 6, 2005 Its not oil! (well I am pretty sure)The oil service text/service indicator/writing to say you need a service is all the same thing - not connected to the engine - its not clever enough to know if you need oil.You need to raise up the bonnet and have a listen as to where its coming from - it could be loads of things - noisy alternator belt, cambelt.... is there any clicking?Might even be a leaf stuck in the airbox changing the note of the induction..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucan Posted October 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2005 I've listened to it with the bonnet up and I'm still not much wiser. I'm starting to suspect either the water pump or the alternator - something along those lines, due to the fact that it rises and falls with the engine revs.There is no knocking, clicking or grinding noise with it, just a very loud whine. It's so loud that when I backed onto the drive with it, they heard the noise from inside the house - in the rooms at the back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted October 10, 2005 Report Share Posted October 10, 2005 Well best to get it to a garage, sounds like it needs a service.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BridLupo Posted October 10, 2005 Report Share Posted October 10, 2005 It the alternator by the sounds of it. Put on ya lights and rear screen heater and blower and see if the winning gets worse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucan Posted October 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2005 It's not the alternator. I took the belt off last night to isolate the alternator and the noise satyed the same.Turns out it's probably one of the tensioner pulleys on one of the other belts. According to VW this is a common fault. The early Lupos don't often get to the point where they are at the recommended mileage for belt changes because of this fault. One thing I did notice was the difference in tension in the two belts under the cover (not the alternator belt). One was very tight whilst the longer one was flapping around like a flapping-around thing.I'll be changing the pulley tensioners and all the belts - apparently VW sell a kit for the job with all the parts to be replaced for about £100 +VAT. They said not to drive it in case it lets go altogether - that would ruin everything in the head.I s'pose it could be worse!Thanks to all for offering suggestions Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tdwindustries Posted October 13, 2005 Report Share Posted October 13, 2005 Suggested this!Cam belt tensioner.... tricky job to do if you ask me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucan Posted October 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2005 I'll let you know how it goes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucan Posted October 25, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2005 New belts, new tensioner pulleys etc. It all came in a kit from VW. Put on a new waterpump whilst it was all stripped cos it didn't make sense not to when they are only £28 + VAT.All back together, serviced and running sweet as a nut.My man told me it was all on the verge of falling apart though - he couldn't believe how lucky we'd been cos it would have caused lots of expensive damage if it had gone completely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.