Hi

My Rover 25 1.8 2001 Auto is making a whirring noise when idle and when driving. Even straight after starting the car it makes this noise. It also does it when parked and even when in neutral.

I'd be most grateful if anyone could answer the following:

1) Can anyone tell what the cause might be?
2) Would it be safe to make a 250 mile motorway journey before getting it checked?
3) Can anyone check it for me or recommend someone/garage that can check it? I stay in the Medway/Maidstone area.

Thanks in advance and I appreciate any help.

Below are two videos I took that will hopefully help identify the noise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-grM3tyzNC4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4-5RCMkxc4

Hi

I would say it is most likely the bearings in the auto gearbox. I have one too and it makes a whirring sound all the time. I have driven 40,000 miles with it like it, but have been told that if the bearings were to break up it would be fatal for the box......apparntly it was a weak design in these boxes....what a surprise i'm victim to another 'weak' design!!

 

Wow! 40,000 miles with that sound? Really??? It would have driven me nuts.

The thing is I had a much worse sound fixed at the beginning of June and it cost me £420. The invoice description said "Supplied and fitted new internal rear bearing to auto gearbox". They did give a 1 year guarantee on the work but I am now doubtful of taking it back to them.

I am hoping some kind person on here will be able to help me out. I don't mind paying, I just honestly can't afford what the garages are charging. But then again, I'd feel better paying knowing that the problem has been properly resolved rather than wondering if I have been stitched up. My wife and kids use the car as much as I do and I'd hate for something in the car to give while my wife is driving as she isn't a very experienced driver yet (less than 1 year).

Please help!

 

Wow! 40,000 miles with that sound? Really??? It would have driven me nuts.

The thing is I had a much worse sound fixed at the beginning of June and it cost me £420. The invoice description said "Supplied and fitted new internal rear bearing to auto gearbox". They did give a 1 year guarantee on the work but I am now doubtful of taking it back to them.

I am hoping some kind person on here will be able to help me out. I don't mind paying, I just honestly can't afford what the garages are charging. But then again, I'd feel better paying knowing that the problem has been properly resolved rather than wondering if I have been stitched up. My wife and kids use the car as much as I do and I'd hate for something in the car to give while my wife is driving as she isn't a very experienced driver yet (less than 1 year).

Please help!

Garages I have spoken to have said that there are two bearings that make this nopise...one at the front and one at the rear so it could you have a problem with the other bearing now. Yes the sound drives me mad and have to got to get it repaired at some point. Good luck with your repairs!!

 

Anyone able to suggest a good garage near the medway area where I can take my car please? Or someone independent?

 

The sound is much different in the engine bay video, and also, infact your engine sounds a bit weird? Has it been serviced?

May just be me, I'm used to a lil 1.1 8v K series.

 

The sound is much different in the engine bay video

One thing I did while taking the driving video was put the indicators on. Only realised after. I will try to take another engine bay video soon.

infact your engine sounds a bit weird?

Thanks for pointing that out. But it's actually the reason I am posting hahaha

Has it been serviced?

Actually it hasn't. I was meant to get it serviced but somehow I think this is beyond servicing.

 

I've taken another video from the engine bay. This one is with the engine cold. So taken right after starting the car. Please ignore my poor videoing skills

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsoRZ7D6gmc

Just a thought, could it be something as simple as a spark plug?

 

I am still open to suggestions for a mobile mechanic or garage

 

What's your location? Put it in your profile, like mine 'Bromley, Kent'.

 

I'm in Chatham, Kent and work in Maidstone. I've put it in my profile now.

 

Ok. If you want a mobile mechanic it's worth giving Russel at MG Rover Solutions a call. He specialises in HGs but I'm sure he knows the K series inside out.

Search MG Rover Solutions into google...

Give him a call, he will help diagnose over the phone and then if needed an appointment. He is highly regarded on here- just do a search and see, his rates are reasonable and he comes to you ( free within 30 miles of Tonbridge).

 

Excellent! Thank you VERY much. I was actually looking at some mobile mechanics yesterday and to be honest they seem a bit of a better option to me than taking it to the garage. I will definitely give him a call and see what he says.

 

Keep us updated...

 

Will do. Russell is booked for Friday. So I'm praying he can fix it really cheaply

 

Hi, any news?

 

Hi

Russell came and had a listen to the car yesterday but I wasn't around when he did and I was expecting a call back from him today. I've just called him and he is waiting to get some prices on parts early next week. But basically he thinks it is the main bearing in the gearbox.

I've now taken it back to the garage that worked on it at the end of May and asked them to have a look as it seems like the same problem (which Russell also recommended I do). But they won't be able to check it until Tuesday.

All in all, not sounding good or cheap! Will post back on Tuesday or Wednesday once I've spoken to the garage.

 

hope you get it sorted mate....btw where abouts are you in Chatham ?

Am in Walderslade, near Morrisons myself

 

Thanks. I hope so too. we've come to rely on the car a lot now.

I'm round the corner from Chatham train station.

 

Just having a bit of a nose on ebay to see what is out there and I think I've already come across 3 or 4 Rover 25s that have gearbox problems LOL. I guess it's as rovernutter said, a common problem.

If this is going to keep happening, I might consider spending a bit more and get a Rover 45 instead but I don't think the Mrs will enjoy driving such a big car. I loved my 400, so a 45 does sound appealing

 

Is it the bearing the garage replaced fault again? If so they should replace it under warranty?

 

I don't know if it's the same bearing. The garage hasn't gotten back to me yet and Russell said there wasn't enough info on their invoice for him to determine if it was the same bearing the thought it was.

 

Well I got a call back from the garage this morning and they have said that it's a different bearing that has gone this time.

They said the bearing they replaced last time was the "rear top bearing" and this time the problem is with the "front needle bearing". They have also said that it isn't possible to replace just the front needle bearing and I would have to get a new/re-conditioned box and are quoting in excess of £1,000. For that money, I'd rather just get another car

 

I am just playing devils advocate here but maybe it is the same bearing (this mobile mechanic thought it could be) and they want to avoid the cost.

My sister-in-law has a stepspeed 25, that made some awful noises a year and ½ ago. Think it cost my brother about £700 to fix it

 

I am just playing devils advocate here but maybe it is the same bearing (this mobile mechanic thought it could be)

Well I did think that they might be trying to pull a fast one. But unfortunately I have no way of proving it without getting someone else to actually check. But to be fair, the mobile mechanic simply said he thinks it's the "main bearing". And the sounds the car makes is different and as they put it, the last time it only made the noise when driving, and this time it makes a noise even when you start it.

I am thinking that anything over £300 - £400 is just too much and I should cut my losses and get another car. It's a pity because my Mrs really likes this car.

 

No you don't have any way of proving it without laying out some money and even then it can still be difficult to prove . I guess you chalk it up to experience.

 

Well mobile mechanic Russell hasn't even called me back. I guess he just doesn't want to say that he can't/doesn't want to do it. Oh well, maybe I won't buy my next car off ebay this time

 

I think buying 2nd hand cars and be quite often down to pure luck. You can do your homework and checking but ultimately you never know what is around the corner.
That said Ebay is probably fine if you view it first.

 

it sounds like noisy alternator bearings

 

What would be the best way of checking that? Not that I'd be able to check it to be honest.

 

Just whip the altanator belt off and start it up. The battery light on the dash will come up as no charge but it will rule out the altanator.

 

Thanks for the info. But I know very little about actually fixing cars so this is probably easier said than done for me.