Hello, I have 2000 xj8 (108k) and in a last 4 months WHEN IT GOT COLD I started to have these problems:

1) When the engine is still cold (after I warm it up for 3 min or so), start to drive and my speed reaches about 15mph a whining noise comes up from the right side of the engine. This whining noise sounds like a noise from a drill a little. If I press acceleration pedal several times back and forth or when the engine finally gets completely warm - noise disappears.

2) In addition to that, at the beginning (when the car is still relatively cold and the weather is cold) , engine can just stall when I sudently stop (but don't press the brake pedal all the way down) And again, when engine is warm, this doesn't happen.

The only solution to avoid the above probems is pressing acceleration/brake pedal several times or warm-up the car for 10+ minutes. What can be a reason for these 2 problems?

Thank you very much in advance. (PS: belt has been recently replaced)

 

What was the failure with your old flywheel???

As for your current problems, I can only guess, and only on the first one. The noise and location leads me to suspect the idler pulley bearing for the drive belt.

 

Thank you for your reply, I will check that drive belt idler pulley bearing.

Also, forgot to mention in my previous post, after a long drive, there is a smell of burning rubber which comes from the right side of the engine, I think. Might be unrelated to the whining noise problem.

As for the flywheel, yes my old flywheel got cracked (in the center; 5+ cracks) after I think I accelerated too rabidly and fast when driving one day. When that happened, there was a strong noise every time you turn a steering wheel (like when you open an old gate - typical for the cracked flywheel. We replaced it on your flywheel (thank you for the great service, by the way) and that problem doesn't exist anymore.

Hopefully replacing that drive belt idler pulley bearing will solve the whining noise problem.

Thanks again!

 

Thanks for the answer Leonid, I had seen a bulletin about cracked flywheels for early cars but had never seen or heard of one otherwise. Another tip to go in the tip jar!
Glad I could help you too, I appreciate your kind words and the business.

Andrew Bernstein
British Auto Care

 

Thanks again, Andrew. I will check that bearing as you sugested.

 

Was it the bearing?

 

You're likely to be waiting a long time for his response, as his last public appearance on this Forum was in February.

As for your car, remove the serpentine belt from your COLD engine and start it up. Thirty seconds of running won't hurt a thing, and will help you to isolate the source of whatever noise you are hearing.

 

OK, now I understand your response on the thread I started. Will do, hopefully the new whining noise I have and the charging problem are both due to a bad alternator and not two different problems. Will post what I find. Thanks