Grinding Noise from Footwell of 2.0TDi FR

[obeygiant1987]

Hi

I noticed a noise and at first I thought it was from the engine bay but it could only be heard from inside. I did a bit more listening and got my head in to the passenger footwell. I'm quite confident that it is the part closest to the centre console under the dash on the passenger side since the sound seems to be coming from there and if I touch it I can feel the grinding even as though it's happening within there. Does anyone know what this part is and what is likely to be wrong with it? Is it something I should worry about getting sorted now or can I wait for it to fail completely?

I've uploaded a video to YouTube. I can't link directly to it since I've not made 15 posts yet. I've put a space after the / below so you can copy and paste and then remove the space. I hope that's ok.

https:// youtu.be/B8cX5dq5ke0

Thanks

 

[obeygiant1987]

I don't know why the image won't show. With gap again.

https:// goo.gl/photos/RhGTACVKeZ12MazX9

 

[obeygiant1987]

Oh I forgot to say that this noise only starts when the car has warmed up a little and will only stop again when the car hasn't been running for a couple of hours and has completely cooled down. It also increases in frequency as the engine revs increase; the grinds get closer together but at the same time because the engine is louder it's harder to hear then.

 

[dm222]

is that with AC on?

check if it's coming from the auxiliary belt.

 

[obeygiant1987]

AC on or off it will make that noise. Turning the fans off completely too it will still make that noise.

 

[dm222]

check near the alternator belt if it's coming from there.

is your car lhd or rhd?

 

[obeygiant1987]

It's rhd

 

[obeygiant1987]

Well where I thought the noise is from turns out to be the air filter housing for the air con. It's definitely around there that the sound is coming from and you can feel something every time it makes the sound if you touch the air filter housing so I think it must be something attached to that.

 

[obeygiant1987]

If it take out the air filter and put my ear to the opening as the engine is running the sound is very clear as though it is coming from within there somewhere. I'd say it is coming from within there towards the centre console. So whatever is the next part along attached to the air filter housing is a possible culprit but I don't know enough to know what that could be. It makes the sound regardless of the fan being on or off and air con on or off. The engine only needs to be running and warmed up a little. The warmer it gets it typically gets louder and it is definitely linked to the engine revs so the the higher the revs the closer the grinding noises are together.

 

[obeygiant1987]

I'm convinced now that it is coming from the transmission tunnel so maybe something gearbox related. It makes this sound when not in gear though and is linked to the engine revs so even when not in gear and revving the engine the frequency of the sound increases. Flywheel maybe?

 

[dm222]

what about the auxiliary belt?

 

[obeygiant1987]

Listening from inside the car the sound is coming from the transmission in front of the gear lever. I've tried to hear the sound under the bonnet but can't detect the sound over the engine. Location wise though it doesn't seem to be coming from near the auxillary belt which is on the driver's side of the engine bay.

 

[obeygiant1987]

Hi. Updating on this I've had it in the garage and they couldn't find anything wrong but I have figured something out. When the air con is on the sound goes away. It's as the air con clutch engages that it goes and when the air con clutch disengages the sound returns. However today it was still making the sound when I had air con on but then I didn't hear the clutch engage. It was 2.5 degrees so does the air con just not work when it is that cold and that is why it was still making the noise?
I'm going to take it back in to the garage sometime to have the air con clutch looked at.

 

[RUM4MO]

There is no clutch on the AC compressor drive pulley, that AC compressor is a variable output unit so when no AC chilling is required, a small amount of liquid/gas and oil mist is circulating round the system pipework.

The operation of the AC for proper chilling will get inhibited at low temperatures to avoid frosting the evaporator up completely, so probably at +2.5C the compressor operation, as far as delivering chilling to the cabin, will be inhibited.

Edit:- correction, the official name for that type of compressor is "variable displacement"!

 

[obeygiant1987]

Thanks pal. I didn't know that. Any idea why it would make the noise with the AC off and not when it is on. Is there any part of the air con system that could make a noise when the air con isn't operating and then not make the noise when it is operating?
I can hear a load change on the engine when the air con is switched on and this is when the noise goes away. What is changing then when there isn't a clutch?

 

[RUM4MO]

Maybe Google "Sanden variable displacement compressors" as that will pictorially show how they work.

I was wondering if you are hearing some of the flap motors "hunting" and if you can switch off the heating/cooling completely? On the auto AC systems you can do that by turning the fan speed down > and then the controller switches off, if you have manual AC then I don't know other than by switching the fan speed down to zero - though that will leave the recirculating flap motor still powered up.

Edit:- might just be a faulty AC compressor that sort of works quietly when asked to but is noisy when working at low displacement - maybe need to remove that drive belt to prove/disprove that.

 

[obeygiant1987]

That noise is still there when I turn it off completely by going to the lowest fan speed and pressing down again to turn it off. I think from what you've told me about there being no clutch it must be the compressor. I think the next step is for me to take to the garage and hopefully it won't cost me too much. Am I looking at less than £500 for replacing the compressor?
Thanks for all your help. Much appreciated.

 

[Sc4rface]

New here

Hi does anyone know how I can start my own post please, any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[RUM4MO]

Go back to this section of the forum, ie Ibiza Mk5, then you will new at the top lefthand side a box containing "NEW THREAD" just start there with thread title etc.

 

[RUM4MO]

That noise is still there when I turn it off completely by going to the lowest fan speed and pressing down again to turn it off. I think from what you've told me about there being no clutch it must be the compressor. I think the next step is for me to take to the garage and hopefully it won't cost me too much. Am I looking at less than £500 for replacing the compressor?
Thanks for all your help. Much appreciated.

I don't know the age of your Ibiza, but I believe that Polo and Fabia do have problems with these Sanden compressors due to swarf being left inside them at initial assembly, note that is for these latest versions of Polo and Fabia and so it should include Ibiza. VW, Skoda and SEAT dealers should be aware of this - if this is your problem.