High pitch noise

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Hi all

I recently got a Leon Cupra TDI 150. Very nice too.

One question though, when I accelerate I get a high pitch noise coming from somewhere. I don’t know where it’s coming from but assume its the engine bay as it sounds to me like a very high pitch air whistling noise.

I can’t hear it when maintaining speed but as soon as I accelerate the noise kicks in and its not just when the turbo starts.

The car as far as I'm aware is unmodified; it has no air filter and I don’t think it’s been remapped. It also has a standard looking exhaust.

It was like this when I bought it and thought nothing of it, assuming it was normal but a friend of mine seems to think not.

Any ideas?

 

[sssstew]

without hearing it, its tough to say. But initially i just thought you were talking about turbo noise but later you say its not that. So im thinking that it would be a small boost/air leak somewhere perhaps.

You say it has no air filter? i assuming you mean no performance filter, ie it has a standard one?

 

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Well I say it isnt the turbo, I suppose it may be but htta would mean the turbo is working under the slightest of acceleration. I thought turbos kinda kicked in at a certain point?

It does have the normal airbox, no performace filter.

 

[cordobabrendy]

as soon as the engine is iidling the turbo is spinning at a few rpm, dont forget these things spin at up to 100,000 + rpm when going full tilt and slow back down again very quickly when theres no more exhaust gases propelling it.

 

[ChrisUK]

It will be your turbo

Does it get louder after around 1800 rpm?

 

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Yeah it does get progressivley louder. I thought it may be the turbo but we couldnt work out if it sounded healthy or not and my (very) limited understanding of turbos led me to believe a turbo sat idle until you felt it kick in. Arent I a Dumb ass!

Phew! I can rest easy now, thanks for your help guys

 

[thebeno]

Mine does the same, should it not? Sounds lovely, whisssssssssssssssst

 

[InfernalBadger]

You shouldn't really be able to hear it that much without the windows open though, especially with the radio on.

Well, I can't anyway, lol

And yes, it sounds awesome. Couldn't imagine having a car without a turbo now (also for the nice surge of power when it kicks in)

 

[thebeno]

I can just hear mine with windows closed but no radio, starting to get me thinking now, how can I check I dont have a leak?

 

[sssstew]

I can just hear mine with windows closed but no radio, starting to get me thinking now, how can I check I dont have a leak?

either look for leaks on the joints, or get vag com and log the boost requested vs actual. A leak sounds more like a wooshing noise, but the turbo is a definate whistle.

 

[muddyboots]

I can hear my turbo really loudly. While sat still, if I just feather the throttle a few times it sounds like a police car siren

 

[googies]

In the last few thousand miles i can here my turbo whistle more, as Muddyboots says esp when stood still and taking off sort of slowly in first, can on here a faint whistle on a very smooth road when accelerating.

 

[Danny_FR]

That definately sounds like turbo whistle to me, dad's old Bora 150 sounded the same as mine did before I got the Pipercross panel filter. With the filter it's alot louder and I even get a "dumping" sound on gear changes!

 

[basstard]

I can just hear mine with windows closed but no radio, starting to get me thinking now, how can I check I dont have a leak?

if the car is mapped you can hear it more easily than normal,,, I can hear it with the windows closed and it's done it since I bought it [80.000 km ago]
don't panic, it's ok,,,

 

[thebeno]

Cool, thanks guys!