2016 Ford Fiesta 1.0 titanium ecoboost Automatic

[cedrica]

Hello everyone
There is a strange squeaking sound coming from the engine, you can also hear it inside the car when it’s idling, this sound is only there when the car is cold, once it is heated up, there is no sound at all. When on idle you can hear it and if I rev it slightly the sound is gone. Been to the garage multiple times and they don’t know. Some say it’s the engine mounting but I doubt it, however when I go I’ve a speed bump that sound comes not sure if it’s just coincidence with regards to shocks and engine sound.
Your guidance and help will be much appreciated.
Many thanks.

 

[Handy Andy]

Best to look at the motor when you hear this squeaking noise.

So pop open the hood and watch this motor and even engage the AC to see if loading changes the noise or makes it go away.

To say "Motor mount" the mounts are located under the engine so that means you'll have to observe (carefully) under the engine to see or hear the noise in volume. IF it is much louder, then you can suspect motor mounts because the noises are in the crankshaft and the areas that "hold" that gyration in place - being the Motor mounts themselves.

But...you'd see the engine shaking to the beat of the squeak...

When you add in "heated up" (warm up the motor it goes away) this may mean more of a bearing or belt noise than a motor mounting problem. For the mounts carry heat away to a degree, but the cooling system does 99% of the rest of that work, which may; by squeak alone, mean a water pump bearing or belt to pulley problems are happening - being that Water Pump, Alternator and AC units are on the SERPENTINE. To verify, which, if possible - if the belt is removed for this test - engine is restarted and the squeak goes away (run) less than a minute - then reinstalled and squeak returns, removes all doubt that the mounts are not the issue, something in the pulley system is.

The Belt is a stretchy EDPM type (Extremely Dense Polymer Material) (Actually its' EPDM)

​

so it would be "derailed" to get it off - then rerailed to put it back on, I mean that it has no "snugger or tensioner" it's on for it's life and you change it - which may be all that this is.

 

[cedrica]

Hi Handy Andy
Thank you for your response and apologies for my late response. I started the vehicle when cold and tried switching aircon on and sound was still there. Tried putting heater on and sound still there. I have attached 2 sound clips, when you have some time please listen to them. If I remember correctly I only experience this issue in winter, I have not heard this sound in summer. I want to pour water onto the belt when the sound is there to see if there is a difference. I will let you know, I am hesitant in spraying q20 as the belt might slip.
Kind regards
Cedric

 

[cedrica]

Tried uploading clips and had to zip them

 

[Handy Andy]

No, you wouldn't need to use some form of "Anti-squeak" formula. It's best just to listen for it and observe any changes in the engines behavior - you'll need to pay some attention to this as idle speed and the squeak going hand-in-hand usually means a failure or potential future failure - of a bearing within the serpentines' belt route it takes.

There is also a possibility of a band failure in the belt - which usually the cheaper route to take is to just replace the belt

But that requires inspection.

​

This also begs the question,

How many Miles?

So if it's over 50K or you don't or can't even remember if this has been done before - the good rule of thumb is to replace the belt - for age and hidden failures are possible even within the webbing of the belts own groove and teeth it uses to hold itself onto the pulleys. The older it' is, the Shorter the Length of Time In-between Failures.(Mean Time Between Failures or MTBF) - so best to use the process of elimination and just replace the belt if the belt is bad or has glazing on it - from a stopped pulley, then more than likely it also indicates a dragging or friction on the system when that did occur.

You'll have to find it under, in the grooving, or above on the flats - and see if any shiny spot had developed, then try to fit the clues to the facts - being if it's shiny on the top, the water pump - if it's scruffy and broken up on the bottom, the AC or Alternator (look at the length of scruff - long = AC - Short = Possibly Alternator)

With the belt off, you can then see if you can turn any of the open pulleys by hand any scrub, rub or squeak, even a groan or wobble - would mean the part needs replacement.

 

[Handy Andy]

Ok, if a picture is worth a thousand words.

Then to see this as what I'd call - The "Book"

We'll start with the Cover...

IF you have a squeak - then not only do you check the engine and belts - did you even bother to look on the UNDERSIDE of the hood?

​

Whatever gets thrown around inside - that squeak may be from many things - start your investigation by looking under the hood, literally...

 

[cedrica]

Hi Andy
Hope you are doing well, we have just entered winter in South Africa and my noise is back, louder than ever. Yesterday I decided to try and resolve this issue on my own after going to numerous garages with no success. While the car was idling, I popped open the hood and pushed against the engine and immediately the noise was gone, left the engine and noise was back. I then decided to push on the mounting on the left, the one that is under the water bottle, noise went away. I then popped the water tank out and tightened the mountings, put back the water tank and started the engine and the noise is gone, take into account this is only a winter noise (lol).

Thank you so much for your advice, you did mention the mounts.

Kind regards
Cedric

 

[Handy Andy]

@cedrica - Thank you for the Follow up...
The "Motor mount" was one of the first you described, glad to know you stuck with it and found out that it was those mounts.

But it begs the question...

How did it get so loose?

And...Which Side of that mount was the loose side?


I only ask to help others in the Future with noises that you cannot simply explain...

 

[cedrica]

Hi Andy
The frame side, the side that's on the body of the vehicle, thank you for your advice and time, it is greatly appreciated