whining sound at turn on/turn off

[dakini]

not really sure which forum this belongs in ...

my curiosity has gotten the better of me recently. i have a US-build 2006 MCS, I can hear a slight whining sound when I start the car, and again when I turn it off.

it's nothing under the hood ... it's somewhere in/around the passenger compartment. but it's not the antenna lowering or anything. i thought it was maybe the locks? but that doesn't seem quite right. what is it? i'm stumped.

[simplekid15]

Is it really loud?

[dakini]

well, i only noticed it a couple weeks ago. it's pretty loud.

[MiniMinor]

Could be the fuel pump. Under the rear seat..

[jeffroestobar]

I remember when I first test drove my first MINI I asked the guy at the Chevy dealership what the whiny noise was that I only noticed at very slow speeds, like parking. They of course didnt know being a Chevy dealer and had their mechanic take a look at it. It of course turned out to be the electric power steering, a noise that you dont hear in other cars because the power steering is not usually run by electricity. Just a thought. Turn on the car and turn the steering wheel and see if that is the whining you hear.

[dakini]

it happens when i turn it on, but before i ever put it in gear. and it happens after i turn it off.

it really sounds like an antenna going up and down. but my antenna doesn't go up and down. i hadn't even noticed it til my passenger asked if it was the antenna a couple weeks ago. and of course, now i've been trying to figure out what it is.

when turning it off, i thought maybe that was the locks going up ... but that wouldn't explain the same sound when turning the car on (after i've gotten in, so at least the driver's lock is up).

hence, i'm stumped! and curious!

[jhwh]

fuelpump

[MiniSMan]

mine is a 2004 and its a characteristic of the car i love it when i shut the car its like a turbine winding down

[Powershot]

If you have auto climate, I've heard it has something to do with the temp sensors. This may be just a rumor though.

[ss24]

Quote: Originally Posted by MiniSMan

mine is a 2004 and its a characteristic of the car i love it when i shut the car its like a turbine winding down

Ditto,except mine is 05.

[mendel williams]

Have you got the air recirculation button on ?? as this makes a noise if it is left on

[minigolf]

Have you lost your cat recently?

[dakini]

!

no, cat is sitting next to me although some geese have decided to nest in my carport.

no auto climate ... i'm about ready to just assume like MiniSMan said, it's the car turbines winding down!

dang it, though, i'm the sort of person who needs explanations!

[MINIAC]

Another vote for the fuel pump ... and it's more of a whir than a whine

[Root Ginger]

It's the fuel pump priming on startup but I've never understood the whirr after you switch off which comes from under the bonnet and not the fuel pump in the rear.

If you lift your bonnet, lower the window and then switch the car off by leaning through the window, you can get round to the front to hear the noise in all it's glory