Whining / Low-pitched squeak pulling away from rest

[mmilgrom]

Greetings fellow MINI enthusiasts.

After lurking in the forums and checking online car sale websites for around 5 months, my wife and I finally succumbed to the cult of MINI a couple of months ago and purchased a 2nd hand 2004 Cooper S Chili with all the trimmings. It had covered a paltry 38,000 kms and had been pampered and polished. Thusfar, we've loved every moment of ownership even with the odd little rattle and the underwhelming fuel economy.

Recently, however, our beloved MINI has developed an odd whining sound. I'm not talking about the missus complaining as we have to fill up with 98 octane petrol yet again, and I'm not referring to the comically loud power-steering whining which would embarrass Jonny 5 of Short Circuit fame.

This sound only appears when pulling away from rest in 1st gear. It occurs for less than a second, is relatively low-pitched and sounds like a lower-pitched version of the sound you get when rubbing the rim of a wine glass with a wet finger. The sound only appears very occasionally, and there doesn't seem to be correlation with any other events (hot / cold car, warm / cold day, wet / dry conditions). All I know is that the sound appears to be presenting itself more frequently (say, once every few days). Needless to say, this is NOT the low-pitched grumble which occurs upon pulling away for the first time on a journey: I know that the ABS system has a little 'practice' and I'm not confusing the two.

My very limited powers of deduction have isolated it to one of the following areas:

- Brakes (perhaps binding at standstill and then freeing?)
- Clutch (We do live in Sydney: the previous owner could have been a lazy left-footer)
- LSD (Wish I knew more about how they worked and whether they make such noises)

It had its 40,000 km inspection service a few weeks ago and was given a clean bill of health then.

Any ideas?

Matt Milgrom

[Root Ginger]

Sounds like a slipping belt.

[minigolf]

Yeah, could be slipping belt. And, unless it is a January 05 build, or later, it won't have the limited slip diff either.

Hope it gets sorted for you soon.



Cheers Liam

[C00P3R S]

Quote: Originally Posted by mmilgrom (original)

Greetings fellow MINI enthusiasts.

After lurking in the forums and checking online car sale websites for around 5 months, my wife and I finally succumbed to the cult of MINI a couple of months ago and purchased a 2nd hand 2004 Cooper S Chili with all the trimmings. It had covered a paltry 38,000 kms and had been pampered and polished. Thusfar, we've loved every moment of ownership even with the odd little rattle and the underwhelming fuel economy.

Recently, however, our beloved MINI has developed an odd whining sound. I'm not talking about the missus complaining as we have to fill up with 98 octane petrol yet again, and I'm not referring to the comically loud power-steering whining which would embarrass Jonny 5 of Short Circuit fame.

This sound only appears when pulling away from rest in 1st gear. It occurs for less than a second, is relatively low-pitched and sounds like a lower-pitched version of the sound you get when rubbing the rim of a wine glass with a wet finger. The sound only appears very occasionally, and there doesn't seem to be correlation with any other events (hot / cold car, warm / cold day, wet / dry conditions). All I know is that the sound appears to be presenting itself more frequently (say, once every few days). Needless to say, this is NOT the low-pitched grumble which occurs upon pulling away for the first time on a journey: I know that the ABS system has a little 'practice' and I'm not confusing the two.

My very limited powers of deduction have isolated it to one of the following areas:

- Brakes (perhaps binding at standstill and then freeing?)
- Clutch (We do live in Sydney: the previous owner could have been a lazy left-footer)
- LSD (Wish I knew more about how they worked and whether they make such noises)

It had its 40,000 km inspection service a few weeks ago and was given a clean bill of health then.

Any ideas?

Matt Milgrom

Hi Matt,

Did you ever solve the problem? seems like I may have the same issue!

Would love to know if you ever got to the bottom of it!

Thanks Steve.

[rellik666]

Hey!

Only just saw this. My late 02 MCS also has this noise and it has been to garage several times. There is also no correlation to when it happens, but it has got less frequent. It has done it all the time that I have had it, 18months now, and never caused a problem. Happens once maybe twice then doesn't do it again. No luck with a diagnosis, but not worried about it.

As mine is pretty early I have a few quirks that I live with, and this to me is just another one. Doesn't effect performance or drivability so I am happy.

What difference would a limited slip diff make?

Don't early ones have this? Would my 07 cabrio have it?

[Mike Clarke]

This sounds like a clutch bearing.
I have the same problem and there are a few posts in the faults & fixes forum on this.

[ScottyBoy]

The explanation of this sound, sounds like the problem i recently had, as my car was under warrenty i went to the dealer and from reading another thread about this i was aware that it could be something related to the flywheel. The dealer replaced the flywheel and clutch under warrenty without hesitation. Although dont take my word on it that it is and you have a major fault as yours could be very minor.

Scott

[Scourgebk]

Quote: Originally Posted by Mike Clarke (original)

This sounds like a clutch bearing.
I have the same problem and there are a few posts in the faults & fixes forum on this.

Agreed, the high pitched whining sound pulling from 1st gear sounds like the clutch bearing. Upon purchase of my reconditioned MINI, I complained about this and the dealer mentioned that the whining sound came from the clutch bearing.

When the clutch components (bearing, pad and plate) are removed, can I just change the bearing only or do I need to change all 3 items?

I was told that removing the gearbox is really cumbersome and since it has been removed, it is better to change all the components.... .

[micky.b]

My MCS does exactly the same thing and it's really anoying. I can reproduce the noise when pulling away in 1st gear and reverse. It used to only happen when the car was cold but is getting more frequent and can happen at any time.
Car has been back to the dealer for Gbox, clutch and flywheel but it is still singing to me.
I can also get/force the noise when stationary with the handbrake on (it's not brake binding noise) and riding the clutch in the lower gears 1,2 and 3 car just bogs any higherup the tree.
mmilgrom's Wine glass analogy has struck a chord with me and I'm wondering if the dual mass flywheel is vibrating on take up?
I can get the noise to go away if I heat the clutch up ( handbrake on, 1st gear and slip clutch for 20 seconds) All is quiet untill it all cools down.

Although I dont like the noise it kind of sounds like it's bored and yawning at me - just makes me drive it harder to quieten it down. mmm.

[Lav3r]

I had the same problem a few weeks ago.

Check out my thread here: http://www.mini2.com/forum/mini-coop...ch-squeak.html

Basically, I bought a used Mini from a Mini Dealer and only when I recieved it I noticed a loud squeak/whining noise everytime I pulled away in 1st, especially when it was cold.

Complained to Mini, they got the car in to diagnose the fault, and they replaced the whole clutch free of charge.

[simeds]

sounds like clutch flywheel to me, based on my experiences

[Shaun]

I asked one of the JCC mechanics about this mine has done it since new and still does. He said bent flywheel and that it was a known problem. I just put up with it I could not be bothered trying to get a fix when it involved so many parts being ripped out. The car is no worse after 2 years and 18000 miles and its going in two weeks so look out for the...

I have just bought a used Cooper s from Rochdale and it squeaks in first gear Thread soon