"blowing/hissing/whooshing" Noise From Engine

[kevcole]

hi all

new member here, I'm trying to fix up my partners 97 galaxy 2 litre

it started making a very strange blowing noise, like a compressor or air line blowing into the engine???

it has a rough idle and keeps cutting it so i assumed the idle control valve was stuck, but it looks quite new and when i removed it for a clean it appears to work perfectly

next i tried the egr valve, thinking the noise could be coming through that via a torn diaphragm, but that seems fine too after giving it a'suck' test (add puns here !! )

now I've obviously disturbed a dodgy plug lead as it's running on 3 cylinders, so I've ordered a new set of leads this morning

i have changed the hego sensor on the downpipe as it looked damaged, but with it running on 3 cylinders,i can't actually tell if the original rough idle and stalling problem is fixed because of the sensor damage.

it's the whooshing noise that's foxed me

I've worked on cars all my life and I've never heard anything it

there is a fan/blower unit above the battery, but even disconnecting that didn't stop the noise

anyway, thanks for having a read

hope someone can shed some light

I'll post when i get the leads and see if the stalling/rough idle is fixed

cheers

Kev

[gazmech]

Gasket gone on the turbo or pipe come off turbo.

[SilverBeast]

I believe think the 1997 2 litre is a petrol engine with no turbo. Not got one myself (or worked on one - only my MKII diesel really) but, from reading this site and others, would suspect possibly vacuum lines perished/detached. Others with vastly more experience will be along with better advice I'm sure.

[victor meldrew]

Check the vacuum pipes cos they perish and have a listen around the brake servo.

[a18nkd]

are the brakes ok (not spongy/hard to brake) would agree check the the vacume hose to the brake servo?

[kevcole]

brakes all good

vacuum lines where my first thought, but they all good too

it does sound like it's coming from the exhaust tbh, but nothing like a cracked manifold or joint

I'll double check the vacuum lines tomorrow

cheers

[chrispb123456]

Am sure this has come up before, seem to remember could be blocked cat converter/exhaust system.

[kevcole]

morning all

been up and poking around the car for a few hours, took the icv off again but it still looks like new lol

felt all the vac pipes and they all seem good still

got it running in all 4 cylinders tho now I've ordered a new set of leads for Monday :(

it does sound like it's coming from the 4 little exhaust ports on the manifold, it's just a sound I've never heard before on a car

the idle is better with the icv unplugged. at least it's driveable. with it plugged in the idle is very erratic.

it could be faulty i guess as it looks quite new

I'll price one up

Kev

[kevcole]

finally gave up, there is nothing obvious wrong with it

plugged in my obd tool, connected with the laptop, but nothing came up on the error codes apart from an old high temp error

i noticed after a longer test drive it ran a little better once it got hotter

had to give in and give her the car back. looks like it's gunna cost now to fix it

Kev

[kevcole]

ok

update time

got the car back last night, spent another hour this morning re-checking vacuum pipes and fittings etc, all still ok

fitted a new idle control valve

car still the same :)

just ordered a MASS to see if that cures it

if it dont............????????

cheers

Kev

[kevcole]

ok, update

new airflow sensor sorted the majority of the problem out, idles in a fashion now

but the noise is still baffling

took it to exhaust place today and 3 of us were poking around underneath trying to find were the noise was coming from

it's not the cat, that's for sure

it looks like it could be coming from a pipe right up behind the exhaust manifold, possibly a crankcase breather??

not sure yet until i take the bellypan off and drop the downpipe for better access

will let you kno

cheers

Kev