» Site Navigation | | » Recent Threads | | | | | | 12-13-2005, 01:07 PM | #1 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 228 | Turbine noise at cold start? I'm just curious, whenever I start our car cold there commences this very loud whirring sound that lasts for about 90 seconds, then it stops. From what I can tell it comes from the area of the intake hose (prior to the manifold)...at least that's the area the noise comes from. Does anyone know what makes this noise? Is it normal? | | | 12-13-2005, 01:26 PM | #2 | Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cola. SC Posts: 344 | It is a normal sound. My car does it too... | | | 12-13-2005, 01:48 PM | #3 | Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 9,356 | Could that be the secondary air pump? __________________ ...steven BMW CCA #146825 1996 BMW 328ti • 2003 MINI Cooper S • 2016 M235i www.bmwcca.org | | | 12-13-2005, 02:19 PM | #4 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 228 | Cool, thanks for the replies. I'm not sure if it's the secondary air pump. Actually I didn't know we had a primary air pump, much less a secondary, so I'll leave that question for someone else to take a stab at. Thanks for the peace of mind guys. | | | 01-02-2006, 02:58 PM | #5 | Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bury St. Edmunds UK Posts: 6 | Check your intake elbow, between the air box and the mass air sensor. My car did the same thing and after checking the hoses i noticed a crack in that elbow. I didn't really think anything of it but it has since turned into a gigantic hole. It's now covered with plastic wrap and electrical tape until my samco sport hose kit comes in the mail. It has a silicone intake elbow that i think everyone should buy, much better than the crappy foam rubber elbow that BMW supplied us with. | | | 01-02-2006, 05:05 PM | #6 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | here's a pic of the secondary air pump in the ETK. almost positively this is your whirring noise. pop the hood, start the car and then check to see where the noise is coming from and i bet it's the air pump. this is an emissions control that runs when the car is cold to help reduce unburnt fuel from getting to the catalytic converter (if i remember correctly). has the sound gotten louder over time or you just got the car and noticed the sound? EDIT: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...59&hg=11&fg=50 __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 01-03-2006, 12:15 AM | #7 | Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bouncing off the rev limiter in CT! Posts: 3,156 | Quote: Originally Posted by 1996 328ti Could that be the secondary air pump? | Most likely, and as mentioned, a broken hose or connection that's loose will produce quite a loud turbine sound (since it's a turbine pump...). | | | 01-03-2006, 02:35 PM | #8 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 228 | Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti here's a pic of the secondary air pump in the ETK. almost positively this is your whirring noise. pop the hood, start the car and then check to see where the noise is coming from and i bet it's the air pump. this is an emissions control that runs when the car is cold to help reduce unburnt fuel from getting to the catalytic converter (if i remember correctly). has the sound gotten louder over time or you just got the car and noticed the sound? EDIT: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...59&hg=11&fg=50 | I'm sure you're right. The loud whirring sound came from an aluminum assembly between the filter box and the intake manifold...at least I think it's aluminum. Funny you mention, I believe it has gotten louder once or twice since we got the car. One time the noise was actually quite alarming, but I haven't noticed it being that loud again. My check engine light has since come on ( http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthrea...022#post47022). In the meantime I will inspect all the hoses in that area for possible leaks. cali-ti, I can only assume that if the noise gets alarmingly loud it can only be a bad thing...and that part looks expensive!! | | | 01-03-2006, 03:05 PM | #9 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | there's a guy on the yahoo list who disassembled and worked on his air pump. i'll try to find the info he posted about it there. could be awhile, lots of stuff to search through __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 01-03-2006, 03:22 PM | #10 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 228 | Thanks man, I really appreciate it! | | | 01-03-2006, 03:41 PM | #11 | Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bouncing off the rev limiter in CT! Posts: 3,156 | If the CEL came on, most likely the noise is a problem with the pump directly, and not just a leaky hose... My light is on as I do not have the pump connected... | | | 01-03-2006, 03:55 PM | #12 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | brad, i just sent you a rather large email i believe after reading through it all, the guy was able to fix his CEL with a vacuum line repair. good luck! __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | 01-03-2006, 04:06 PM | #13 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 228 | Quote: Originally Posted by cali-ti brad, i just sent you a rather large email i believe after reading through it all, the guy was able to fix his CEL with a vacuum line repair. good luck! | If you sent it to my gmail account I'll have to thank you in advance...we can't check gmail from work. Thanks for helping me out with this, cali-ti. I hope the repair procedure looks like something that I can handle myself. | | | 01-03-2006, 04:08 PM | #14 | Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 228 | Quote: Originally Posted by J!m If the CEL came on, most likely the noise is a problem with the pump directly, and not just a leaky hose... My light is on as I do not have the pump connected... | Heard and understood, J!m. I'm pretty sure the CEL relates to this, too. I don't think you can hear an alarmingly loud whirring noise like the one we heard without subsequently running into at least a CEL. Perhaps that DIY repair will apply to my case. | | | 01-03-2006, 05:20 PM | #15 | aka Stabby Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mead, CO Posts: 5,336 | you want me to send it to another email address? if so, just PM me with the address. i would have sent it to you in a PM, but it was way too big __________________ 1996 318ti, California package, 267k miles current mods: bilstein sports, bavauto springs, e30 m3 LCABs, solid metal ball joints, bavauto RSMs w/reinforcements, e30 3.73 LSD & halfshafts, supersprint cat-back exhaust, turner rear sway bar reinforcements, IE poly subframe & RTABs + camber/toe kits, powdercoated e36 32x front calipers, sport mirrors, H&R 28mmF/19mmR sway bars, x-brace, auto solutions SSK w/poly bushing upgrade, BMW CD43 head unit, DICE HD Radio w/iPod integration and "stealth" HD antenna, staggered style 68s, orange electronic TPMS, leather arm rest, JT Designs metal undertray acquired and awaiting install: heated seat kit, cali top switch relo, lumbar support kit, park distance control kit, heated washer nozzle kit, m-coupe rear subframe, trailing arms, differential, and halfshafts, m-coupe front/rear brakes with master cylinder, under hood light kit, mud flaps, rear sun blind, auto-dimming rear view mirror, tilt steering wheel retrofit, apexcone 5000K HIDs with 55W ballasts 2002 X5 4.4 Sport Package, 53.5k miles Current Mods: e46 m3 steering wheel | | | | Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests) | | Posting Rules | You may not post new threads You may not post replies You may not post attachments You may not edit your posts HTML code is Off | | | |