Citroen C5 (X7) strange chirring noise at passenger side

[th0m3k]

Hy guys!

I'd like to ask your help, maybe some of you have had similar issues.

My car is a Citroen C5 (X7)

I started to hear a strange chirping noise when the car is moving. It is difficult to localize the source of this sound but probably it comes from the passenger side between the cabin and engine compartment.

It is audible from outside as well and seems independent from:
- speed of the car
- quality of the road

But comes only if the car is moving. If car stays with running engine, there is no chirring noise. If we try to move the car, no sound. If I drive into a pothole no extra sound.

As I could, tried to find the source of the noise inside and outside but no results. It seems me the noise rather coming from the engine compartment.

Here is a recording about this, please listen it:


I would appreciate if any of you could give me some advice!

Thanks in advance!

[myglaren]

I had a similar but much worse noise on my early C5 that was the alternator clutch/freewheel.

[th0m3k]

I had a similar but much worse noise on my early C5 that was the alternator clutch/freewheel.

Thanks myglaren!

And were the symptoms similar at you? Were the noise coming only when the car moved?

[myglaren]

No, it was constant.

[GiveMeABreak]

There's no sound on the video for me - blank picture and absolute silence and yes, volume right up....

[th0m3k]

There's no sound on the video for me - blank picture and absolute silence and yes, volume right up....

Hmm, strange. Blank picture is ok, but you should hear the sound. Maybe the youtube volume down?

[GiveMeABreak]

It's fine now - must of been a glitch - sounds like the radio - almost like when the satellite signal is weak at home on the TV in bad weather and the high pitched chirping you get. Was the radio off completely?

[myglaren]

There's no sound on the video for me - blank picture and absolute silence and yes, volume right up....

I had to check it at first, thought I had made a mess of the link but then heard the chirping.

[th0m3k]

It's fine now - must of been a glitch - sounds like the radio - almost like when the satellite signal is weak at home on the TV in bad weather and the high pitched chirping you get. Was the radio off completely?

We have disconnected speakers and noise is still coming or if listen music via bluetooth.

My first guess was the windscreen's vibration but is so stiff it can't be.

[GiveMeABreak]

Ok, so I've heard a windscreen vibration before on an X7 and that sounds more like a squeaking of trim and is more traceable.

So my suggestions are are the ancillary drive belt - with the engine idling and bonnet up, go and have a listen to see if you can hear the intermittent noise - bearing in mind the transmission to the interior will be dampened a little.

You may have some squeaking in the pulleys - when was the timing belt last changed? - and if it was done, do you know of the full timing belt service was done with the tensioner rollers, water pump etc?

Admin Update (Updated - timing kit for DW10CTED4 engine in light of VIN)

The rollers are at 4, and 5 and water pump at A

When I had mine done the few squeaks disappeared - but mine were not really load - I just had the full kit done anyway.

[th0m3k]

Ok, so I've heard a windscreen vibration before on an X7 and that sounds more like a squeaking of trim and is more traceable.

Thank you Marc!

I'll try to make a better recording. But let's say this is the windscreen, how can I test it to be sure?

So my suggestions are are the ancillary drive belt - with the engine idling and bonnet up, go and have a listen to see if you can hear the intermittent noise - bearing in mind the transmission to the interior will be dampened a little.

You may have some squeaking in the pulleys - when was the timing belt last changed? - and if it was done, do you know of the full timing belt service was done with the tensioner rollers, water pump etc?

I don't know what variant of X7 you have (a VIN would help), but here's an example of a timing belt kit on a DW10BTED4 engine:

It is a 2010 X7 Break (120kw 2.0 hdi, automatic)

If the car stays with running engine, then the chirping sound is not coming and did not notice any strange sound around the engine.

Only if I start to drive and the car is moving at min. 20-30 km/h or above, the noise will be audible.

As I know the timing belt was not changed yet, I planned to do it now. Do you think is this noise related to it? (like the tensioner rollers)

But then what might be the correlation between the moving car and the mentioned engine parts?

Thanks in advance!

[GiveMeABreak]

The VIN is 17 alphanumeric (outside lower corner of windscreen in cutout - driver side for left hand drive) and begins VF.

When you did the listening test, get somebody to gently press the accelerator while you are listening at the engine - as it may only make a noise when the engine power increases and not at idling.

There was nothing the other chap could do about the windscreen - I think the trim had worked a bit loose on the upper dashboard and was just scraping up and down as the car wet over the road surface.

[th0m3k]

The VIN is 17 alphanumeric (outside lower corner of windscreen in cutout - driver side for left hand drive) and begins VF.

Ok, thanks, clear... It was only the last 8 digits...

So: VF7**************[VIN obfuscated, can be read by forum staff]

[GiveMeABreak]

Ok, got that Tom - I've updated the timing diagram in my last post in light of your VIN for the DW10CTED4 engine and deleted the VIS from you last post.

[th0m3k]

The VIN is 17 alphanumeric (outside lower corner of windscreen in cutout - driver side for left hand drive) and begins VF.

When you did the listening test, get somebody to gently press the accelerator while you are listening at the engine - as it may only make a noise when the engine power increases and not at idling.

I did a little bit different test. I accelerated up to around 60-70km/h then pushed the selector to N and left the engine run at idling. Chirping did not disappear unfortunately. So I'd exclude the tensioner rollers.

I've created 2 videos about this noise not only sound recording. Maybe you will have some ideas what it can be.

Video1:



Video2:



Thanks