John Walker might know

87 3.2. Help! I cannot track down the source of this noise. At above 5000 rpm I got what at first sounded like a turbo spooling up, a very high speed wind kind of noise. It would come and go. Now it is all the time above 5000 rpm and sounds more and more like a bearing sort of noise. It is only above 5000 rpm so it's hard to sit at idle and find something using the ole broom stick or screwdriver method. My throw out bearing makes a lil rattle every now and again but it is on the motor side. I've played with the clutch at rpm and it was on the motor side. I was thinking possibly cam chain area, tensioner but it would make noise all the time no? Maybe alternator bearing? Car runs fine and this is just a wierd, wierd noise. I've been working on cars for 15 years and this is a new one... but this is also my first Porsche. It sounds like a cross between a very strong vacuum wind sound and a gear/bearing whine. Almost like a golf cart running or something. Sorry for the poor attempts at describin this but I'm at a loss. I just can't find it. Anybody have a suggestion?

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rj cilurso
87 911 targa

Hmm RJ is this a new sound? As far as noises above 5K all bets are off as far as I'm concerned, the 911 engine is quite noisey with all the chain and gears slagging around there are plenty of nice *whirrs* coming from it. Maybe it's normal and you are "hearing things"?

take the belts off and see if it's still there. put a little pressure on the clutch pedal. make sure there's freeplay in the clutch cable or the throwout bearing will spin at engine speed and wear out. tighten down the intake nuts. they're usually on the loose side. no noise from the chain housings?

This is a brand new, not normal noise. I tightened down the intake, nothing, checked the fan shouding, nothing. I'll try taking the belts off, just hope I can get it someplace to open it up before it gets too hot.

Before you remove the belt look at it. See if it is glazed. Try adjusting it a bit first if you find it a little loose.

If you take the fan belt off and run (for a very, very short time - remember even if the engine is cold, it needs air to cool the cylinders), then the problem might be with your flywheel pilot bearing. This is basically the only other ball bearings in the drivetrain (the kind that squeak). Not much you can do about the pilot bearing without pulling the engine. If it disintegrates, then you will have a problematic clutch, but until then you should be semi-ok.

-Wayne