New to Jazz. Are these engine sounds normal?

[richardfrost]

This may be nothing, as my 2005 1.4 DSi SE is new to me, and I'm coming from years of driving a diesel but...

When the engine is cold, there's a sort of hiss or whirring noise which kicks in from around 2,000rpm. I haven't driven the car much yet so I can' to be sure if it goes away when the engine is warm. I didn't notice it at first when I collected the car from the dealer, but later yesterday, when I ran it from cold I noticed it. Then, after about four miles, it seemed to disappear.

Also, when driving up the hill to my home, there's a steep hill and a sharp bend. As I piled on the revs there seemed to be a tappety / rattling noise from the engine which went away as soon as the hard work was done and I eased off the revs.

Are these normal sounds from this engine?

Many thanks for your help.

[VicW]

Also, when driving up the hill to my home, there's a steep hill and a sharp bend. As I piled on the revs there seemed to be a tappety / rattling noise from the engine which went away as soon as the hard work was done and I eased off the revs.
Are these normal sounds from this engine?

I assume the car has a manual gearbox so you may be in too high a gear especially as you have been used to the low speed grunt of a diesel engine.
The noise could be 'knocking' because the load on the engine is too high for the gear selected,let it rev freely you will not damage it.

Vic.

Vic.

[chrisc]

Sounds like the tappets are becoming noisy.  Have the oil pressure checked in addition to the tappet clearance.  A diagnostic machine will give the reading immediately

[guest809]

The jazz has the loudest electric fan  I have ever heard. The one that cools the engine, not the one that brings hot air into the interior of the car.

I can tell it's my wife arriving home from inside the house without looking out! The symptoms are that if cuts in for about 20 seconds and you might even notice the lights dip when it starts. If only lasts a short while but will then come back in again within a few minutes.

Not so sure about the other noise. As others have said, make sure you are in the correct gear as it doesn't like low revs too much when under load. Others comment on tappets needing adjustment but we have done this

[richardfrost]

Thanks everyone. I drove up that hill again today in a lower gear with higher revs and yes, there was no rattling noise and the car loved it. So that's that one solved.

And re the other sound, altamar, you may be right about the electric engine cooling fan. Although it sounds more like a hissing of air than a motor. I will listen again next time I drive the car. It's back to Honda on Friday anyway as they supplied it with a CD stuck inside, so I will ask them to listen to the engine as well.

I am loving it though.  Great car.

[culzean]

Also, when driving up the hill to my home, there's a steep hill and a sharp bend. As I piled on the revs there seemed to be a tappety / rattling noise from the engine which went away as soon as the hard work was done and I eased off the revs.
Are these normal sounds from this engine?

the noise could be 'knocking' because the load on the engine is too high for the gear selected,let it rev freely you will not damage it.

it's pre-ignition or pinking or knocking,  goes under many names - try using V Power or Ultimate fuel and it will be much better,  Jazz is running on limit of octane rating for normal 95 octane fuel and using a high gear up a hill will cause it.   The fact that noise eased off when the road flattened out means it is not loose tappets,  as that noise would be there as long as the engine is running.  The Jazz (in fact most modern engines) are also prone to 'piston slap' when very cold weather, this is caused by making more clearance on the piston skirt to reduce friction - that noise will get less as the engine warms up.   The air-conditioning radiator fan (both radiator fans come on together) is very loud,  but nothing to worry about.

[richardfrost]

Ok. I have finally had the chance to take the car for a good run, and the noise is still there. I don't think it is the fan as I would imagine that to be a constant noise. This hissing noise kicks in about 2000 revs and goes up and down with the engine revs.

I have a neighbour with an '06 Jazz so I will pop round and see if his makes the same noise, and then I will get Honda to check it out on Friday.

[richardfrost]

So, it was a slipping alternator belt. Problem solved.