Good day all,

Today I have noticed a worrying noise coming from the left hand side of the engine bay in my Mk2 Ford Focus 1.8 Duratec (Petrol) (see video).

The noise appears to calm down after the car has been driven for a while, however it is still there slightly.

I'm thinking it's coming from a pulley bearing, or maybe the alternator? I'm a noob when it comes to engines so any advice on what this might be would be helpful. Also any advice on how to troubleshoot would be much appreciated.

Here is the video: https://www.veed.io/view/c161818c-b647-4002-a34e-1b587b3a02a5

Thanks 🙂

Sounds like a roller skate...usually means a knackered bearing.

First troubleshooting test should be to remove the auxiliary belt and run the engine without it briefly. 

If the noise goes completely, you know it's something run buy aux belt.

Next test is to turn all the pulleys by hand and feel for any roughness or wobble.

I'm going to guess it's a bad waterpump before any further investigation...

17 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

I'm going to guess it's a bad waterpump before any further investigation...

I'm going to guess the alternator free wheeling pulley !!

Anyone else what a guess we still have a few things left 🤣🤣

@TomZee be sure to come back an let us know what the problem was.

Ok i will go the alternator itself😂

If it comes back when you switch all heavily loaded electrical items on after the car has been run for a while then it is probably Alternator related.

There's still the A/C compressor up for grabs if anyone fancies a punt on it 😃 

8 hours ago, unofix said:

There's still the A/C compressor up for grabs if anyone fancies a punt on it 😃 

I'm a fan of A/C, OK, I'll go for that as the cause... LOL