Evening

My 2006 Focus LX has started making a whining noise this happens with the engine on and the car stationary or moving.

The whining increases in volume with increasing revs and also gets louder when I turn the steering wheel although in the few miles I've done with the car like this there didn't seem to be any reduction in power, steering was OK and no warning lights came on.

Any ideas on what it might be and whether I might damage the car driving it 5 miles to the garage?

Charlie

should be alright, it sounds weird though. Sounds to me like you may have turbo issues... Is it a diesel?

Thanks James - its petrol.

OK in that case I would wonder if its an breathing issue. Have you checked all the pipes for cracks or leaks?

Thanks I've booked it in for tomorrow morning as I'm hoping to have it fixed by the weekend and have no time to look.

I suspect you probably do have a break in a pipe or a hose, should be an easy fix.

I've had an alternator go twice on my focus. The first time, it just refused to start the day after the whining began, but the second time the power steering cut out, loads of warning lights came on and then everything went dead. Speedo, lights, not even the hazard lights came on, and I had to push it to the side of the road and wait for the AA.

If you have a multimeter, check the battery. It should be about 12v or so with the engine off I believe, and it should be around 14 or so volts with the engine on. If it's any less than this, or it doesn't go up with the engine running, it may be the alternator. It will be safe to drive, but beware that you may lose ALL electronic driver aids (my power steering went half way round a corner, and it caught me off-guard. Could have been VERY dangerous) and may get loads of warning lights flashing up on the dash (my handbrake warning light came on at 50mph!).

This may not happen immediately - mine lasted over a week from the whining starting to the problems happening.

Hope this helps and that all is resolved ASAP :).