Drone (not the flying kind)

[magoo1]

Getting a intermittent loud drone sound once I get to 50mph, it will come and go about every 10 to 20 secs lasting between 10 and 20 secs each time.

Have tried dropping a gear, the drone is till there.

I thought tyre noise as I have got the pressure at the top end to stop the tyre feathering which has several threads with some suggestions of try top pressure, I have Michelin cross climate. if the tyres would it be so in and out.

No difference if on bends.

Motorways or A roads still does it.

Not screeching.

Whether accelerating or decelerating the drone continues.

doesn't help that the Berlingo is a giant boombox.

I think I've covered all the symptoms and what I've tried.

In for a service and MOT next week.

Any ideas please

[Zion]

Wheel bearing? Or driveshaft support bearing?

[Mark604]

I was on a long motorway journey (Spain to Germany) in my old B9 and a drone of sorts developed over just a few kilometres. I didn't have chance to go into details of how/when etc like you have because I pulled into the next service station a few minutes later, lay down to look underneath and saw the under engine cover was loose on part of the front and corner. Couldn't see anything else but after securing it, it did stop the (intermittent) noise.
Just a thought if it helps.

[oilyrag]

Have you tried dropping into neutral and coasting at the critical speed?

[magoo1]

I was on a long motorway journey (Spain to Germany) in my old B9 and a drone of sorts developed over just a few kilometres. I didn't have chance to go into details of how/when etc like you have because I pulled into the next service station a few minutes later, lay down to look underneath and saw the under engine cover was loose on part of the front and corner. Couldn't see anything else but after securing it, it did stop the (intermittent) noise.
Just a thought if it helps.

Thanks.. just checked and the Top cover, the one with HDi on and it is secure.

[magoo1]

Have you tried dropping into neutral and coasting at the critical speed?

Thanks will take it out after my dinner and report back.

[Zion]

Here's another thing, while it's idling, with the bonnet up, put your hand into the gap on top of the airbox and press down. If the engine goes silent, the rubber mounts under the airbox are goosed. That causes a lot more engine noise.

[magoo1]

Just to add just over 100,000 miles on the clock.


After a 6 mile drive to get to the A50 headed towards the A38, no drone at all but I don't usually travel on that section.

Onto the A38 and it gradually started, dropped it into neutral but drone still there.

nearly 20 miles done.

It's as if it needs to get things warm before it starts, will do a run on Wednesday on the A52 and M1 where it does it on both roads.

Also there is no change in pitch no matter the speed, the same frequency all the time.



Will report back

Here's another thing, while it's idling, with the bonnet up, put your hand into the gap on top of the airbox and press down. If the engine goes silent, the rubber mounts under the airbox are goosed. That causes a lot more engine noise.

tomorrows job.thanks

[oilyrag]

As a 'no cost' test to confirm the initial suspicion of tyres, maybe drop the pressures to the minimum and see if there is any impact on the volume/pitch of the noise being generated - the noise may not be actual  tyre noise but possibly something being triggered to resonate.

[Mark604]

"Thanks.. just checked and the Top cover, the one with HDi on and it is secure."
I meant the cover that is completely underneath the engine, Like where you'd have a bash plate on a 4wd.