Motor sound from front wheels after moving a little with car

[sim785]

Hello,

I have a 2002 Vitz.

The other day after switching off the car and was unpacking stuff I heard like a motor sound (the sound was like the motor of liquidizer) continuously running. I had never heard this before. At first I thought it was the cooling fun in front of the radiator but I knew this never turned on when car was switched off. I opened the front bonnet but could not locate the noise although it sounded like from the front-right when facing the car. The noise stopped after a minute or two.

Now when I switch the car on, after I move maybe a meter or two, I hear this sound (like the motor of liquidizer) for a couple of seconds and then stops. I am not sure but I think I heard the noise under breaking one time only.


Everything works fine; breaks, acceleration, gears. From a driving point of view I cannot feel any difference. I am going to take the car for repairs however I just wanted to know if anyone knows what the sound might be so I that I know what the mechanic is speaking about.

[Bluevitz-rs]

post a video of it

[sim785]

I do not know what exactly is producing the sound. However I have taken a recording of when I start the car and move forward. The sound is at 14s.

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/...7-15-30-08.mp4

Originally Posted by Bluevitz-rs

post a video of it

[Bluevitz-rs]

sounds like maybe your ABS actuator.

[sim785]

Thanks, I heard it again under heavy breaking! Car still breaks and can't really see much of a difference but the sound is there so it means something is wrong!

Originally Posted by Bluevitz-rs

sounds like maybe your ABS actuator.

[sim785]

I have been reading about ABS actuator and that sure looks like it might be the problem. That said, I am clearly hearing a motor running and there is no light turning on in the dashboard (ABS light), also the ABS seems to be triggering under breaking (I hear that noise). Is there anything i can check myself before take it to the garage?

Originally Posted by sim785

Thanks, I heard it again under heavy breaking! Car still breaks and can't really see much of a difference but the sound is there so it means something is wrong!

[sim785]

Today I tried some heavy breaking. The ABS does trigger in; I can hear the usual sound from the ABS triggering. As said the car does stop ... but I do hear that motor sound as well.

Originally Posted by sim785

I have been reading about ABS actuator and that sure looks like it might be the problem. That said, I am clearly hearing a motor running and there is no light turning on in the dashboard (ABS light), also the ABS seems to be triggering under breaking (I hear that noise). Is there anything i can check myself before take it to the garage?

[Bluevitz-rs]

It is normal for the ABS actuator to self check when you first start moving after starting the car. If it should ever fail you would simply have non ABS brakes.

[sim785]

Thanks Bluevitz. I only worried as I never had heard it before...

Could it be that the sound has become sharper (and therefore I am hearing it) because of lack of fluid or something like that?

Originally Posted by Bluevitz-rs

It is normal for the ABS actuator to self check when you first start moving after starting the car. If it should ever fail you would simply have non ABS brakes.

[Bluevitz-rs]

If you had a lack of fluid your brakes would not work at all.

Have you ever had the brake system flushed?

[sim785]

Originally Posted by Bluevitz-rs

Have you ever had the brake system flushed?

I changed break pads a couple of times and front break disks recently (a month or two ago). But I do not remember the service guys telling me they are flushing anything.

Should I do this?

[Bluevitz-rs]

Yes. Brake fluid over time absorbs water and needs to be flushed thru with new fluid.

[sim785]

Originally Posted by Bluevitz-rs

Yes. Brake fluid over time absorbs water and needs to be flushed thru with new fluid.

I'll go through the service logs and I'll see if there is anything related to this. Thanks again for your help.