Rumbling Noise Front Front?

[Ben_1uk]

Hi everyone,

Been a while since I posted on here!

I noticed whilst on the way home from work tonight I have quite a loud rumbling coming from the front of the car? The noise is audible when stationary but not when moving as a general rule - maybe sometimes at low revs. I've noticed that the noise cones and goes with the turning on and off of my headlights? A mechanic has mentioned a tensioner on the alternator?

Any thoughts anyone?

Thanks,
Ben

[Hoggy]

Sounds like a tensioner/pulley problem, beingbunder more load when more lights are turned on, simple way to test that is tojst take the belt off, start it up and see if the noise is still there, too check its not the belt give it a little spray with wd40 or something similar.

[Ben_1uk]

I'm not going to mess with it - I'm no mechanic!

Is the car ok to drive like this? I did notice a bit of a 'miss' at one point on the way home. The last thing I want to do is break down.

Thanks,
Ben

[Hoggy]

How longs a piece of string? 

The fact that your getting a missfire isn't good and sounds a bit more severe than a belt or tensioner problem..

I would be getting it checked out before driving to be honest

[NERF 69]

I had the same problem with the belt tensioner. It drove fine for a bit the fell to bits and the power steering belt went for a walk down the m1. Not too expensive to fix but needs doing soon really if that is your problem.  Absolute b!tch to drive without a power steering belt

[Ben_1uk]

Thanks for the reply guys.

The misfire must have been a one-off as I haven't noticed it again in 40 miles? I intend to get it looked at Saturday as it only started last night.

I noticed this morning that upon opening and closing the electric windows when stationary I can replicate the rumbling noise as well, which again suggests that's it whenever a load is put onto the engine and / or battery.

The car drove to work this morning absolutely fine. I managed without the CD player and climate control thinking it would help lol.

[Steve_PD]

My guess is the Alternator pulley. It's going to be something which runs of the aux belt and the mix fire is a different problem....