Low level pumping sound

[TomC]

I know these kind of diagnostics can be hard to explain and diagnose. I mentioned this issue to my mechanic last week but it's slightly sporadic and didn't appear during the service.

I've got a low level pumping noise that has appeared and seems the be coming from around the front left hand side of the car, I'm guessing the engine bay, but it's to quiet to hear over the engine noise when I shove my head in the engine bay. It's easiest heard inside the cabin when sitting at idle.

Its a humming noise; consistent pitch, duration, speed and consistancy hence the reason it sounds like a pump.

Taking a stab, hoping someone else has had this, understands my description and has found a solution. Cheers

[docjames]

Have the same in my MY09 GTI. I presumed it was something to do with the air con flow control directing air variously around the different vents.

Would love to know the (accurate) answer too.

[TomC]

I presumed it was something to do with the air con flow control directing air variously around the different vents.

Not sure if this is the reason behind mine. The noise appears regardless of whether the climate control is on or off.

Anyone with any wisdom on this noise? Surely it's not isolated to my car only.

[NabzGTI]

how many km's have you done? possibly water pump? fan? air leak in the vacuum? get it diagnosed by someone with a VAGCOM.

[TomC]

how many km's have you done? possibly water pump? fan? air leak in the vacuum? get it diagnosed by someone with a VAGCOM.

Done 54,000km and just had the water pump/belt done as the car is at the 4year mark and the noise was there before and after that service. Mechanic did a full scan of the car last week but nothing came up... It's very interesting Maybe I have to learn to live with it as just another one of those quirky VW sounds!

[NabzGTI]

If the noise wasnt there before the water pump/belt was changed, I would question the mechanic. But I guess if its not affecting the performance of the car, might not be something to worry about.

[triode12]

It could be the Climatic Control mechanism you are hearing. The Climate control is on all the time (and working in the background) regardless of whether the switch is turned on or not.

You should hear faint clicking and gurgling sounds coming from roughly the left hand side of the dash. In some cars, it is louder than others but usually drowned out when the radio is playing.

[docjames]

It could be the Climatic Control mechanism you are hearing. The Climate control is on all the time (and working in the background) regardless of whether the switch is turned on or not.

You should hear faint clicking and gurgling sounds coming from roughly the left hand side of the dash. In some cars, it is louder than others but usually drowned out when the radio is playing.

This is what I presumed it was.