Whirring noise from engine

Hi all got a strange problem with this 200tdi of the defender variety.
It had sat 6 years unstarted or moved and when I got it home I put a dribble of oil into the cylinders, changes the oil and filter and put a new battery in and she fired instantly as if started a few hours earlier.
It's beautifully smooth for an old diesel and not knocky or rattly, no smoke of any colour or under revs and it's lovely and quiet at idle. But as soon as you start to increase the revs when stationary a whirring noise appears. It sounds similar to that of an electric motor or like the heater motor on full chat and it increases and decreases with engine speed and does it both with clutch engaged and disengaged.

I have two other 200tdis and neither make this noise.
I'm wondering whether because of the length of time it's been sat the water pump, alternator or power steering pump might be shot causing this noise.
It's not the viscous fan I'm sure as my defender has it still attached and there's no noise.
I did make a recording of the noise but unfortunately it didn't pick up the noise as its not ridiculously loud and you can't hear it on idle. I will be changing the timing belt incase anything in there is causing the noise but it's hard to pinpoint the noise it sounds like it's coming from the drivers side of the engine. Any input will be much appreciated.

Alternator bearings or an idler?

wammers said:

Alternator bearings or an idler?

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+1
Take the belts off and retry to confirm.

Or is the starter stuck in?

Pas pump front output bearing is a weak spot on the defender version, the bearing does not run in the pas oil and is greased only from new, so when its been used off road or deepwater its vulnerable, also if belt to tight.

Of course as its stood for 6 years it would be a very sound move to replace the cambelt and pulleys, I have seen duff cambelt tensioners on tdi motors.

Well I have removed the belts and the noise goes. I'll put them on one by one and see what's making the noise. Is it possible to strip and lubricate either the alternator or power steering pump or is it better to just replace?

If it is the alternator you can replace the bearings.

As its a disco lump first belt only drivers the water pump and the pas pump so if no noise its the alternator at fault, the alt belt is a really **** design on the disco engine.

Two tricks for noise location.

A straight metal tube to one ear when pointed at the noise will definitely let you know where airborne noise is coming from. A solid rod simultaneously pressed against your temple and a suspect source will help narrow down the area inside an engine or gearbox.