engine whine coming from passenger side engine bay

[nikkomorocco]

A few days ago I noticed a whine coming from my engine bay after the car got warm. It's an 02 automatic with about 111k miles.

-whines consistent with rpm
-only when car is to temp
-coming from passenger side
-no check engine light
-no overheating
-no fluids leaking
-all fluids at appropriate levels
-happens when car is in park or driving

I did a search and couldn't find much that matched up with the trouble I'm experiencing. I have a motorcycle so I've been riding that instead of driving as much as possible. Any help would be much appreciated.

 

[mp5la]

Timing belt tensioner?

 

[808MP5]

I'm guessing alt pulley

 

[nikkomorocco]

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll do some reading and research on both of those and post in the thread again.

 

[pcb]

I'm guessing it's the alternator bearing. I went through three of them. It sounds a little like a belt squeal. (I don't recall it being temperature related though).

You could try a mechanics stethoscope or a long screw driver pushed between your ear and different areas or you car to help pinpoint the sound. (carefully of course)

 

[hornsfan10609]

You can remove one belt at a time to help pinpoint the noise. Could be a water pump bearing failing as well

 

[P-Funk!]

pcb-recommended method (above) is where i would start...

 

[nikkomorocco]

Thanks for the help guys. I have 2 gatorback belts sitting on my workbench for install this weekend. I'm hoping the belts fix the problem and I don't need to replace the alternator as well. Now to find a tutorial on replacing the belts...

 

[pcb]

I had the Alt. bearing go out three times. The alternator was under warranty but they charged me $108 each time to install it (that was before I started doing my own work).

The Alt bearing noise was similar to a belt squeal sound but WAY quieter,... it was kind of a whizzing or whirring sound that followed engine RPM (not road speed).

The Alt. pulley is very small and the belt doesn't wrap around very much of it so it tends to slip easily especially when the Alt. is under load. (some cars have idler pullies to wrap the belt around the Alt. pulley better).

The idiots at the shop just cranked the belt tight to stop any squealing but over stressed the bearing.

The best way to check belt tension is to reach in and see how far you can twist the belt. You should be able to turn it upside down or a bit past that. The measurement method is difficult because it's so tight in there and I don't know how much 22 lbs of force feels like.

You can reach all the Alt. bolts from the top but you have to go by feel (you can't see anything). My issue was that my wrench touched the terminal on the Alt. (circled in red) and blew my 100 amp main fuse (twice) and that fuse is bolted in so it's a pain to change.

I didn't need to loosen my bottom pivot bolt because it's far enough away from the top of the Alt. that I could just push down on the belt (after the top bolts were loose) and the Alt. would pivot out of the way.

 

[tweety2300]

Pull both belts off when you change them and start it up see if it still does it. If it does then its probably the timing belt tensioner. If it doesn't do it then install one belt at a time ( iirc alt/ water pump goes on first then ac/ ps) and see which one does it. A bad belt will squeal a bearing will whine/ whurr. My 323 has been doing it for awhile and I haven't cared enough to fix it till it actually breaks or gets louder

While water pump belt is unhooked make sure you have someone keeping a constant eye on the temp gauge as it will overheat quickly

 

[hotcracker69]

belts? the tension of the belt is really important. check it

gatorback belt are the one that solve my issues

 

[mp5build2013]

I'm guessing alt pulley

I agree, my alt ticks loudly can sound like a winding noise after a while. just too much work to change it out lol