so i started my car just a few minutes after having previously driven it and out of nowhere i get this high pitched vibration inside the car which is audible and most noticable when holding the shifter. it really only occurs at idle but is worsened when the defroster is on. on idle, the dash lights will dim and as soon as i rev the engine above 1k, they will brighten and the vibration ceases. it's not too detectable from the engine bay, but is easilly heard and felt inside the car. i haven't touched my belts since i replaced my timing belt 13,000 miles ago so it shouldn't be overtightened or anything. it's not a squeal you would hear when a belt slips either. it seems obvious that it's being caused by the drivebelts and/or accessories. doesn't look like anything is rubbing down there. does this sound familiar to anyone? i'm going to take a closer look on my weekend. hopefully it's just the belts and not the alternator or my crankshaft knub about to bust off.

 

Few things to check.....
Idler pully bearing bad/ ac compressor bad.....

 

yup.. what he said.

the A/C and power steering idler pulley bearings are known to wear out over time. check those for play and it's likely you're going to find a bad bearing or loose pulley somewhere.

 

both are dealer items, i checked autozone and pepboys but they didnt sell them, its not worth changing just teh bearing because #1 you need a hydraulic thing #2 they dont sel just the bearing trust me they butt-rape you with this stuff. $60 for idler pulley $50 for A/C pulley

 

well, it's not surprising. but it seems to me though that if any accessory was causing the problem, it would be the alternator since it's being shiesty on the voltage.. of course the sound also gets worse when i flip on the a/c...we'll see. it'd be nice if things would stop breaking for awhile

 

yeah sounds like the A/C idler pulley.

bearing number is a 6301LU. I've replaced half a dozen for various customers, the ones on my car, and both pulleys on my wife's altima. all of them I just replaced the bearings and had no problems with it. the bearing is about $12 at most places and you may even be able to find them at a parts store.

 

I had to replace mine last year. Couldn't find a parts store version, though. Had to call the stealership. When I went there and they told me the price, I told them I called and the guy on the phone said it was less. With minimal explanation, he gave me the discounted price. So the part was like 40 instead of 50 bucks. You should try it out, sometime.

 

thanks for the info and part number. there's a bearing shop (McGuire) a few miles from my house which is where i got my input shaft bearing for only $20, compared to $43 from the dealer. so i'll just go through them again