Whining noise in engine, help please!
10-06-2004, 07:43 PM
#1
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Whining noise in engine, help please!
Alright tonight my car started making a whining noise that is comming from near the left side of the intake manifold. im not saying its comming from there but it is near there. could it be a fuel pump, i know that they are usually on top of the tank but i have heard that they can be in other places, this sound is very similar to what a car my parents owned sounded like before the fuel pump died on it.
10-06-2004, 07:50 PM
#2
You can rule out fuel pump - its mounted near the fuel-tank on the Max's. Belt slipping maybe? Alternator? lots of moving parts right there with the belts, alternator, compressor, water-pump, wiper-motor even.
10-06-2004, 08:03 PM
#7
Try what Terran said with the belts first. When I suggested the alternator, I meant the bearings really - i.e. it could be working fine, but the bearings might be squealing. It could also be one of the belt pulleys/tensioners... rule out the belts first - see if they have a lot of small cracks, are glazed - they are cheap and fairly straightforward to replace.
10-06-2004, 08:08 PM
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i know that the belts do need to be replaced but they are making a different noise, yes my engine is very noisy at times, lol. i am more leaning toward the bearings in my alternator although i was talking to my dad just now and he said it doesnt usually sound that way. the noise doesnt go away when the engine is warm, infact when i got home tonight is when i discovered it and the engine was warm. i poped the hood and i noticed a smell. im sick so i cant really say how it smelled and how strong it was.
10-07-2004, 09:17 AM
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ight on my way to school today i lowered my windows for a minute but when i went to put them up it was very slow and i didnt have my system on. so im starting to think this is the alternator, am i right? i just hope i can make it home from school today without it dieing. i guess im going to be stuck driving my mothers van. 
10-07-2004, 09:26 AM
#14
AC compressor can make a noise even with the AC off and heater off. Compressor sits right below the alternator and its right in the front of the engine. Try turning the AC on and see if the noise changes at all. Compressor is driven off the same belt as the alternator. Just hope its not your water pump- that is a very costly repair and I wouldn't have any shop but the dealer do it- even then I would be somewhat skeptical with their repair. Water pump is driven by the timing chain on our VQ motors.
10-07-2004, 10:54 AM
#16
No, it takes a skilled mechanic about 6 hours to do this right, with all the right tools and everything. While in there I would do cams and throw in new tensioners and timing chains. Your pretty much have 3/4 of the cam job done when doing the water pump on a VQ. After doing the Water pump and chains you will be good for another 200-300K miles.
10-07-2004, 11:16 AM
#17
I would like to say that the water pump, while time consuming is not so difficult. There is even a walk through in one of the stickies. On the other hand I am having the same issue with noise, new water pump, new tenssioner pulley, I think next is a new alternator, but I am looking for a high output one (if anyone knows where I can get one that would be great 
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