Just started hearing a high pitch noise coming from the general area of the water pump (near the belts/oil dipstick)...First thought is a water pump. I have 95 SE with 196k miles. The noise speeds up as the RPMs do. Any thoughts/insight?

 

It could be the tensioner pulley...? listen carefully to help you isolate the source... it could be the compressor, alternator, etc.... lots of things spinning in that area.

 

Check the Belts.

 

My car made a high pitched turbine sounding whine (pretty cool sounding, actually) for a few weeks before the alternator went out.

 

my car was doing that but stopped. I think my alty is going. I just hope she lasts me a few more weeks till I take her home.

 

Yea, thats about what mine sounds like. Is the alternator hard to replace/expensive?

 

http://www.motorvate.ca/mvp.php/500

 

Check with your dealer on the alt. Mine was making a high pitched noise and then it started smoking. But it was under a factory recall and it was fixed for free.

 

Thanks, that gives a good way to test to see if it is the ALT. Ill check it tonight.

 

most local auto store will test it for free.

 

Tried and true method. Get a lengh of garden hose/heater hose or whatever hose except pantyhose! Start car and then put one end to your ear and the other to where you suspect the noise to be coming from.

As for the waterpump, I'd loosing the belt and then wiggle the pulley to see if there is alot of play on the shaft. Lot's of play means it's going out soon

 

You are old skool for real.

 

Oh man, why not.

 

Another way to test if it's the alternator and not the water pump is to loosen the alternator belt. If it is the water pump making the noise, the noise will still be there, since it is driven by the timing chain.

 

I had the same noise before. I tought it was the bearing of the tensioner wich i replace and i was wrong.

Just use a long screwdriver or a sthetoscope and put the tip on the cover of the water pump and listen. Rev the engine and listen.

In my case it was the water pump. I replace it myself and it's a long job to do. When i remove it, she was not loose and not noisy. I replace it and the whinning sound was gone.

Just be sure to pinpoint the right piece.

 

ANother way is to take a long screwdriver or extention and place it on the suspected coulprit. The suggestion of thaking off the belt is a good one too. That will help you exclude either the w/p or the accys.

 

sounds like the bearings in the alternator or water pump is failing take off the drive belt only start the car for a few seconds if its quiet it the alternator if it makes noise with the belt off it most likely the water pump bearing starting to fail in my case it was the alternator also check the timing chain tensioner

 

I think I have a water pump problem as well and have learned a great deal from reading a couple threads on this topic yesterday and today. How difficult is it to determine that it is in fact the water pump that is the source of leaking coolant, versus a bigger problem inside the engine?

I have a 95 SE with 136K on it, and yesterday brought it in for new CV Boots/Axels and the mechanic said I have a worse problem - the car is starting to leak coolant. He said it could be the water pump, but he's concerned it could be a leaking cylinder head. He put a coagulent into the coolant to stop the leak and said if it doesn't leak much in the coming weeks, than it is worth doing the repair work on the car, otherwise I should probably sell it as is. He said check the coolant level 2x a week. Well I checked this morning, and the coolant was down 1cm in the overflow resevoir.

 

The water pump is located on the passenger's side. The leak will look like it's coming from the engine. It is actually coming out of the timing chain cover thing, since this is where the pump is located.

I think you would know ff you had a leaking cylinder head.

 

I'm about to take it in to the dealer, for the water pump. The coolant level is down a couple cm since about 10 days ago. How would I know if it was a leaking cylinder head (I'm not really a motor head...)?

Thanks!

 

Please ban anyone who does this to try to get to 15 post quickly.

I mean geeze, there are smarter ways to get to 15 posts quickly in a night, I wont say it but damn . . .

 

Sounds like you are about to lose your bearing man. Be careful, if those lock up it brings alot of other bull**** with it.