as the title states, my 1997 SE 5spd sounds like it has forced induction. whistle-like whine, almost like air is either having a hard time getting in, or too much air is getting in. i have no performance issues; actually, it feels like i have more power to the wheels. i bought this car used at a dealership a year ago, and as far as i can tell, no performance mods have been done to this car.

i have asked a few buddies what they think it could be, most people are stumped by it, everyone else tells me to check the air filter. well, the air filter is practically new, and that leaves me...well, stumped.

i have done some searching, and someone with a 6th gen had a similar problem, but i don't think it's close enough to count. i would get a video / sound clip of it, but it's too faint to tell unless in person.

what do you guys think?

You've done nothing to the intake correct

post a video.!

That's the first thing I would look at as well, the intake.

RPM dependant?

Could even be a slight exhaust leak.

the intake is 100% oem. nothing mechanical in my car has been modded.

yeah...sounds almost identical to a turbo. gets louder and higher pitched with rpm's. it's especially noticeable in gears 1 and 2...sometimes 3rd, especially if it's cold out.

Well, a loud whine could also be ISB.

Does it make the sound in neutral? How about when you clutch in?

i have no idea if this could be electrical, but i do have a problem with heavy loads (i.e. headlights, heat, wipers, etc. - all these things on makes the car almost die while idling. especially while turning the steering wheel, and yes the p.s. fluid is maxed out), but performance wise, i'm not dragging along or anything like that. like i said, i get comments on how fast my car is for a maxima, but it's completely stock lol.

maybe this is a good problem to have...but in my [13 cars] experience, things always get unexplicably better before taking a sh.t on me...lol

Can you get a general location of the noise at all? Alternators can make odd noises when they're failing (mechanically) as well.

sorry guys, i need to clear something up: it does NOT get LOUDER. i mean...if i put it in 1st gear and get up to 4k rpms, the whine-whistle will stay at a constant pitch and volume. i shift to 2nd, the whine-whistle will steadily decrease in pitch as according to the rpms. the drop in pitch could be mistaken as getting quieter, because low pitches sound quiet. and yes, if i rev up in neutral, the noise changes pitch as according to the rpms.

that's the tricky part...the noise is so faint that outside the car, the noise is nonexistent. it's only in the cabin with the air off (or on low) and windows up when i hear it. i could be overreacting, but i really want to know if something's wrong lol

Can you not just pop the hood and try to listen from there? If it's coming from the engine, that would be the place to start looking.

i had a similar problem with my talon, it sounded kinda cool and fooled some people into thinking that i had a turbo, but we later figured it to be a vacuum problem

i tried and tried to hear the sound...the engine over powers the whistle sound. it's very faint, but very there. i tried to listen from inside the car, and i was able to tell that it's coming from directly in front of the steering wheel, but a little towards the center console. like the closer i got to the defrost vents, the louder it got. the sound apparently is coming from there. i don't know if it's somewhere in the plumbing of the a/c, or if that's just a direct link to something else that's making the sound...

i really hope that helps...

bump, i appreciate everyone trying to help...i know this is a strange thread lol

do u happen to have an mp3 player connected to your stereo? kinda weird lol but when i connect mine (via radio transmitter) and pause the music i hear a whistle sound. sounds like a BOV or something lol. i noticed it one was the radio one day when i took a phone call (my iphone is my mp3 player) i had the volume up but the phone wasnt connected to the transmitter.

i know the sound you're talking about, and yes i have had that sound in previous cars...

but this noise happens with the radio off...everything off except for the engine itself

yea i was going to say if you have replaced the radio because i have a slight noise because of this, like when i step on the gas it makes a slight noise but i know its not the car because i turn off the radio and its gone, i think i have a ground loop or something like that

Does it go "HAAA-CHEW" when you release the throttle? :P

Its happening with everything off except the engine? That leads you away from the odds of it being A/C related. Perhaps your alternator...?
Maybe the intake manifold has a slight leak?
Is it temperature dependant?

Agreed, this sounds supiciously like a vacuum leak to me. It could actually cause a small increase in performance (if it's small) due to running lean.

When your car is idling, spray some brake cleaner or starter fluid on the intake and intake manifold after your MAF, and check all the hoses. While spraying the fluid you'll be listening for your idle and/or the noise to change.

You have to find the source of the noise, either transmission, engine or belt driven accessory. Then troubleshoot from there. Guesses on here aren't doing you any good.
I'll toss my guess in though.... driver side of the car is where the tranny is.
You may have a bearing on it's way out.

I had a leak in my y-pipe flex section that sounded like you describe. Like a turbo!

thanks i'll try this next chance i get and get back to you..

i know what you're saying, and that's the first thing i did...but i have no idea where it's coming from because it's too faint to hear outside the car...unless you can think of a way to diagnose it with the car off

how did you diagnose that?

Get under the car and with the car running, feel close along the exhaust for leaks.

edit - Also have someone block the tailpipe with a couple rags for like five seconds while you check the suspect area.

tornado air

Could it be the belt? I know that mine has a slight whine on those cold winter mornings but after it warms up it's fine.

Speaker whine? I'm not going to read the entire thread.

My thoughts go to vacume leak or exhaust leak, I know when i switched to my 2kVI and removed the restrictor plate (between IM and TB) it exposed my EGR pipe and cause it to wistle...kinda kewl if you ask me haha...

But honestly the best thing you can do is just pull up a good manual or FSM (someone can probly give you a link if you already dont have one). And if you cant find the vacum leak with TB/Carb Cleaner, just go buy a bunch of vacum line from ur local auto parts store and start replacing the lines...its very easy to do, just rather time consuming...make sure you get all the lines for the EGR and stuff under the TB/Intake. I really doubt you could FEEL any power gains from it leaning out as a result of a vacum leak....then again i dont know how accurate your "butt" dyno really is

Also, another great way of spotting a vacum leak is using a stethescope ((spelling?)) you know that thing that the doc uses to listen to ur lungs/heart? Pop off the circular thing so its just the head strap thing and the open tube...just hold it around your engine bay till you hear a SSSSsssss....you will hear alota other noises but ive spotted over 90% of vacum leaks in the past using this technique...or you can just use a cut hose or big tube...just another idea....

Replace the lines and report back...lol

...no, but thanks for playing, lol we established that the sound happens with EVERYTHING OFF except for the engine itself

/cliffnotes
i have a haynes, i gave up looking in there...too much info about the wrong stuff.
i'll see if my doctor friend can steal one from his hospital...this sounds fun haha
wow that does seem like a lot of work, and i'm not even sure that's the problem or not. worst case scenario, i DO want to start from the most cost effective solution, which would probably be vacuum lines. i'll let you know.

again, i appreciate everyone's help on this. as soon as i get my hands on some brake cleaner / starter fluid / TB/carb cleaner, how do i use it to find a leak? i sorry, i'm real newbish on this kinda stuff