My 99 (190K miles) has developed a whine from the engine, and a bad smell. No noticeable leaks other than a drip from the water pump weep hole (been like this for months now, I add a bit of antifreeze every month, water pump replacement is on the list when it gets warmer). I noticed the idler pulley seems a bit wobbly... Is it possible to remove the main belt and start the car and run for a few mins? If the noise stops, that should rule out the power steering pump and the water pump or anything internal. That would leave the idler pulley (best case), alternator (not so good), and AC compressor (please no). The AC compressor is fairly new (1.5 years), so I am thinking either the idler pulley or alternator is the cause...

 

It is possible that is the idler pulley. Take off the belt and see if there is any play in it. You could probably start the car without the belt, but do not run it for very long because the alternator will not be charging the battery for obvious reasons.

 

No, don't start the car without the pulley belt that belt wraps up to the alternator to the crank shaft. There are two belts one for the ps,to the crankshaft the other ones to the crankshaft to the pulley,alternator,ac condenser. Start it first than just try dropping the pulley.

 

thanks, I will remove the belt and idler pulley to see if it has failed... I tried using one of those stethoscope things to listen, and the whine seemed the loudest when touching the alternator, but it is hard to tell since all the metal just conducts and amplifies the noise.

 

Turned out to be the alternator.. To anyone doing this job, be sure to plug the electrical connector in on the new alternator before installing the top bolt, the alternator needs to be pivoted downward to clear some of the plumbing on the engine to plug that connector in.

 

Congratulation. Good to hear you found the issue.

 

aah feels nice to get rid of a whine sound when its only a alternator problem, good job !

 

lots of alternator failures around here lately...

 

Well mine was original, so after 16 years and 190K miles, I can't complain.. Funny how the bearings went, but it was still charging... And you can start the car and run briefly without the belt, I did that to confirm it was the alternator...

 

yeah, for an alternator to last that long.. that thing did its job!