It started this afternoon.

Before, there was a remote high pitch whistle only when A/C was on, off the A/C, the whistle was gone.

I'm not sure if this is the same whistle, coz this one sounds much louder.

Meanwhile, no idle speed fluctuating, it's quite stable.

So, folks, what is it?

 

update:

This morning, I smell a burn in my car. opened the hood, I think the whistle sound may come from driving belts, a strong burning rubber smell.

What is going on here?!

 

I don't hear what I would call a whistle type sound in the video.

But since you had the burning smell, is the sound still there?

 

loud and clear, yes, it is still there. go after 15" of the video, it's more apparent there.

 

Still can't hear it, sorry. Must be too high pitched for my hearing. I don't know what could make a noise under the hood and not vary with engine speed, except for the radiator fans.

The radiator fans wouldn't be running when you first start the car in the morning (unless you have the a/c on) so do you hear the sound at start up?

 

The sound varies with engine speed, higher speed, higher the pitch. I've already ruled out radiator fans.

driving belts? pulley? I don't know.

 

updates:

OK! I think I found the source of that noise. I took the serpentine belt off ( the belt drives alternator and A/C compressor), the noise is gone.

Now, what should I do? idle pulley? or alternator? i don't think it's compressor pulley because noise doesn't change whether I turn A/C on or off.

any comment?

 

OK, it's the alternator! I put serpentine belt back again and regenerate the noise, then found there's something lighted up inside the alternator, and then ,smoking gun it is , Literally a slim smoke came out from the alternator.

Now, need to replace it．．．．．．

Any recommended brand, quality items? Thanks a million!

 

Update:

I got one from graveyard from a same year Maxima, cost me 24 dollars. The hard part is to remove the burnt one and install this. Very hard to reach and insert.

All tests went fine. Thanks for your attention folks.

 

Glad ya found it I was gonna say to check the alternator that's what mine did. Another time it made a rattling sound. Another time just quit completely. I have not had good luck with the alternators lol. I have a 2003 max se. I got one with a lifetime warranty so it's been covered everytime. First time it's lasted a year, then 6 months then 3 months. So far this one has lasted 7 months lol. I can now get that sucker out and changed in about 30 mins lol.

 

So you must be able to take it out without removing cooling fan ! But how did you do that? where's the exit?