When I was driving my car today i started to hear a whining noise coming from the front right side of the car...possibly something on the belt. The noise was most noticeable at idle. Does anyone have any ideas what it could be?

 

5-speed? auto?milage? when was last tune up?

 

Could be Alternator, power steering pump, tensioner, crankshaft main bearing, camshaft bearing, water pump, a bad belt, humidity, and last, but not least, a bad timing chain.

 

It's a 5 speed w/ about 63,000 miles

 

Was it pulsating? Like kind of "in and out". Hope you know what I mean.

 

No, it was not pulsating. The sound was a steady whine/moan being the loudest at idle. As rpms increase the sounds becomes more high pitched.

 

good thread. I experience the same exact thing. It also just started making a whining noise coming from a front right side, which gets considerably louder as the rpm grow. My Max is also a 5-spd with 75k miles. I bought OEM belts and will replace this weekend. I'll let you know if the noise seizes. I'd want to hear from you too so keep me posted if you find the solution.

Whoever said it could be a timing chain is most probably wrong. Since our cars are so low mileage and well maintained, I am 99.999999% sure the whining noise is NOT a result of a bad or deteriorated chain.

If after my belt replacement the noise continues, then we can both lean towards either the alternator or the power steering pump. I say that because those two from the entire list are most prone to premature failure.

Anyway, good luck and keep me posted!

 

Never mind then...

 

Do your cars whine when the clutch pedal is pressed in? i have a whine in mine when im in neutral and not moving, but when i press the clutch pedal in it goes away. I think its my throw out bearing.

 

My car continues to whine when the clutch pedal is pressed in.

 

I get the exact same whining, sounds exactly like a SC just not as loud as one, some people think I even have a SC under the hoood, wtf is going on here. Water pump, alternator and belts replaced on my car and still have the noise. Maybe we are blessed, and this is a sign we have a faster stock maxima lol

 

Hey I have an idea of what you guys might be going though. i just ordered the tensioner pulley today. I sounded like it was super charged. and was cool until the belt snaped on the freeway on a hard uphill pull. It is about $50 for the pulley and don't pay more than $17 for the belt. Be sure you put the belt on right it was my fault that the bearing on the pulley went out. Good luck

 

Its your alternator. Check it. Same thing happened to me.