So I've had this sound after I installed my retrofit best way to describe it in words is ....ummm maybe the sound of bad RCAs for a stereo but from the engine.... It gets louder when I accelerate,rev,turn the wheel.. Basically anything that will make the rpm change makes the noise louder...

I know the chewbacca sound is usually the power steering pump but this like I said sounds like bad RCA but in the engine bay...

Any thoughts?

Tried to upload the video and I failed so here is the link to YouTube

 

Why can't i just post the link!!! Or does the video work
My iPhone won't load a damn thing!!!

 

Should've rev'd the engine by hand a little so we could hear what changes or doesn't change. Sounds weird.

 

Maybe idler pulley or ac clutch bearing?

 

The three things that come to mind are:

1. lower crank pulley separating (although usually sound different than that)
2. Alternator going bad (mine howled like crazy)
3. Timing chain component issue (hope it's not this one)

{PowerTotheMax} had a good point as well with the idler pulley, mine was very loud when it went.

 

Hmmm ok I'm actually going to go outside and repost a new video

 

Weird sound. Check the pulleys.

 

Well I just changed to underdrive pulley and bought all new belts... Had the alternator checked at advanced auto said it was fine..

Haven't taken the video with the car revving yet will do in the am

 

Don't overlook the alternator. Even though it "checked out fine" it can still make noises regardless of putting out proper numbers. I've seen these alternators do some funky stuff.

Also does this noise change at all when the A/C is turned on and off? +1 for possible A/C clutch bearing

 

I will be taking a video In a few minutes once I burp the cars coolant system.. As far as getting louder when I turn the ac or heater it gets louder ... Basically anything that will make the rpm go up will cause the sound to get louder

 

So what happened first this noise or the overheating issue? I think that its possible that the two issues are related. To other members: This may.sound dumb. But is it possible to Bloch an underdrive pulley retrofit? And cause the internal water pump to spin in the wrong direction or not spin at all. The reason why I mention this is because the OP's problems seem to have happened soon after the retrofit.

 

So here's the new video you can hear the sound better in this video ... Horrible camera work but the sound is what counts

 

The sound first occurred after the retrofit and it was loud I changed to the underdrive pulley maybe month to a month and a half later..and the sound subsided a little bit but was still there....

The sound has been around since January ... My first thought was alternator then advanced auto said it checked out ok... I really want to get this fixed and when i try to bring it to a shop they always tell me that they don't understand what sound or they say it's my fans but there is no way it's the fans... They don't make that RCA sound the new video i posted in the previous post really displays the sound better please check it out ..

 

So you had a shop do the retriofit? And the problemes occurred right after? If this is true then the shop f***ed up the job, IMHO. I would not take that kinda crap from any shop. Have you gone back to complain?
If you have proof of the work they did, keep it. Did the overheating issues start after they did they did the work? If so save that recipt for the radiator you had to buy.
What excatly was involved in this retrofit anyway? Just so I can have an understanding what, if anything, the shop could have done to cause these problems to occur.
Edit: I just watched the new video And it sounds like the alternator or a really tight belt starting to drag on a seized pulley, maybe.

 

You made sure that the belt isn't dragging aginst something that could be touching the sides of it, right?

 

take off the belts and start up the car. would be able to isolate the problem to internal noise versus external noise.

 

Ok this makes sense ... I have to try this weekend... And the overheating issue I think was not a result of the retrofit ... Now I did. Notice yesterday that they did not use my morimoto wiring harness ... So I'm wondering what harnesses are running because what I bought is not what's being used....??? If they ran the wires wrong could that be stressing the alternator out even though the alternator checks out ok?... The retrofit setup was pretty straight forward morimoto 3five ballasts and morimoto mini h1 ... Nothing spectacular..

 

I don't see any rubbing or warped pulleys that I can see

 

OK well if they didn't have to remove the radiator for any reason then they couldn't of caused the issues. I kinda jumped the gun there, LOL. Try and isolate the noise as stated above. If they didn't use the wiring harness then the only otherway would be to "cut N' splice" into your original harness I would think.

 

if i were to hazard a guess i'd say it sounds like a vacuum leak somewhere. check underneath and all hoses for leaks, my engine makes lot of noises, but not that one.

 

It could be a tiny vacuum leak, but ive never heard a vacuum leak sound like that. Usually there is some kinda sucking air noise. But maybe if the leak is small enough it could make a kinda whistling noise I guess.

 

you should hear my max. sounds like a song when all the noises are in unison.

 

That second video sounds a lot like my car already has for quite some time.

Had mine at the dealer recently for a lower crank seal replacement and as soon as the advisor started the car to move it he came in and said to me "you know your timing chain is bad?" I said...say what now...what makes you think that?
He said "you hear that sound when you start it up, that whirring sound?" Yeah, it's the alternator, it's done it before and stopped for a short time when I replaced it, then started right back up again and just don't care enough to bother with it.

Basically he questioned my response and told me if it is the timing chain or it's components that the engine would have to come out and it would be about $1000 to fix it, so I told 'em it would only cost me $6. $5 for the gas and $1 for the matches 'cause that will be the last straw for this car.

For now just check the alternator by removing the belt, if that stops it immediately you know what's up, and if it does I'll check mine to make sure that is indeed the problem. For now I haven't bothered since it charges fine.

 

Timing chain ugh car was maintained well before I purchased and I baby it ... It would be just my like that I find a mint condition max basically for the miles it has n I might have a timing chain issue

 

dude, stop assuming the worst. have it looked at and diagnosed by a good tech or the dealer. you've been a member way too long to not know these cars by now.