The 2003 has a problem where after a drive there is a high pitch whine coming from the passenger side. I looked at other threads where people said it's the alternator, but the whine on the 2000 when the alternator went was much different than this one.

Here is a video https://streamable.com/7xnt4

 

My best guess is power steering fluid cavitation. Some air entrained in the fluid going through the pump could make a whine like that.

 

You mention after a drive when hot.. so it could be bearings in one of the cooling fans.. Try to verify the noise when the fans are on vs. off

 

does it get louder when you turn?

 

No difference whether the fans are on or off

Nope, no difference.

Not sure what it is.. Maybe I should just bleed the power steering and see if that helps.

 

I would try replacing the PS steering fluid in the reservoir via turkey baster 2-3 times over a week till its mostly clear. See what that does. Also take the passenger side shroud and wheel off and try another video, getting close to each pulley on the serp.

 

I've had this same exact noise going on for probably three weeks. It's been hard to diagnose because it's been intermittent. By the time I park, pop my hood, and run around it's gone. I've only had it stay on a few times for me to listen around. I changed mt idler pulley because it sounded to me like that's what it was. When I had it off it sounded like crap so I changed it. It was bad/going bad, but wasn't the problem. For me it does change tone slightly when turning the wheel, but it's not like when you're low on fluid. I'm not seeing any bubbles coming to the reservoir when turning the wheel gently side to side, but I haven't went stop to stop. Fluid is moving, just no bubbles. Freezer might be on to something. Small bubbles might be building to a big one in the pump, then getting kicked making it intermittent. Next time it happens I'll try to pop my cap and see if a bubble comes up when the noise goes away. IDK. Maybe it's the bearing on the pump.

 

Only if the power steering belt was easy to take off, then you could have a better diagnosis.

 

Ok, so I changed the fluid, bled the system, and it might be fixed. Went for a drive and heard the sound when I parked, then coming back I parked again and no sound.... We'll see soon if the noise is forever gone. The best thing is how the steering feels, night and day difference. Still missing the little indents on the steering wheel, I don't know why they would take those out.

 

I also was noticing a low wine on my passenger side of my 03 Max, mostly when I turned to the left. Turns out it's the blower motor. Guess the shaft bearing is worn and due to inertia, it's sliding on the shaft.

 

I finally figured out where my noise was coming from, and I'm 99% sure it was the exact noise O.P. posted. It was a faulty f'in Fram oil filter, and I'm 100% sure of that. I never knew an oil filter could make such a noise. I disabled my power steering and it persisted. It persisted with both belts off, but only warm. Narrowed it to something with the crank pulley, or the oil filter because the noise was right there. I was due for an oil change, so said why not, and it's definately gone! Figured I'd share, I've always used Purolator, but can't find them I'm my area anymore, So, went Fram Extended Guard and that was a bad pick.

 

I uploaded a video of my car making the noise.

 

I didn't any real high pitch whine other than a possible noisy tensioner bearing

 

That's definately not a oil filter related noise in this video. Its mechanical. A belt, pulley or maybe the fans. Also, the Purolator Classic and Pure One filters got a bad reputation for media tears a few years ago. Now known as the Tearolator. The metal end cap is too stiff, tears the paper media after its wet with oil for a while. Classic
Pure one
Purolator knows about the problem. Probably why they sell different oil filters now.

 

Yeah, it's hard to believe, but as far as I'm concerned it is fact. Maybe it was something with the bypass, I don't know. It only happened when the car was warm. I ran the car with NO belts on and it was still there. The only thing turning was the crank pulley. I put the drive belt back on and drove it a couple days, still there. I did an oil change and it's been gone for over two hundred miles. I say faulty oil filter. It wasn't loose, I was tightening the thing while it was running. I know the sound did faintly change when I smacked the end of the filter. I thought maybe internal leak on oil cooler seal, apparently not.

 

This is easy, install a WIX, NAPA Gold oil filter and test run it again....

 

Thanks, I don't have the car anymore but I would've never guessed that. Good investigating, hopefully someone else who will have this problem finds this solution.