How Loud Should a SHO Wine?

[aaronsbiza]

Ever since I bought my 95ATX it has had a pretty loud whine. I was told this is normal and is an attribute of the DOHC. Was I given incorrect information. How loud should the engine whine?

 

[CALL AAA]

If you have a blower, it should whine loudly enough to let the guy in the left lane know that he about to get his ass handed to him. (unless you are in the left lane)
I'm not sure about the whining, but are you sure it's coming from the car, and not a sidetone on the radio? I guess an improperly grounded radio will make a faint whining that changes with RPM. (like wearing headphones on a bus, you'll hear the tranny, I think)

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

Quite often an alternator thats on it's way out will sound like a turbo...

 

[slickn56]

Could also be the idler pulley. My buddy had an atx that made an annoying whine that was consistent with rpm and first he replaced the alternator which didnt cure anything. He went out and got a mechanics stepescope and listen to the engine to find where it was really coming from and it turned out to be the idler pulley.

 

[jasonty]

My SHO whines like a supercharged car too... I replaced the idler pully (****** job) and it still whines. I replaced the alternator, and to no surprise, still whining. I wouldn't worry about it.

<small>[ March 31, 2003, 08:08 PM: Message edited by: jasonty ]</small>

 

[Tommy's SHO]

Is the whining coming from the rear of the car or the front? If it's the rear it could be your fuel pump.

 

[jasonty]

Mine comes from the engine itself. I've replaced everything except for the A/C compressor and the steering pump, and it seems to stick around. I'm thinking it's just the mechanical design of the engine, but I've never heard another engine do it before.

 

[AutoSHO]

jasonty:
Mine comes from the engine itself. I've replaced everything except for the A/C compressor and the steering pump, and it seems to stick around. I'm thinking it's just the mechanical design of the engine, but I've never heard another engine do it before.

Its probably the Power Steering. Fords have a reputation for noisy PS pumps. Does it change tone if you turn the wheel while the car is sitting still? That would point to the PS pump.

 

[Dave Kegel]

It's not uncoming for the MTX cars to whine after a new timing belt is installed, especially if the belt was tensioned too tight. I don't think that could be the case with the ATX though as it has the automatic tensioner.

I'd remove the accessory belt and run the motor (briefly) to see if it still whines. If so, it's got to be related to the timing belt.

Dave Kegel

 

[jasonty]

lol, ya, i know about Ford's loud power steering pumps, i'm a mechanic, but it's not the power steering pump the noise seems to be coming from the engine itself and not the accessories. I'm clueless, but it seems to be running fine, so I'm not worried about it.

 

[jasonty]

Also, I replaced that timing belt about 30K ago. I don't know, it's not really a whining noise, just a weird sounding engine. The sound is so clean and crisp, it doesn't sound like anything I've ever heard. Both of my SHO's do it...

 

[projectSHO89]

Put your mechanic's stethoscope on the PS pump.

Mine was sounding like it had a supercharger, the cause was air in the PS system.

A purge and de-vac cured the whine.

Steve

 

[aaronsbiza]

I took a moment to listen more carefuly, and it seems that the sound is coming from the cams. My thoughts are either the bearings or maybe the timing belt. I haven't heard any other shos than mine so I am not sure if it is normal or rather an indication of some part needing replacement. No it is not my power steering pump, and no it is not my accesory belt or alternator. I am sure it is the cam assembly. Any input is appreciated Thanks.

 

[projectSHO89]

Which cam? There are four.

Front of the cam, rear of the cam, middle?

Does the pitch of the whine vary with engine RPMs?

Does it ever stop whining without turning the engine off?

Have not previusly heard of such a noise from camshafts. Be sure you are using a stethoscope to pinpoint the EXACT source of the noise. Just listening with an ear is not reliable enough.

Steve

 

[aaronsbiza]

The noise seems to come from the end of the cams on the front of the engine (passenger side) It sounds like a supercharger. I have been told this is normal but I am not sure. The car runs fine I just thought it was an unusually loud whine.

 

[CALL AAA]

If you're still not sure, get with some of the BAY SHO guys. They'll probably be able to tell you for sure.

 

[projectSHO89]

Since you haven't PIN-POINTED it, my advice still stands.

Get the stethoscope and quit screwin' around by just guessing.... $10 bucks from AZ, $5 from Harbor Freight if you have them.

Camshafts/bearings would be EXTREMELY unlikely.

PS pump(air or bearings), water pump, alternator, or a pulley bearings are the likely suspects, possibly a timing belt.

Steve

 

[Doug Waschenko]

"normal" whining in a SHO is audable with the windows down, radio and ventalation off.
Particularly with a new timing belt the whine is very noticabe when you rev it, almost as loud as a Jackson gear drive is on a SB V8.

 

[projectSHO89]

There is no "normal whine" from an SHO engine.

If it does whine, there is a reason, whether from a new timing belt or from a bearing or whatever. It is not "normal", though.

Steve

 

[Doug Waschenko]

I beg to differ. I've been driving mine since new and always like to whine-dit-up!
Scares the shit out of the locals.