Strange whine from engine (drivers side) ?

[SW SHO]

Car is running normally, fluids topped off, and no CEL and no codes stored.

I started it on Monday, no prob and was letting it idle and I started to hear this whine sound from the engine on the drivers side. I got the light down there and looked, but nothing loose, leaking and it's definately coming from under the throttle body or near the bottom of the block.

I revved it to like 2-3k and it would appear, then stop as the car set back to idle 900-1k rpm?
Same this morning except it was doing it while driving, then would stop again at idle.

My clutch is in need of replacement and is on the way this month...Could this be clutch/tranny related? The whine isn't affected by clutch travel and doesn't last all day?

Any thoughts?

 

[SHOBound]

Pilot bearing maybe

 

[masho95]

SHOBound:
Pilot bearing maybe

LMAO, the SHO's don't have pilot bearings. Anyways I had the same exact problem and "thought" it was coming from the drivers side area. Turns out there was a problem with the alternator. (Bad bearing?) Try taking off the alternator belt and running the car under the same conditions. Rev it up and see if the noise is gone. I'd be willing to bet it'll be gone.

 

[SHOBound]

masho95:

SHOBound:
Pilot bearing maybe

LMAO, the SHO's don't have pilot bearings.

oops

 

[SW SHO]

It is definately coming from the drivers side...i've stuck my head on both sides when it's occurring and for sure the drivers side.

It was more pronouced today for a 2 miles ride in the city under 35mph. It would quite at idle then slowly get louder to very loud then suddenly just stop and not return until started again?

For the last thousand miles or so I've realized my clutch is getting worse as noticed by the ring type sounds when the clutch is depressed, that of course is still the case and I suspect the TOB.

Could I have a big air pocket in the coolant lines? It's a mystery.

 

[masho95]

You stuck your head on both sides when the problem was happening? Did you have someone hit the gas with you head under the hood? If not was the noise there at idle?

 

[SW SHO]

Yes, I was moving my ear around the enginge bay and yes, when first started it would appear at idle.

Under throtle, at stand still the noise is there, but does not get any louder until driving, stays loud until the idle drops to 1k...There seems to be no cause/effect. What I mean is I can't make the sound appear or disappear unde any condition..ie.. turning off any electrical, driving condition etc. The only thing is the long I drive it, it will suddenly just stop.. I mean just stop, not quiet then stop, just stop.

I've sort of ruled out enginge temp, but thought that at first as I noticed it in the morning/first start. But, I drove to lunch yesturday and it was the loudest I'd heard since Monday, got the temp up,(it was like 70 here yesturday), 1/2 hour later drove back to work and it reappeared, but not as loud and again would just stop once idle reaced 1k.

Since the sound is coming from the water inlet side I thought maybe a stuck thermostat, but wouldn't that make the car run really hot or extremely cold? Could a stuck thermostat make such a sound? On top of that, it isn't really coming from that water inlet neck but more down from there.

 

[masho95]

No it probably isn't the t-stat. If it's coming from lower than the water outlet tube then the tranny is below it. Try using a mechanics stethoscope to pinpoint the noise.

<small>[ March 11, 2004, 02:36 PM: Message edited by: masho95 ]</small>

 

[SW SHO]

The next best thing to a mechanics stethescope is a different set of ears.

I waited till the whine was at it's peak and had a friend with me to listen in. It was in my garage at work so a bit dark (which helped).

Seems the fan motor is on it's way out and I could see a blue arch from within it. What's strange is the sound really bounced over on the drivers side low.

Any suggestion on where to get a new fan? Oh, thanks for the replies.

 

[Chris Benvie]

ICRM??

Whining sounds like the alternator usually, my ICRM didn't whine when it went out.

 

[SW SHO]

AutobahnSHO1130:
ICRM??

Whining sounds like the alternator usually, my ICRM didn't whine when it went out.

It's for sure the fan. I disconnected it and the whine is gone, but the temps went up as a result (expected).