Howdy! I need some help figuring out what's wrong with my car. It's been a while since I've been here, but this forum always had the answers I needed in the past....

'98 3.0
59k miles
completely stock

1) The "noise" starts when I start the car and it idles. If you've ever heard somebody whistle and hum at the same time, that's the best I can describe the sound. I can't tell exactly where it's coming from, somewhere on the passenger side...but once I try to get my ear close enough to identify it, the sound of the fan overwhelms it - although it doesn't seem "close" to the fan. I almost feel like it's coming from somewhere near the bottom of the car, but I can't hear it if I get under the car.

2) As I accelerate, the noise rises/drops in pitch with my RPMs...it sounds kinda like one of those party favors you used to get at elementary school birthday parties - you know, the short tube things w/ the fan inside that you blew into. Once I get up to about 40 mph it either stops or the road noise prevents me from hearing it anymore.

3) Here's what's confusing me....I do alot of my driving (~98%) on the highway. Sometimes after I spend 25 minutes or so cruising at 70 or 80 and get off the highway, the noise is gone. Other times, it's there. If I get off the highway and don't hear the noise, as soon as I turn the car off and back on (i.e. getting gas) it will start again.

4) To add to the confusion....there seems to be a relationship between the amount of gas in my tank and the volume of the noise. It is less loud w/ a full tank of gas than a half empty one, etc.

I'd like to try and fix this myself, but don't know where to begin....any ideas??

Cheers

 

If the fan noise interferes, you can check w/ cold engine and AC off. Fans should not engage at this condition and perhaps you can trace the noise. A short length of flexible 3/8" -1/2" ID tube can be very helpful to pinpoint the source of a noise.

Offhand, I would suspect the alternator or PS pump, but that's just a guess. Only way to know is to trace the noise to the source.

good luck

 

Thanks Tex...

AC off???? In Texas??? In the summer!? you must be crazy!

seriously though, I'll give that a try - just have to remember to turn the AC off tonight when I get home. I've tried turning the AC off after the car's been driven to check for the noise, but this obviously didn't work...

Cheers

 

A Mechanics Stethoscope may come in handy for this.