Howdy, folks.

My 2008 Acura TSX has started to develop a whine which has increasingly gotten louder over the past month or two. I've searched through the forum and found some posts related to the transmission, but I doubt that's what I'm hearing based upon what I've read. For one, the sound occurs even when the car is in park or neutral, and its pitch goes up as the engine RPMs go up and vice versa. I can also hear it when the car is idling, albeit faintly.

As predicted, replacing the tires this weekend had absolutely no bearing on the noise whatsoever. (Tire replacement was because the car needed them, not because I was trying to fix the noise.)

It's not a grinding noise, as when the CV joints start to go out. It's not a whistle or squeel as when a belt starts to wear out or becomes too loose. It occurs both when the AC is on and off, so it's not the AC compressor.

If you narrow down the remaining possibilities, I can only think of belt-driven equipment like the alternator, water pump or power steering pump.

Power steering fluid level is normal. Radiator fluid level is normal. I've not had any electrical problems.

Thoughts on where to go next?

Thanks!

 

May be the belt tensioner. They're pretty rugged, but have been known to get noisy.

 

Have you listened for the sound while standing by the engine compartment with the hood up? As Simba suggests, check all the pulleys that are driven by the belt. If you can't isolate the the source by sound, take the belt off and spin all the pulleys by hand and feel for rough bearing function.

 

Definitely check belt and belt tensioner. That tensioner is just a bearing, if it goes bad, it will start making noise. If it seizes, it will destroy the timing belt. If you are changing your belt and plan on keeping the old tensioner, inspect it very closely. It shouldn't have any play, and it should turn perfectly smooth and quiet for several full rotations.

You can replace just the bearing and keep the old assembly.

 

I'm sure he misspoke and meant the serpentine belt that spins the pulleys. The TSX doesn't have a timing belt.

 

My bad, I meant accessory belt not a timing belt. Good catch bro',

 

My money's on the PS pump.

 

I recently had a whine. I changed the alternator belt (drive belt/accessory belt) and most of it went away. Although, I think some of the whine is coming from the alternator.

DEF check that belt. It's one of the cheaper fixes.

 

mine had the same problem with acc belt..

 

Mine whines thru the speakers if I have my phone plugged in to charge and have the AUX cord plugged in...if I'm not playing any sound from the phone. Once any sound comes thru the phone, the whining will stop.

Just a thought. It may not be mechanical.

 

Check posts on PS whine. Leak on suction side of PS pump allows air into PS fluid. This causes pump to whine. Noise will modulate when steering wheel is turned right/left.

Easy fix to replace PS Pump, suction inlet fitting oring.

good luck