I purchased my 02 TL type S a year ago. Since then it has started to make a loud whining noise that seems to come from the frong passenger wheel well. It seems louder in the wheel well than under the hood and is loud enough I can hear it in my apartment. This noise does not change in pitch, and goes away after about 5 minutes of driving. But it will keep making that noise as long as it is idling. I've left my car remote started for over 20 minutes before going out to it and it still was making the noise.

I took it to the mechanic yesterday and he didn't find anything. He said it might be the oil filter vibrating, so he is going to change it on Tuesday. Do you guys have any other ideas?

 

Could also be your pulleys for the belts?

 

I had this same noise before. Never was able to locate the source of the problem. I don't have the problem anymore but I would love to know what it was.

 

After starting your vehicle give it a few revs while in park, if the high pitched whining no longer persist than the issue is with your Serpentine belt

 

It is definitely not a loose belt. It's a much lower tone than that, probably in the 1-3 kHz range. And it doesn't vary in tone or volume with speed or RPM. It almost sounds like something electronic.

I still haven't had a chance to get the oil changed to check the mechanics theory.

 

Change your mechanic not your oil filter!!
Take the belt off and report back.

 

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-cl-problems-fixes-70/car-humming-721186/
Try this link.

 

Well I finally got a chance to get the timing belt replaced, and also had them change the oil. Now the noise is gone. So maybe it was the oil filter.

 

Sounds like it had to do with the power steering pump or belt.

 

Your mechanic is an idiot, find another one.

 

Considering that he fixed the problem and for a very good price, why? I have a good friend with an industrial engineering degree with an automotive design focus and I ran the problem by him and let him hear the whine sound. He said the vibrating oil filter could have been the cause of the noise.