HELP! Engine whine/Alternator Whine from Engine Bay...2004 6MT w/59K
10-31-2010, 06:34 PM
#1
HELP! Engine whine/Alternator Whine from Engine Bay...2004 6MT w/59K
One day to the next...it starts...
Checked accessory belt...it's tight...no fluids leaking...
Thought maybe power steering pump but it's not prevalent when cutting the wheel.
It matches EXACTLY the engine rev noise...almost inaudible at idle but driving, it's obvious.
Any ideas please?!??!
I'm not even sure where to start on this one...
Checked accessory belt...it's tight...no fluids leaking...
Thought maybe power steering pump but it's not prevalent when cutting the wheel.
It matches EXACTLY the engine rev noise...almost inaudible at idle but driving, it's obvious.
Any ideas please?!??!
I'm not even sure where to start on this one...
11-03-2010, 08:44 AM
#7
A car stethoscope can help you diagnose where the sound is coming from
I believe you use a crowbar or something metal and long...you place the crowbar onto the suspected part and put the stethoscope on the other end of the crowbar. if that made any sense....
stethoscope-->crowbar-->suspected part.
listen for your high pitched sounds.
I believe you use a crowbar or something metal and long...you place the crowbar onto the suspected part and put the stethoscope on the other end of the crowbar. if that made any sense....
stethoscope-->crowbar-->suspected part.
listen for your high pitched sounds.
Last edited by justnspace; 11-03-2010 at 08:46 AM.
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11-03-2010, 08:49 AM
#8
Take the serpentine belt off and turn the alternator and listen for any sound, then check other pulleys and idler pulley as it has been known to be problematic. Rebuilt many alternators, pretty easy if you can get the parts, but I’d check elsewhere.
11-03-2010, 10:30 AM
#15
My nissan frontier is making the sound as well. i suspect the idler pulley or the tensioner...
in my search i found this guy who replaced the bearings....
Pressing the old bearing out - large socket is the receiver, smaller one is about the same outside diamater as the bearing and makes a nice press to push the bearing out and in
Pressing the new bearing in. The bearings fit in just far enough that the tapered edge protrudes out of the back of the idler
idler with no bearings
new bearings installed
in my search i found this guy who replaced the bearings....
Pressing the old bearing out - large socket is the receiver, smaller one is about the same outside diamater as the bearing and makes a nice press to push the bearing out and in
Pressing the new bearing in. The bearings fit in just far enough that the tapered edge protrudes out of the back of the idler
idler with no bearings
new bearings installed
11-03-2010, 09:06 PM
#17
Ok..sprayed lithium grease on the pulleys (top 4 I could reach)...no change. Maybe the bottom 2 would make a difference. Which one is the idler pulley. Upon listening to the car at idle...the belt itself sounds like it's making the noise...
could that be it...it doesn't LOOK cracked, but it IS 7 years old. Maybe it needs changing?!
edit: accessory belt.
could that be it...it doesn't LOOK cracked, but it IS 7 years old. Maybe it needs changing?!
edit: accessory belt.
11-04-2010, 10:41 AM
#19
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So i just had this problem with my 2004 tl. It ended up being the idler or tensioner pulley. I replaced both of them because the bearing looked worn on both. To test what the problem is, the guys above were on the right track. You need to take a long screwdriver and hold it on the bolt of the idler or tensioner, listen for a high pitched noise while someone is reving the engine. (just hold your ear to the end of the handle). Make sure you listen to the alt and p/s pump because all of them will make noise just the problem child will be much louder. Also its not worth changing the bearings you can replace the whole idler for pretty cheep. The cheapest place to buy them is Acura, Advanced and autozone are both more. i spent 33 bucks for both, the idler and the tensioner. Also you want to replace the belt if you said its 7 years old (autozone dayco belt=26 bucks)
11-04-2010, 08:23 PM
#20
Thank you VERY much for the tip...
so far, I've nailed like 1/2 my issues for the week. As much as the little things annoy me, I find the fixes to them pretty easily. I guess I will do just that...I'm guessing it till be the idler pulley as most have said there is a problem with them. I'm at 60K miles right now...
I won't change the belt unless necessary and the one I have has NO cracks or signs of wear.
On a side note, discounttiredirect dot com...5 months later it turns out my 19's were cupping...defective tire. They're giving me full credit and taking care of picking them up. Went with some 245 falken 452 tires now...a little meatier.
J.
so far, I've nailed like 1/2 my issues for the week. As much as the little things annoy me, I find the fixes to them pretty easily. I guess I will do just that...I'm guessing it till be the idler pulley as most have said there is a problem with them. I'm at 60K miles right now...
I won't change the belt unless necessary and the one I have has NO cracks or signs of wear.
On a side note, discounttiredirect dot com...5 months later it turns out my 19's were cupping...defective tire. They're giving me full credit and taking care of picking them up. Went with some 245 falken 452 tires now...a little meatier.
J.
11-06-2010, 06:11 PM
#22
Ok guys...I've done the long screwdriver test and had a friend listen too...
It DEF sounds like it's coming from the power steering pump.
I had the recall done for the loud sound in the cold mornings...but this is a constant whine with the engine noise. Got louder as I cut the wheel left/right.
What could it be please?
It DEF sounds like it's coming from the power steering pump.
I had the recall done for the loud sound in the cold mornings...but this is a constant whine with the engine noise. Got louder as I cut the wheel left/right.
What could it be please?
11-08-2010, 12:00 PM
#23
I have the same thing going on here. Yesterday morning, I started my car and heard this whine. It was terribly cold here in St. Petersburg, FL and I did some research. Apparently when the temps go under 60 degrees, if the o ring on your power steering pump hose is on its way out, it will allow more air than usual to pass through. That is it! As the day went on, and it warmed up, my car stopped making the noise. As of 1:00PM today, it still has not made the noise. I looked up the part number and found it for .47 cents! Check out this thread...
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ing+ring+noise
Good luck!!!
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ing+ring+noise
Good luck!!!
11-08-2010, 04:17 PM
#24
Thank you!
Well, it's warm down here in Miami, but mine doesn't go away with the temperature. BUT, you know what, maybe it's an air whistle that is making all that racket, maybe I'll try and change that part first. I DID have the recall done, but they likely just changed the pipe and not the o ring?!?!
Well, it's warm down here in Miami, but mine doesn't go away with the temperature. BUT, you know what, maybe it's an air whistle that is making all that racket, maybe I'll try and change that part first. I DID have the recall done, but they likely just changed the pipe and not the o ring?!?!
11-10-2010, 12:36 PM
#26
Thank you!
Well, it's warm down here in Miami, but mine doesn't go away with the temperature. BUT, you know what, maybe it's an air whistle that is making all that racket, maybe I'll try and change that part first. I DID have the recall done, but they likely just changed the pipe and not the o ring?!?!
Well, it's warm down here in Miami, but mine doesn't go away with the temperature. BUT, you know what, maybe it's an air whistle that is making all that racket, maybe I'll try and change that part first. I DID have the recall done, but they likely just changed the pipe and not the o ring?!?!
11-10-2010, 01:09 PM
#28
Thanks for confirming that man, I actually just ordered the oring for a buck yesterday. Will likely be here tomorrow and I'll do that, and a PS flush then, just to be safe.
This is making me happy to know the problem will likely be gone for me once I do this!
This is making me happy to know the problem will likely be gone for me once I do this!
11-11-2010, 07:39 PM
#33
Ok...good news and bad news...
when Acura did my power steering recall, they DID change the o-ring because it was red. PLUS, problem not solved.
NOW, as i listen closer, it's not the top or the alternator area...it's the middle...which points me to
idler pulley...
found it online for $13.
Sound about right?
2004 Acura TL Air conditioner and heater Alternator Automatic transaxle Back glass Body hardware Brakes Clutch Collision repair kits Console Cooling Cooling system Cowl Electrical Emission system Engine Engine / transaxle Exhaust system Fender Front bumper Front door Front drive axle Front lamps Front suspension Fuel system Grille Hood Hvac Information labels Instrument panel Maintenance & lubrication Engine service Belts & pulleys Ac belt Belt tensioner Idler pulley Tensioner pulley Filters Transaxle Manual transaxle Pillars rocker and floor Quarter panel Radiator support Rear body and floor Rear bumper Rear door Rear lamps Rear suspension Restraint systems Roof Seats and tracks Starter Steering Steering column Steering gear and linkage Steering wheel Trunk lid Wheels Windshield
Part Number Search
Multiple Part Number Search
All OEM Special's
Classic Vehicle's
Show All Parts Mechanical Parts Only Body Parts Only DescriptionYearMSRP PriceCore PriceYour PriceIdler pulley, tl
04-08 $18.17 $13.63
when Acura did my power steering recall, they DID change the o-ring because it was red. PLUS, problem not solved.
NOW, as i listen closer, it's not the top or the alternator area...it's the middle...which points me to
idler pulley...
found it online for $13.
Sound about right?
2004 Acura TL Air conditioner and heater Alternator Automatic transaxle Back glass Body hardware Brakes Clutch Collision repair kits Console Cooling Cooling system Cowl Electrical Emission system Engine Engine / transaxle Exhaust system Fender Front bumper Front door Front drive axle Front lamps Front suspension Fuel system Grille Hood Hvac Information labels Instrument panel Maintenance & lubrication Engine service Belts & pulleys Ac belt Belt tensioner Idler pulley Tensioner pulley Filters Transaxle Manual transaxle Pillars rocker and floor Quarter panel Radiator support Rear body and floor Rear bumper Rear door Rear lamps Rear suspension Restraint systems Roof Seats and tracks Starter Steering Steering column Steering gear and linkage Steering wheel Trunk lid Wheels Windshield
Part Number Search
Multiple Part Number Search
All OEM Special's
Classic Vehicle's
Show All Parts Mechanical Parts Only Body Parts Only DescriptionYearMSRP PriceCore PriceYour PriceIdler pulley, tl
04-08 $18.17 $13.63
11-13-2010, 01:44 PM
#37
I took off the belt today, and spun the pulleys and have narrowed it down to what I think are coming from these two.
I don't spin them fast enough to reproduce the noise, but the lower one sounded like my rollerblade bearings when I get sand in em. Maybe that one? Anyone know what the part number to replace both these pullys might be?
I also tried using the long piece of metal and my ear method and power steering pump seems pretty quiet as did the alternator...these 2 were loudest, the bottom one the worst. Any other possibilities for my noise?
I don't spin them fast enough to reproduce the noise, but the lower one sounded like my rollerblade bearings when I get sand in em. Maybe that one? Anyone know what the part number to replace both these pullys might be?
I also tried using the long piece of metal and my ear method and power steering pump seems pretty quiet as did the alternator...these 2 were loudest, the bottom one the worst. Any other possibilities for my noise?
11-14-2010, 12:26 AM
#38
Instructor
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So what was your outcome? I also have this problem and it sucks. I find it quite embarrassing coming from my car, and some people refer to it as " the super charger" jokingly of course.
11-14-2010, 02:35 AM
#39
I don't know, I'm looking for some guidance on this...is what I'm pointing out the idle tensioner and both pullys associated with it?
If so, I would LOVE to be referred a part that will need replacement so I can order it.
If so, I would LOVE to be referred a part that will need replacement so I can order it.
11-17-2010, 07:23 PM
#40
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hey, just wondering if you have the problem resolve. if not can you take a short video of the sound? i having similar problem. does the sound gets louder when you press on gas padel?