mayjarjar

Hey guys,

So I've seen a couple threads with a similar issue but I'm not sure if it's the same. My 2008 AT TL makes a whining noise whenever I accelerate. I notice it above 2k rpms... never below there. I notice the whine between 2k and 3.5k rpms... it may continue on but sound of the engine after 3.5k rpms makes it a little difficult to hear the whine. Also, the car will make this noise while in park or neutral when I press the accelerator so it's not limited to the car physically moving. I recently had my serpentine belt, timing belt, tensioner, pulleys, and water pump replaced about 1000 miles ago. I was reading in another forum that new timing belts or drive belts may make a whining noise for 5k to 10k miles after getting replaced? The car drives fine... power is there and it shifts fine. A just reached 101k miles as well. I've read that it could be the torque converter but that was for TLs that only had the whine when in gear... not park or neutral. Thanks for any help you all may be able to provide to me!

Pair of TLs

Try some silicone spray.

mayjarjar

Okay... On what?

mayjarjar

https://youtu.be/qqT8oH8cF8c

^^^I recorded a video so you guys kind of have an idea of what it sounds like. Not the best quality since I'm sitting inside the car but you can still kind of hear it.

WDPanda

Sounds like the drive belt tensioner to me. Get a stethoscope to make sure, they're not expensive & is invaluable

mayjarjar

It sounds like it's coming from the very top pulley but it's kind of hard to tell. I'll take a video later and post the link

mayjarjar

I recorded another video of the noise while at 2k rpms. It's very noticeable in this video and upon further inspection it sounds like it could be coming from the power steering pump

https://youtu.be/MH22SRJHGgA

^^link for video... hopefully this can help further identify the issue, especially if someone has had a similar issue.

truonghthe

Serpentine belt need to be replace and a new tensioner.

mayjarjar

Just had the serpentine replaced 1000 miles ago. You still think I should replace the belt too?

stevemk07

Belt should be fine

mayjarjar

Okay... well if I'm going to replace the tensioner I'll have to take the belt off. I've read some forums saying people will treat their belts with 303 Aeospace before putting them on... anyone recommend doing that to the serpentine belt before I put it back on?

truonghthe

hell no. leave the belt as is.

mayjarjar

Thanks for the advice. I'll just leave it how it is then. I'm always skeptical of altering something of that importance.

mayjarjar

After ordering the new tensioner and going to put it on I found that the the current tensioner and idler pulleys rotate very smooth and make no noise. There seems to be no difference between the new tensioner and the old one in terms of how the pulleys operate. My quest to figure out this whine has me leaning toward the power steering pump as the noise definitely sounds like it's coming from the power steering pulley or the pump itself. I do notice the steering wheel gets considerably harder to turn when I am parking as well. I might still replace the tensioner just for preventive maintenance but I don't think that's the current issue.

Pair of TLs

The thing about the tensioner isn't just the pulley--it puts pressure on the serpentine belt to keep it tight on the other pulleys.
Try some silicone spay on the PS pump shaft behind the big pulley on top.
If it quiets at all, there's you're culprit.

truonghthe

Both of my old tensioners rotate easily and no noise can be heard but when its actually put tension on the belt it making noise and they making the most noise on the PS pump pulley. There are a way to check the tensioner spring and here how from the service manual.

mayjarjar

Thanks for the reply guys! I don't know too much about the tensioner wo itd all helpful. I'll have to recheck everything again and like I said, I'll probably end up replacing the tensioner just for preventive maintenance. I'd rather be safe than sorry, especially since it's only a $60 part! Question though, the serpentine belt is very tight... like there's very little play at all. You press down on the belt and there's maybe 1/8 of an inch of play. To me, it seems like the tensioner is definitely putting enough tension on the belt. I will definitely recheck everything though today! Btw... I've read multiple forums and seen a couple people say the idler pulley bolt (14mm) is not reverse threaded like the tensioner pulley bolt.... is this correct? Like stated before, I stopped trying to remove the tensioner due to fear of stripping that bolt because it would not come loose.

truonghthe

yes the both of the pulley bolts is 14mm, don't worry about the top one since its a left handed thread.

mayjarjar

okay just making sure. I didn't want to end up stripping that bolt cause then I'd definitely be a little screwed

mayjarjar

An update for yall.. it took awhile as I was very busy but I finally replaced the serpentine belt tensioner. The whining noise is finally gone! Thanks to all that have their advice!

truonghthe

after all of that time and I TOLD you its the tensioner need to be replaced LOL.

mayjarjar

hahaha thanks man! At least she's all good now

quantum7

My belt is starting to squeal again. I am pretty sure it is the belt and not the tensioner but I was wondering if anyone has used the old gator belts....now owned by Continental (Elite). They are about a third of the price of OEM and apparently reduce squeal even if the pulleys are not exactly aligned. My local dealer wants $80 for the belt (Mitsuboshi) and I can get the Continental for about $27. Just wondering about anyones experience with these belts good or bad.