http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViCvz...ature=youtu.be

I just noticed this whine today, however as it isn't audible from the drivers seat it could have been going longer.

If I had to classify it I would say the alternator is failing, but never having had a supercharger before I wonder if it could be the gears in the nose cone running dry?

I welcome any help in how to diagnose this one! Note: I will not drive the car further until I have this figure out. Also I hope to post a video once I figure out how.

 

Also I hope to post a video once I figure out how.

I haven't posted a video on here yet, but I have seen some that simply upload their video to YouTube, then paste a link to that in their post on NAM.

 

Quite possibly simple belt stretch. I had the same thing, though it was a tensioner or idler pulley or alternator or something expensive, and it was simple belt stretch.

Look at your tensioner and see if one hole shows on the tensioner-holder-prong-thing (the piece you put the nail in when you de-tension the belt). If you're not seeing one full hole, install a new belt. Factory says 50kmiles, replace 'em every 15-20.

 

I have uploaded a video to youtube. My only thoughts on first steps is to remove the belt and spins the pulleys by hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViCvz...ature=youtu.be

 

Hmm, that seems more a buzz than a whine. Does it vary in pitch with the engine revs?

 

I agree it is more of a buzz, and it definitely follows engine rpm.

 

Try this: Put front of car on jackstands or a lift - SAFELY. Chock the rear wheels and be damn sure the thing is secure, and the front wheels are free to rotate.

Remove passenger wheel. Remove passenger wheel well liner. This requires removing several plastic clips that unscrew (hold the outside rim with pliers, philips head inners), and at least (2) philips head screws. This gives you access to the serpentine belt and pulleys on the passenger side.

THEN, VERY CAREFULLY, ebrake engaged and chocks in place, OUT of gear, start the engine. You will have far greater access to the source of the sound than from above. You can even give a quick shot of WD40 to the centers of the idler pulleys to see if that's the source of the noise - use the straw so you're isolating sources. In my case, I got some WD40 on the belt and the noise went away, indicating belt slip as the culprit, then checked the tensioner strap and confirmed it loose (coulda done that before removing the liner, but you have to remove the liner to replace the belt anyway).

You may be able to hear which rotating part is causing the noise, you can even cycle the a/c on and off (and lights on and off) to isolate compressor or alternator. Replacing THOSE, however, is another story.

 

I used a long screwdriver to listen to the alternator and the supercharger tonight (since the sound didn't change with A/C on/off) and it appears the alternator is the culprit. This doesn't look like a fun job...

 

When mine sounded like that it was the idler pulley. Artoo is also a 2003 MCS. I waited till it failed but was lucky as it exploded in my driveway.

Look for simple things before you start replacing expensive stuff. Have you ever replaced your tensioner? Don’t do half a job.

Rich

 

I scoped the tensioner out as well, the part failing is definitely the alternator bearing. If only I could find out the bearing sizes without needing the take the car half apart.

 

A long needed update as I found this problem last year, turns out one of my diodes had gone bad in the alternator thus leading to the whine.