while I am awaiting my service appointment, anyone want to offer some opinions, or better yet, get to the heart of the issue, behind my concerns?

My engine started making a whine noise, like a fan spinning too fast or a motor running. It starts and stops while idling, while driving, and doesn't seem connected to the a/c, gas, acceleration, brakes, etc. It sounds like it is coming from the front near the bottom, but it's hard to pin down. It's not the power steering motor's regular noise, it's far louder than that. It can be readily heard inside the car.

Any opinions? Anything I should look for? Any way I can figure out the problem? Any info I can provide for an internet disgnosis?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

Most likely the PS cooling fan, maybe you picked up some debris.

X2

 

Hi there,

I'll bet it's the power steering motor. Does the sound change when you turn the wheel?

(BTW, this is normal)

Just a guess.

-Jim

 

Not sure about the "whine" you refer to, but on the very first day we had the car my wife's comment about the fans, etc. when I turned the car off was:

"It sounds like you just turned off the Starship Enterprise!"

 

You can hear the fuel pump on my car pretty darn loud when at a stand still with the window down. It changes pitch and intesity as the demand changes I guess. I dont know where the pump is but it is in the front half of the car since the gas tank is in the middle.

 

it's not the power steering motor doing its usual thing (I like that sound) it makes the sound while idling, and doesn't change, or go on and off relative to the steering wheel turning.

it's pretty loud - even if the radio is on you can hear it (unless the radio is loud)

but maybe it is a problem with the power steering fan - i should order the skid plate!

any and all other diagnoses are welcome!

 

>>it's not the power steering motor doing its usual thing (I like that sound) it makes the sound while idling, and doesn't change, or go on and off relative to the steering wheel turning.

Sounds are tough to describe, so bear with me. Does it sound sort of like a ruuurrr sound...like a grunting ruuuh,ruuurrrrr that changes pitch ever so slightly?

The power steering fan is a massive muffin fan, and muffin fans are notorious for creating droning noises when they get a little off balance. I work with computers and have had muffin fans in power supplies make that noise many, many times.

When I saw the muffin fan, my first thought was "Oh crap, that thing will start howling one of these days."

See ya,
JS

 

BTW, please let us know what you find out.

Thanks,
JS

 

it's been two days since I have heard the noise. My appt is tomorrow, so I think I'll still take it in to see what's up. Or do you think I should just forget about it for now?