1987 vette whining noise
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
1987 vette whining noise
My vette has 65xxx miles on it. The check engine light is not on. At idle or while accelerating there is constant whining noise. It seems like it is coming from the general area of the alternator. Could it be the air pump maybe? I have no idea, and I know my post isnt very specific so help would be appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,485
Likes: 566
From: Clearwater Florida
......... Power steering will whine if the oil level is low ... the pitch will change as you steer the car ... alternators will whine when they're working ... whats the volt meter reading ... this pitch will also change depending on the load , i.e. headlights , heater blower , engine cooling fan , etc.
... you might try taking the serpentine belt off and spinning items by hand to try to narrow down the culprit ..... good luck .............
... you might try taking the serpentine belt off and spinning items by hand to try to narrow down the culprit ..... good luck .............
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,333
Likes: 262
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Pull the accessory belt and see if it goes away. If it does, start spinning everything the belt turns.
It was the A.I.R. pump that gave me a whine, so I built an eliminator bracket/pulley to get rid of the noise. All the crap is resting peacefully in the landfill.
Wow, a new smiley for us north of the border. 
It was the A.I.R. pump that gave me a whine, so I built an eliminator bracket/pulley to get rid of the noise. All the crap is resting peacefully in the landfill.
Wow, a new smiley for us north of the border.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,376
Likes: 111
From: Cherokee National Forest TN
I get a constant whine from the passenger seat. Its intermittent, only occurs when the Mrs. is on board.
Back on topic:
I use the old school method to detect engine noise, a long screwdriver with the handle stuck in my ear. Touch the blade to the housing or bracket of each pulley to find the one that is protesting.
Back on topic:
I use the old school method to detect engine noise, a long screwdriver with the handle stuck in my ear. Touch the blade to the housing or bracket of each pulley to find the one that is protesting.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 14,924
Likes: 9
From: Merritt Ils Fl
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...&q=stethoscope
Among the best $5.00 ypu'll ever spend.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
This works very well. A better solution is:
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...&q=stethoscope
Among the best $5.00 ypu'll ever spend.
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalog...&q=stethoscope
Among the best $5.00 ypu'll ever spend.
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
I have had an alternator and most recently (this weekend) the AIR pump go bad and both sounded exactly the same, I took the alternator to the auto parts store and they bench tested it on a machine that spins the armature as if it where ont he car, which in this last instance turned out to be the AIR pump, got one at NAPA for 95.00 and I was out cruzing by Sunday afternoon.
