Hello!

I am in need of someone who may be an experienced mechanic or have actually had experienced the issue I have. Here it goes:

My vette used to have an ECS sc kit, cam, full exhaust, twin clutch, etc. In other words it was fairly modded. During late last summer after installing a new triple clutch, due to the twin failing, and later breaking the transmission output shaft after the clutch break-in, I decided that I had enough fun and was going to return the vette to stock. I returned everything to stock except the triple clutch that still resides behind the engine.

Fast forward, within about a month it developed this whining sound that seems to be coming from the driver's side front engine accessories. It started right after I reinstalled the stock OEM alternator (Had a Mechman). So, I got a replacement alternator from auto zone and the sound was still there. Got a new idler pulley and the sound is still there. I had another friend listen to the noise and he agreed that it appeared to be coming from the power steering pump. So, ordered a GM remanufactured pump and damn!!! the sound is still there! All I have left is the water pump and main tensioner. I started the engine without the main belt and no noise. I spun the accessories by hand and I can't feel anything rough or out of the ordinary.

This is truly driving me crazy! To the point my wife thinks I'm just making stuff up or just hear things that aren't really there LOL

Can someone provide me any help? Can a slightly larger non-stock Trick Flow harmonic balancer cause the alternator spin a little faster than normal and cause the whine I hear? I've thought about oil pump or even timing chain. It used to have a double roller timing chain and now it has a single Rollmaster chain with stock new gears.

 

What kind of belt did you put on? I've had belts themselves make that kind of noise. Another thing you can try is to spray some kind of lube onto the tensioner pulley itself and see if the noise goes away since you can't really spray the wp one because of the bell.

 

I thought about the belt. I believe that is the stock belt that was originally installed when I bought it. I assume it's OEM and don't know what brand is. No markings that I could see either so I can get a different brand. As for the tensioner pulley I kind of wrote that one off since it's in the opposite side of where I hear the noise, plus the tensioner was removed for a while when I had the supercharger installed.

I'm going to check on that belt. Thanks!

 

Have you tried a mechanics stethoscope? I've used them to narrow down noises before, worked pretty well and they're on amazon for like < $20

 

I agree that you need to check the belt and ensure that there is enough belt tension. I had a squealing alternator from a belt that was one size too big.

 

I tried using the a long screwdriver obviously that didn’t do the trick, but yes, I must buy one of the stethoscopes.

 

I may try a different belt. I was looking at the current belt which I assumed was the OEM one, but now I have doubts about it. It says mitsubishi on it. Dont know who really makes it but I like Gates belts. So I could try replacing the current one with a Gates.

EDIT: I looked at the belt again again and it also shows GM 12579229

 

If you take the screw driver, and ram it into your ears, you won't hear a whine anymore. Then again you won't hear much of anything anymore.

Whining is typically a bearing on something spinning up front. Take the belt off, and feel by hand how everything spins. Water pump, pulleys, alternator, etc.

 

my money is on the water pump causing the whine.

 

Of course I won't hear ****! Hahaha

I was hoping that it doesn't come to that as GM replaced it under warranty. It has probably around 23K miles on that water pump.

 

Belt squeaks, whine is usually an idle pulley or belt tensioner.

The stethoscope works and also a silicon spray can with plastic extension tube can put the whine out when sprayed rite into the bearing, the one to hush is the culprit.

 

harmonic balancer wobbling?

 

they can go south at anytime though.with belt off and hands on wp pulley try to see if any movement up or down,side to side.if any movement you will know its the wp

 

Woke up today to a noise coming from the front of my engine, all the idler pulleys and tensioners were previously replaced. Used WD40 and could not find the culprit...dropped the belt and think I narrowed it down to the power steering pump.....it has just a little play side to side that you can just barely feel.......so I will be replacing it this weekend. The sound was driving me crazy!!!

 

Did you replace it or order a new one yet? The oem one I pulled wasn’t the culprit since the sound is still present. I decided to keep the gm reconditioned one in place. So I still have the oem one (42k miles) if you are interested, just remember that the pulley needs to be swapped. PM me if interested.

 

Did you find the whine?

Did not read thread fully.

If only at idle....remove the belts and see if whine continues.
Leads to the timing chain I venture.

While driving, could be power steering of wheel bearing, any rotating parts.

Noting sound can be difficult to isolate. Are you sure it is under the hood, not the under carriage or stereo speakers?

Anyway just some two cent comments...good luck.

 

I’ve tried and checked everything I was suggested. Maybe I just dont remember if the power steering pumps make that sound? The engine was stock for a short while, then modded for a while and now returned to stock. So maybe they sound like that and now that the engine is back to stock I can hear it more? Went for a spirited drive last night and after I returned I could barely hear it, so I’m baffled!

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

Bearings can sound and feel good if you're just spinning them by hand with no side load. When the belt is on, you have side loads on all of the pulleys. I found a bad idler by just putting the belt on that one pulley and spinning it by pulling sideways on the belt and spinning it back and forth with the belt. Felt just a little roughness. Changed the bearing in that pulley and all was good.

Good luck finding the actual gremlin. I know it can be frustrating as hell.

 

Well this is the thing. The sound seems to be coming right below the alternator. So tried a different alternator, power steering pump, idler pulley and new belt and the sound is still there. So, let me ask you something...can you hear your power steering pump with the hoop open? A little like the old Ford 5.0s power steering pump?