mrl390 Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 Recently when I drive my car (97 monte z34. 3.4L 4t65e) I hear a whining noise under acceleration. I also hear it really loud when I rev the car in park. I noticed it was real loud today (like pullied supercharger loud) when I reved my car at my brother. So after doing a quick search, my question is this: Do you think it is my alternator making the sound or my transmission pump? My battery went dead a few weeks ago, but when after I replaced it I havent had any trouble since. My transmission was also rebuilt 5000 miles ago. Input? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 remove the serpentine belt and turn ALL pulleys by hand. it could be anything that moves when the car is in park. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrl390 Posted May 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 I cant hear the whine while at idle so I doubt Id be able to spin anything fast enough by hand to recreate the sound. Ill see If I can record the sound and post it on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 Most likely trans. My old 93 Z34 did the same thing for over 50,000 kms with no adverse effects. It was very noticeable during light acceleration from a stand still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrl390 Posted May 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 Of course when I went out now, the sound isnt loud enough to record. I can still hear it but it wasnt anywhere near as loud as before. WTF? I will mention tho that when it made the sound before, it was at full operating temperature. I had just drove it for about 10-15 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89SupremeCutty Posted May 10, 2009 Report Share Posted May 10, 2009 Of course when I went out now, the sound isnt loud enough to record. I can still hear it but it wasnt anywhere near as loud as before. WTF? I will mention tho that when it made the sound before, it was at full operating temperature. I had just drove it for about 10-15 minutes. when going from park to reverse or drive does the noise change? if you think its the alternator another thing that can be done is to put a screwdriver on the alternator housing and hold it to your ear and listen for the same noise(while the engine is running of course). if you hear it through the screwdriver then thats the source. do you think it's the power steering pump? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted May 10, 2009 Report Share Posted May 10, 2009 remove the serpentine belt and turn ALL pulleys by hand. it could be anything that moves when the car is in park. Do this anyhow. You will probably not hear your "noise", but you might find a pulley that turns with a rough bearing. it could be your noise source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrl390 Posted May 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2009 I dont think its the power steering pump. It sounds like its coming from down low and the pump makes no noise that I can hear. How hard is it to remove the serpentine belt? Unfortunately I have to go back up to school tomorrow and I have no place to work but in my gravel driveway up there. I also only have some hand tools at hand up there. I know I can do it no problem at home but I dont know when I will be back. Probably not for a couple weeks. I really cant see down in to find the tensioner. Do I have to remove anything to get access to it? Ill try putting a screwdriver to the alt housing and have my roomate rev it up. I may actually have a stethescope lying around somewhere but I dont have time to find it unfortunately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted May 10, 2009 Report Share Posted May 10, 2009 Removing the belt is cake. Just a 3/8 ratchet plugged into the corresponding hole on the tensionor, probably with some assist of some more leverage. In my own experiences on my Euro, the pump and/ or drive chain in the tranny would occasionally whine under acceleration when the fluid level was low. In the Monte, the the PS has for some reason always had a very mild, almost unnoticable whine to it, which becomes very pronounced in the dead of winter when its below 0*. Then, it sounds just like a blower whine, almost cool sounding. So, it could maybe, possibly be PS in your case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toms92gpse Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 The ps pump on my Chevy truck makes a whine but its not always loud, and my exes 95gtp whined really loud, and sounded like a pullied sc whining. Usually you don't here an alternator whining, if the bearings are going it usually makes a squeaking or screeching sound depending how far gone it is. If its electrical, its usually very quiet, you wouldn't here it over the engine unless it was major, like 18v kind of over charging. So If you say its down low, I would put in on something in the transmission, the one in my 92 gp 3.4 whined when the fluid was low also, and I've learned it works the best about 1/2 quart over full, Still though it wasn't terribly loud, not like a PS is when it makes that whine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 Removing the belt is cake. Just a 3/8 ratchet plugged into the corresponding hole on the tensionor... No, on a 3.4dohc, you have to grip the nut on the idler pulley with a wrench, (15mm or 18mm?) and pivot it with the wrench, and the belt can then be removed from one of the pulleys and released. there is no 3/8 ratchet hole on the DOHC. To reinstall, basically route the entire belt, except for one upper pulley, release the tension on the tensioner with teh wrench, and move the belt over the final pulley, then release the tensioner. check that it is all straight and tight and you're done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regal_GS_1989 Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 Another thing you can try is remove the belt completely, then fire up the engine and see if it still whines. If yes, than it would be your trans pump. If the whine is gone, then it is an accessory (Probably power steering or Fuel pump) Just make sure not to run the engine for long, as there will not be water circulating and it could over heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted May 21, 2009 Report Share Posted May 21, 2009 Another thing you can try is remove the belt completely, then fire up the engine and see if it still whines. If yes, than it would be your trans pump. If the whine is gone, then it is an accessory (Probably power steering or Fuel pump) Just make sure not to run the engine for long, as there will not be water circulating and it could over heat. x2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carkhz316 Posted May 22, 2009 Report Share Posted May 22, 2009 Removing the belt is cake. Just a 3/8 ratchet plugged into the corresponding hole on the tensionor... No, on a 3.4dohc, you have to grip the nut on the idler pulley with a wrench, (15mm or 18mm?) and pivot it with the wrench, and the belt can then be removed from one of the pulleys and released. there is no 3/8 ratchet hole on the DOHC. To reinstall, basically route the entire belt, except for one upper pulley, release the tension on the tensioner with teh wrench, and move the belt over the final pulley, then release the tensioner. check that it is all straight and tight and you're done. Whoops. Forgot about that one. Thanks for catching. I've only had my 3.4 lumi for about 2 years now. So, I've only touched/ replaced the belt once on 'er. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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