Pewterpower

A few days ago my wife had some trouble starting the car. It eventually started, and hasn't happened again.

Then I noticed a "whine" in the engine bay that that seemed serp belt related. It was coming from the area of the PS pump. I checked the fluid and it wwas a little low. I added fluid but the whine didn't go away.

Then tonight, my son had the car, and he was playing the stereo without the motor running and killed the battery. His friend jumped it but it died 5 minuted later and had to be jumped again.

When he got it home, I noticed the volt dummy gage was not keeping up. If you let the engine idle, it would drop low. If you kept it revved, then the gage would stay up. But at idle, would slowly drop down low.

Sound like the alternator? But would it whine like that?

sroach20

iTrader: (31)

it has bearings in it. charge the battery first to determine if it is the alt. you should never rely on the alt to recharge a battery that has been drained. if the battery is low it will have to run wide open to keep the vehicle running while trying to charge the battery.

Havoc54

iTrader: (1)

You said he was playing with the stereo, was he messing with amps and wiring things or stuff or just listening to music in the car?


Try this

http://www.carstereo.com/help/Articles.cfm?id=71

Pewterpower

Just listening to music, thats all.

I should add that the whine I'm talking about is not from the stereo or speakers. I think it may the the alternator itself making the noise.

Havoc54

iTrader: (1)

Then most likely its the bearing going out. Although there is many things that can be wrong with the stereo that will cause the alternator to whine.

X2 on charging the battery and see if that helps.

importkiller_SS

iTrader: (35)

that whineing usually indicates a diode is gone out of the rectifier bridge in the alternator itself
idk if you can separatly change that or not on these alts
but i would just buy a new one or go to the salvage yard and get one

Soul TKR

iTrader: (4)

mine would wine about 2 weeks before it went out... happened twice so far...

Carlos01SS

iTrader: (4)

Well **** maybe that's whats happening to mine or that's why it whines, but it only whines when it's cold, or only at idle...

Once I drive around and the car gets warmed up it's fine.

cyberkill

I've had a whine in my car for a while now (maybe 2-3 years!) It's more of a whistle than a whine. If I rev, the pitch gets higher. Friend said that it could be the alternator, but I have no clue. Changed the battery less than 6 months ago and nothing changed. Anybody know of anything else that might whistle?

It's actually something in between a whine and a whistle.

jam01

you could try taking the belts off one at a time. that might help pinpoint between the ac and the other accessory's.