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Whinning noise from engine.

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Old Dec 29, 2010 | 03:47 PM
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Default Whinning noise from engine.

Im a proud new member to the site, just recently bought a high mileage '99 Trans Am M6, stock minus K&N filter and catback. Since I bought the car it has had a whinning noise sounding very similar to a procharger or straight cut gears only not as loud. I first thought it was coming from the tranny/rear but after checking fluids with the engine running and hood up I noticed it was from the engine. Im clueless to what it is, sound gets louder with rpm's. Any ideas?
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Old Dec 29, 2010 | 04:11 PM
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Take a short hose and put one end to your ear and the other moving around each pulley. Im willing to bet PS or AC idler.

Try turning the AC on and off to see if anything changes. And try turning the wheel left and right while parked to see if the noise increases or decreases. Check your PS fluid level while your at it.

Welcome to the forum

Last edited by nimrod.sixty9; Dec 29, 2010 at 04:21 PM.
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Old Dec 29, 2010 | 04:23 PM
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It probably is the Power steering, thats what mine was. Another great way to check it is if you have the car parked, running of course, turn the wheel All the way to the left you might hear a whine sound when you get towards the end or hit where it stops. Then do the same all the way to the right, if it makes this sound you will be able to idenify if it was exactly like what you were hearing or not.
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Old Dec 29, 2010 | 04:36 PM
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I've tried turning on/off the a/c and also steering, with no luck. It could still be a belt or pulley since I have yet to determine exactly where its coming from, so I'll take a hose like nimrod said or maybe an extendable magnet may work too since it's hollow. Just doesn't have that distinct squeak that slipping belts have, this is more of a whine.
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Old Dec 29, 2010 | 05:59 PM
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Mine doesnt sound like a slipping belt either. I took off the AC belt and spun the upper idler pulley and it rattled like poop. Deff my problem; but I stall havent gotten that damned torx out...

Posting a video might also help
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Old Dec 29, 2010 | 07:07 PM
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A/c idlers are a notorious culprit on LS motors
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Old Dec 29, 2010 | 07:37 PM
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Only time I get whinning underhood is when the car is first started and in open loop. Its the air pump running. But from your description its also when your driving around so cant be that unless your air pump is always on. hmmmm idk
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Old Dec 30, 2010 | 06:46 AM
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Did it sound anything like this?

https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...noise-vid.html

That's what it was like when I used a thicker PS fluid.
When the pump was dying it sounded like a supercharger, but not in a good way.
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Old Dec 30, 2010 | 09:23 AM
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Originally Posted by MasterV8
Did it sound anything like this?

https://ls1tech.com/forums/general-m...noise-vid.html

That's what it was like when I used a thicker PS fluid.
When the pump was dying it sounded like a supercharger, but not in a good way.
Mine sounds more like a whistle because theres a small k&n filter hooked up to the hose on the pump.
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Old Dec 30, 2010 | 01:14 PM
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I've had this same whine, shows up a few times a year. I replaced the AIR check valves but don't think that fixed it (not sure). Might only happen in hot weather. I've seen lots of posts on here about this same noise.
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Old Dec 30, 2010 | 06:28 PM
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The sound Im getting doesn't sound like the one in MasterV8's video. Im thinking mine may be clutch related because the sound goes away when the clutch is engaged and after a few WOT shifts my clutch pedal sticks to the floor and then has extremely short throw until pumped back up.
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