Engine Whine
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City
Engine Whine After a long battle with my wifes SS, I finally found the cause of the problem. At first I thought it was the power steering so i bought a new pump from gmparts direct and put it on, still made the noise. I had three mechanics look at it and they said it was the power steering leaking air, so I bought a vaccuum pump and tested it, no leak. I next bought a new water pump replaced it and it still made the noise. It turns out that it was the idler pulley between the two pumps, It spins freely and has no play, It seems fine off the car but on the car it makes a noise like a dying cat. So if anyone is out of warranty and has a whine check that pulley.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City
I figured I couldn't be the only one with this problem, hopefully it'll save some people some money. At least I have an extra water and power steering pump
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Joined: Oct 2006
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Glad you got that worked out. Not sure how I missed your post. The dealer replaced a few pullies of mine back when I had an ish'load of work done all at once. It helped a little bit but I still think my whine is coming from the PS pump.
Surprisingly, I was searching for 2006 Impala info for a guy at NAIOA and came across this quote:
Funny. This system is by far the loudest I've ever heard in any vehicle, so I have to raise the BS flag on that one.
Surprisingly, I was searching for 2006 Impala info for a guy at NAIOA and came across this quote:
A power rack-and-pinion steering system is standard on the Impala SS using a 13.3:1 steering ratio. It also receives a quieter, improved performance power steering pump and fluid reservoirs. The new system optimizes internal flow of the hydraulic steering fluid within both the pump and the reservoirs.
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City
Anyone who has a whine might want to check this pulley, It is the top idler pulley closest to the radiator. I took the tensioner pulley off my Trans Am and bolted it on the Impala just to see if it in fact was the pulley. When I started it with the TA pulley there was no whine at all only a slight rumble from the exhaust. It sounded like a completely different car. the pulley cost $50 including shipping and once you get the belt off its a 5 minute job. On a side note I made an effective belt tool out of tools I had laying around if anyone wants directions just let me know, if you don't have the tools it might cost $20-$30 to buy them but it is better than $100 for the gm tool.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma City
My whine had gotten so loud that you couldn't hear anything else while the car was running. I had forgotten what the car was supposed to sound like. 
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 92
Likes: 0
From: Chicagoland area
The Mustang Cobra is the only Ford I'd ever want to own.
X2 on that my friend.
