Started today, a slight squealing sound comes up occasionally when i turn on the highway or go over a little bump. Cant hear it when it idles, if it does its rare. When i shut of the engine you can hear the little whine. What is it? i doubt the starter is falling off, could it be:
1- engine mounts?
2- tranny mounts?
3- wheel bearing assembly?

When I get on it, dont hear any whining, then again the exhaust might baffle any sound. Mechanically the car sounds fine. their have been times (id say once every 3 months) that the steering becomes stiff for a few seconds then it goes away.
anything to worry about?
any help would be appreciated as this is my beater.

 

I'd check the belt first and if that is ok then I'd check the tensioner pulley.

 

if it does it when you switch the car on (not cranking it) and when you turn it off you may be hearing the fuel pump running have your fuel pressure checked it will give you advance notice if the pump is goning to fail

 

did you check your power stearing fluid?

 

actually the noise starts after the car is running for about a minute, i know the noise the fuel pump makes but this aint it.

could it be the shocks?

 

Shocks wouldn't have anything to do with the car running.

 

now i drive the thing today, and the whining noise is gone. but for some reason the exhuast sounds a little deeper and slightly more raspy. when i punch it, i could hear other parts of the car vibrating that i usually wouldn't. the outside noise of the exhuast sounds the same, but the inside is a little louder.

took a quick look under the car, tapped a few exhuast spots, no problem.

so i guess my question now is: has anyone had problems with the stock manifolds on our cars? is their something equivalent to a heat shield for interior noise for our cars?