Whining noise coming from engine bay

dailowill · 04-23-2014, 09:41 PM

Recently, I've been hearing a whining noise from my engine bay and from what I can tell, it varies with throttle input and is audible in low RPM ranges. It also seems more pronounced when I'm in first gear, but the issue is intermittent.

After scouring the internet, I'm beginning to think that it may be the alternator. I don't believe that it is the power steering pump since sometimes the noise crops up when going straight. Also, turning the wheel doesn't seem to make it louder.

Here's a video of the noise:

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

edisapimp · 04-23-2014, 09:56 PM

Is my wife in your engine bay?

gregthegr8 · 04-23-2014, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edisapimp

Is my wife in your engine bay?

My wife's whining comes mostly from the passenger seat. When it gets too bad, I just put her in the trunk. That usually stops it. I may have to look into those roof racks though. Wonder how much weight they can hold.

Vigilante375 · 04-23-2014, 11:29 PM

Have you opened the hood and let someone (or you) listen to where it's coming from while pressing the gas or turning the wheel?

edisapimp · 04-24-2014, 07:26 AM

Is your car auto dct or manual?

I actually listened to the sound this time and it's very loud. Can you get whomever filmed the videos to sit behind the wheel whilst you film with the good open to better isolate the area it's coming from? The noise definitely seems to change in accordance with the engine, which leads me to believe it's friction on something that spins, but not necessarily an alternator.

Give us a better idea of the location it's coming from, pinpoint it a little Better and we can maybe point you in the direction of what is potentially vulnerable in that area.

dailowill · 04-24-2014, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vigilante375

Have you opened the hood and let someone (or you) listen to where it's coming from while pressing the gas or turning the wheel?

Good idea. I'll have to try that. Since its intermittent, there's not always someone around to assist me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by edisapimp

Is your car auto dct or manual?

I actually listened to the sound this time and it's very loud. Can you get whomever filmed the videos to sit behind the wheel whilst you film with the good open to better isolate the area it's coming from? The noise definitely seems to change in accordance with the engine, which leads me to believe it's friction on something that spins, but not necessarily an alternator.

Give us a better idea of the location it's coming from, pinpoint it a little Better and we can maybe point you in the direction of what is potentially vulnerable in that area.

It's a manual. The one time I had the hood open and the noise was present, it went away shortly after so I didn't have time to isolate it yet.

135i_N54_GUY · 04-30-2014, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregthegr8

Quote:

Originally Posted by edisapimp

Is my wife in your engine bay?

My wife's whining comes mostly from the passenger seat. When it gets too bad, I just put her in the trunk. That usually stops it. I may have to look into those roof racks though. Wonder how much weight they can hold.

Lol...

RoundelM3 · 04-30-2014, 07:55 AM

Funny story: When the Saturn first came out, GM had bought EDS (Ross Perot's company). The HQ for EDS at the time was on Forest Lane in Dallas, and several new Saturn models were brought to the campus for EDS/GM employees to see, and a press conference was held. Ross P. was asked if he liked the car, and he said "yes, but they should have named it the 'Smitty' (after GM President-at-the-time Roger Smith)". When asked why, Perot answered "because of the high-pitched whine coming from under the hood".

dailowill · 04-30-2014, 10:37 AM

Turned out that my steering rack was leaking fluid and was replaced under warranty (just in case anyone was wondering).

gregthegr8 · 04-30-2014, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dailowill

Turned out that my steering rack was leaking fluid and was replaced under warranty (just in case anyone was wondering).

Glad to hear it is resolved and that it wasn't edisapimp's wife.

3002 tii · 04-30-2014, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edisapimp

Is my wife in your engine bay?

LMAO best post in a while

04-23-2014, 09:41 PM	#1
dailowill Lieutenant 121 Rep 505 Posts Drives: '15 M235i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: CT iTrader: (13)	Whining noise coming from engine bay Recently, I've been hearing a whining noise from my engine bay and from what I can tell, it varies with throttle input and is audible in low RPM ranges. It also seems more pronounced when I'm in first gear, but the issue is intermittent. After scouring the internet, I'm beginning to think that it may be the alternator. I don't believe that it is the power steering pump since sometimes the noise crops up when going straight. Also, turning the wheel doesn't seem to make it louder. Here's a video of the noise: Anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance!
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

04-23-2014, 09:56 PM	#2
edisapimp Civil Rights Activist 115 Rep 949 Posts Drives: E46 Sedan, E88 Vert Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	Is my wife in your engine bay? __________________ E88 Crimson Red Vert MSport 6MT - Listing your mods in your signature is lame. BMS DCI/MHD E30 Flash!!/AA Sport FMIC/VRSF CP w Tial BOV/VRSF 3" DPs/550i clutch w SPEC SMFW/Apex EC-7s/Whiteline RSFB/E92 M3 FCAs/Bilstein B12 Pro Kit/VRSF inlets
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-23-2014, 11:29 PM	#4
Vigilante375 Major 116 Rep 1,158 Posts Drives: 2012 AW 6M 135i Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: WA iTrader: (0)	Have you opened the hood and let someone (or you) listen to where it's coming from while pressing the gas or turning the wheel?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-24-2014, 07:26 AM	#5
edisapimp Civil Rights Activist 115 Rep 949 Posts Drives: E46 Sedan, E88 Vert Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	Is your car auto dct or manual? I actually listened to the sound this time and it's very loud. Can you get whomever filmed the videos to sit behind the wheel whilst you film with the good open to better isolate the area it's coming from? The noise definitely seems to change in accordance with the engine, which leads me to believe it's friction on something that spins, but not necessarily an alternator. Give us a better idea of the location it's coming from, pinpoint it a little Better and we can maybe point you in the direction of what is potentially vulnerable in that area.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-30-2014, 07:55 AM	#8
RoundelM3 Major General 1835 Rep 6,989 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	Funny story: When the Saturn first came out, GM had bought EDS (Ross Perot's company). The HQ for EDS at the time was on Forest Lane in Dallas, and several new Saturn models were brought to the campus for EDS/GM employees to see, and a press conference was held. Ross P. was asked if he liked the car, and he said "yes, but they should have named it the 'Smitty' (after GM President-at-the-time Roger Smith)". When asked why, Perot answered "because of the high-pitched whine coming from under the hood". __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-30-2014, 10:37 AM	#9
dailowill Lieutenant 121 Rep 505 Posts Drives: '15 M235i Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: CT iTrader: (13)	Turned out that my steering rack was leaking fluid and was replaced under warranty (just in case anyone was wondering).
	Appreciate 0 Quote