Strange squeal from 1,000 to 2,000 RPMS.

sgtiger · 06-20-2005, 12:57 PM

So my car makes an odd noise, it sounds like a squealing.

Basically when the car has been idling for a few minutes, this noise appears under the hood. I also hear the noise if I let the engine wind down from 2k to 1k (without pressing the clutch in), the noise will whine all the way through that portion of the RPM range. I don't hear it above 2k or below 1k.

I can't tell where it's coming from. I've listened to the block with a screwdriver, nothing. I've checked all my obvious bolts, nothing. The only thing that has provided a clue is the following:

I removed my alternator belt, started the engine, noise was still present. I removed my waterpump/steering belt and the noise went away. This specific belt was cracked, so I replaced and tightened it (tightened alternator belt as well). It wasn't until I actually began to drive the car down the road that the noise completely reappeared.

I'm lost, anybody have an idea? It sounds just like a low pitched squeal.

My power steering fluid is full. Could it be the timing chain tensioner (I don't have any clatter on startup)? Water Pump? WP or PS pullies? I'm fresh out of ideas and could really use some advice.

Thanks guys!

Zexel · 06-20-2005, 08:54 PM

Have you noticed your car leaking any fluid? Coolant, mostly. Or does it get hot? It may be a bad bearing in your water pump. My brothers Toyota Camry did the same, we took off the water pump, and the bearing basically disentegrated (sp?) in my hand.

Corey

Killdannow · 06-20-2005, 09:04 PM

yeah id get ready to do a waterpump.....
Enjoy , friend - best of luck

sgtiger · 06-20-2005, 10:18 PM

Haha, no coolant leakage at all. We turned the waterpump when the belt was off, and it seemed pretty smooth.

Seems like it might be the WP though.

Will · 06-21-2005, 01:47 AM

is there anything leaking on the belt? sr20s like to leak powersteering fluid a lot.

sgtiger · 06-21-2005, 02:53 AM

No leaks anywhere. Just the squeal from 1.5kish to 2k. Temperature guage seems to remain completely steady.

sgtiger · 06-21-2005, 10:36 PM

This is really driving me insane. No ideas anyone? It seriously squeals all day long while I'm decelerating at slower speeds (parking lots, stop and go, etc.). Kind of embarrassing.

blo0d · 06-23-2005, 01:51 PM

belts could b slippin try some belt dressing

sgtiger · 06-23-2005, 06:20 PM

Even though I replaced the cracked belt and retightened both, twice?

SENTRASER · 06-24-2005, 05:30 PM

Put some belt dressing on it. Any autoparts store will have this.

sgtiger · 06-24-2005, 08:23 PM

Did the dressing, no change. Still squeaks at idle and on decel from 2000-1000 rpms.

Waterpump? Timing Tensioner? To me it sounds like it's coming from the intake manifold area, but I can't tell for sure.

Jaketips42 · 06-24-2005, 09:12 PM

The power steering pump could be bad even though there is fluid. Same goes for water pump, but it would most likely be leaking. Buy the belt and remove P/S momentarily, see what happens. Please SEARCH on what belt and how to. Also, you may want to get a stethascope or even a couple feet of heater hose. Use it like a stethascope, it works awesome. It is also great for finding vacuum leaks.

sgtiger · 06-24-2005, 09:39 PM

Yeah, this is becoming a real pain in the ass to be honest.

I think I'm just going to ignore the noise. No leaks, steering seems to work fine, I'll live with it.

Oh well.

Huberus · 06-24-2005, 10:54 PM

just turn up your radio really loud...dont be embarrased, my dad once gave me some good advice. He said "fu*k everyone else!"

SENTRASER · 06-25-2005, 05:33 AM

Turn the steering wheel while at idle all the way one way, and all the way the other; see if the engine idles lower when you turn the wheel. If the engine idles lower, then the power steering is working and I would assume it was the water pump. Is the wheel really hard to turn like it doenst have power steering?

sgtiger · 06-25-2005, 12:46 PM

I'll check that out. Right now I know the steering is almost too loose for me (compared t my Spec anyway). :-)

Thanks!

pertuzian · 06-25-2005, 01:19 PM

If you can turn the noise on and off by taking the belt off, it isn't the TCT.

It's hard to tell from a verbal description of a squeal, but some things to look at (if you haven't already) would be belt tension and the pulleys and bearings on the WP and the PS pump.

Sometimes a belt with tension that is too low will flutter, causing an odd low-pitched sound, but this does not sound like what you are describing.

David

sgtiger · 06-25-2005, 01:52 PM

I checked the powersteering, idle does fluctuate just fine. I'm really thinking it's the WP. It's odd though, becuase when I had the belt off it spun just fine. Considering how big of a job it is, do you all think this is something I really need to worry about?

Thanks!

chirpin4th · 06-25-2005, 11:41 PM

I would imagine that soon it will start burning belts if you continue to drive it with the water pump damaged. Then it will overheat...Do not drive it even a little hot.
Just replace the water pump, it is not that hard just very tight space to work in.

Jimmy

Zexel · 06-26-2005, 12:25 AM

Just replace the water pump. Sure it's a hassle, but it's more than worth it over damaging it while it's still installed.

Corey