Engine whine/RPM dependent.

[IdahoDoug]

Well, got back from towing the boat to BC and back in the 93 and after parking the boat noted a nice RPM dependent whine from the engine bay. No change cranking the steering wheel back and forth, so popped the hood with a wood dowel. Total elapsed time 2 minutes to find that this one's got the A/C idler pulley going out and is kindly letting me know with a bit of noise. Exact replay of the 97 a year ago or so.

So if you experience an RPM related engine whine starting up, suspect this $20 part. I've got the part on order and will time it with a belt replacement shortly since I've already got the belts sitting on the bench. Also, another plug for the wooden dowel trick to quickly identify which of the many whirring rotating accessories in the engine bay is complaining.

DougM

 

[KliersLC]

Soooo....

What exactly is yer question???




















just kiddin, Good info

Dan

 

[IdahoDoug]

Just trying to keep the flow of useful information out there. The main point I want to make is how easy it is to diagnose where your noise is coming from with a wood dowel. So many of the engine noise questions here are wild goose chases that end with the questioner bringing their truck to a mechanic for a $500 visit because they cannot identify a simple noise source. Once that's accomplished the diagnosis is only a post or two away here on MUD.

Just please, please be careful. Putting one end of what amounts to a spear next to whirring spinning things with unlimited power and the other end in a fist against your ear is a recipe for disaster if you're anything but careful.

I guess because it turned a post-trip frown and feeling of concern into a knowing smile and the pleasure of knowing ones vehicle well enough to say aloud to nobody "sweet, just an idler pulley!" I wanted to bring it up again here. I don't know if I can fully communicate that feeling here in words, but I'll try. Owning a single vehicle for 13 years, it starts to feel less like a thing and more like something you can relate to. When you get to that level and then a serious sound crops up, it's way more than just a concern about impending dollar signs. The immediate thought was "Oh no, that sounds like an engine bearing or transmission pump on my baby." Having it quickly replaced with "Cool, just an insignificant part that will take 15 minutes to replace" kinda gave me that LandCruiser Pride feeling that this gal is going to just soldier on and on and on as I expected. Honestly, this thing is literally paying me to drive it at this point - gas prices be damned. We took out a normal 4yr loan on it in 93, paid it off in 97. So, it has been near 9 years without a car payment now. A replacement vehicle would be at least a $600 car payment, so do the math and I've saved $7200 X 9 = $64,800 by purchasing a high quality vehicle and taking good care of it. Some of my neighbors have traded through 5 cars over this same period.

Definitely rambling now, but when I heard the grinding through the dowel and realized it was nothing it really, really made me feel good and filled me with pride. She's a good old gal. Gonna have to write a tribute here on MUD soon, I think. She deserves it.

DougM

 

[Tools R Us]

Invest some of that savings in a mechanics stethoscope, they are what $10, much better than a spear!

 

[IdahoDoug]

Hmm, that is a good call!

DougM

 

[tarbe]

Don't feel bad Doug. I've been using a left over wooden closet rod. Has to be nearly an inch in diameter - but it works!

I keep telling myself to buy the scope...but I never remember at the right time

 

[Beowulf]

$6 at HF.

Works great!

-B-

 

[-Spike-]

The steth scope has save me bunches of time tracking down odd noises, I've even used it to isolate bad fans in my PC. It's a must-have.

-Spike