Whining accessory what could it be?

[4FLATS]

My LX is whining like it has a very quite supercharger on it.

I pulled the accessory belt and fired it up and the sound was gone. I checked the pulleys and found the idler had some bearing noise but that didn't fix it.

The tensioner pulley is less than a year old so I am thinking it is the Power Steering pump (fluid was down a bit topped up now) but it could be the alternator.

Does anyone have any thoughts / tips and tricks on tracking this down?

 

[LEX]

Does the sound change when an accessory engages? Power antenna, heater, a/c, etc. I have the same sound and found it to be my alternator. To make sure, I stuck a pvc pipe small enough to get close to it and put my ear on the other end. Just be careful not to get it caught on anything.

 

[DirtDawg]

Ps pumps really only whine when the fluid is low, but it's a fluid pump so shouldn't whine like your describing. Based on what your saying I'm gonna guess alternator as well. The pvc/dowel trick mentioned above is good to trace these noises.

 

[Sandroad]

Check the supercharger.

 

[Enigma]

 

[landylover21]

Had a similar problem a few years ago, it was the alternator; the pulley was very hard to turn as the bearings started seizing. The whine got louder as time went by (over the course of a year), was worse in colder temps. Replaced it last year and it's been silent ever since.