Any gearheads/car mechanics? Got a question
Shihli — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 02:20
I have a question for all you gearheads in guild.
Earlier this evening I hopped in my car to head out and watch a movie. When I started my car, I noticed a high-pitched "whirring" sort of sound as well as a low, dull wobbling/throbbing sort of sound behind it. When I'd accelerate the whirring would get noticeably louder, and the pitch of the whirr would change when I changed gears.
As the engine warmed up the whirring sound would get quieter and lower, but it never went away. Not until I stopped the car and removed the key.
I went to a gas station later, popped the hood. Oil, power steering, brake fluids, everything checks out. The only thing is that the whirring sounds like it's either coming from the belts or possibly down in the axles of the front wheels - sort of hard to tell as it gets louder when I step on the gas (and I can't step on the gas when I'm outside trying to listen for the sound's location).
Make and model of this car is a 1997 Toyota Corolla, if that matters.
Any thoughts?
It is most likely the belts
Knoppix (not verified) — Mon, 10/26/2009 - 08:27It is most likely the belts on the car, they are old and glazed over. Look at them see if they are looking old and starting to crack and if they are a bit glossy looking. The belt could also be loose and need to be tightened or you have a bad tension pully causing the belt to be loose or the pully itself is bad like others stated. If it is just an old belt you are in luck, change it yourself if you can.
I've had the same problem
Businessman — Mon, 10/26/2009 - 03:32I've had the same problem with my car about a couple of years ago. One day when I turned on the car, I heard a whirrrrring noise like yours. When I would accelerate, the noise would get louder. The noise wasn't that loud, but I could hear the continuous whirrrring noise. I took it to a Honda dealership to see what was wrong with it and they told me it was a wheel bearing problem. They fixed it the same day and I've never heard the noise since...
I hope this helped.
I've had the same problem
Businessman — Mon, 10/26/2009 - 03:29I've had the same problem with my car about a couple of years ago. One day when I turned on the car, I heard a whirrrrring noise like yours. When I would accelerate, the noise would get louder. The noise wasn't that loud, but I could hear the continuous whirrrring noise. I took it to a Honda dealership to see what was wrong with it and they told me it was a wheel bearing problem. They fixed it the same day and I've never heard the noise since...
I hoped this helped.
hmmmm... I wonder why my post
Businessman — Mon, 10/26/2009 - 03:31hmmmm... I wonder why my post got posted twice.. Like twins.
Kinda what grasen said: based
Onrique — Mon, 10/26/2009 - 02:33Kinda what grasen said: based on what I see with the BMW's i work on (understanding that your car is not a BMW), the belt tensioner and idler pullies would be the first place i would look. My guess is that the inner bearing of the tensioner pully is shot. When this happens, you'll get a loud squealing noise upon startup (mostly noticable when the car is cold) that fades as the vehicle warms up.
pull or push on the belt if
h4mm32 — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 15:31pull or push on the belt if it has anything more than slight play or looks tattered replace it. it could also be the bearing on one of the pulleys involved. so more or less just take the time to look. probably not your axle.
also get alli to step on the accelerator just put it in park and go nutz. put your ear next to stuff and pew pew things
it;s probally not the belt
Grasen — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 10:08it;s probally not the belt itself but replace it anyhow. is this sound a mechanicial whiring? or a high pitched squeel?
sounds more like a pully going bad, most common in this scnerio would be the belt tensioner going out. replace the belt, if problem persists take a good look and listen to that tensioner.
assumeing it is the mechanial whiring and not high pitched squeel then this is not an issue you wanna dilly dally on fixing, carolla is goinna have the unibelt system on it, if your loseing a pully when it locks up you will be stranded, while driveing if you notice the sound go away completeally stop imideteally and check to see that something didnt lock up and shred the belt.
All of what you just said is
Shihli — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 14:19All of what you just said is basically what my favorite mechanic in Pullman told me on the phone (my mother actually mentioned my car problems to him and he wanted to chat with me about it too - gotta love small-town connections).
I'll be poking around my engine later to see what I can see. Odds are it's a serpentine belt or a belt tensioner issue, like you mentioned.
Well you can easily rule out
Ananaras — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 08:25Well you can easily rule out it coming from the front axles if its making the noise while your not actually moving. More than likely its coming from your serpintine belt. I'd start by replacing the belt and if that doesnt fix it. Then you probablly have a bearing going bad in something that the belt is attatched to such as power steering pump, alternator, etc..
While I may not be a "gear
Aidin — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 09:25While I may not be a "gear head" I've been friends with enough...and married to one...AND had enough hunks of junks to know a bit.
Anan's suggestion would be a great start. My water pump went out recently which made the sound...we replaced it, sound still there (water doesn't leak though) since the belt wasn't replaced. Start with the belt, only like a 30$ part at most....I'm betting it does the trick.
I dont know much about cars
Agoney — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 06:10I dont know much about cars but sounds like a belt.. I had an issue with my mustang where it'd be really loud and squeaky until i either accellerated or let it run for 10-15 mins.. changed the belt and and goodbye sound. I couldn't tell you the belt cause my friend did all the work, I'll send him a text tho and see if he remembers which one it was.
People that know about cars, help me please!
Shihli — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 02:20^