Annoying whistling whining noise....

[01qx41983]

Hope someone can help me with this problem that has developed. My 2001 Infiniti QX4 has started making this annoying whining noise when first started in the morning. Its not a belt slipping noise either. This has started when the weather got colder, and the noise goes away once the car is warmed up or driven a short distance. The noise is pretty loud if i leave the car outside overnight. If i put the car in the garage noise is still there but not as loud. So the change in temp has definetly got something to do with this. So far I have changed both belts with new oem ones, and the tensioner pulley for the power steering alternator side. I am totally stumped the car runs great no cel nothing just this annoying noise in the mornings!! Its so embarrassing.... Tia!

[qship96]

Probably one of the other pully bearings going bad? Fan clutch?

[01qx41983]

i have removed the a/c belt and started the car noise was still there I am a little hesitant about starting the car with the other belt removed, how can i test the fan clutch ?

[SteveTheTech]

Hey there,

There are a few things that can cause a QX4's belts to squeak or pulley bearings to make noise. There is a simple test you can do to figure out where the problem is coming from.

You will need a can of WD-40, or some other penetrating/lubricating spray ideally with the supplied straw for accuracy.

With the engine off, spray a small amount on the main drive belt tensioner. Start the car for a few seconds. Observe the noise, does it change o go away. If yes, replace the main drive tensioner.

If the noise doesn't change spray a little on the AC tensioner, then restart again for a few seconds. If the noise goes away now. The AC tensioner is suspect.

If you still have a noise and by now it should most likely would have changed it's pitch and frequency it may be the belts themselves, although the tension on them may be adequate if the belts themselves are light brownish you might want to spray some lubricant on the belts and try again. Hopefully one of these things will point you in the right direction.

If the belts and tensioners are working quietly I would next remove all the belts and start the engine for a short period of time. If the noise is still present then it is an internal issue (this is unlikely unless you are talking about a repetitive clicking noise). However if the noise goes away with the best removed you will need to inspect the individual driven pulleys by rotating them and feeling for resistance and observing any noise that is like slower version of the original noise. If you do find a component that makes noise that is most likely your source. Since you already have the belts off at this point it may be a good idea to replace them if they haven't done so in a while.

Hope this can give you a little direction. Good Luck.

[NJ 666]

Is it possibly a vacuum whistle noise?

[01qx41983]

I am still dealing with this !!!! I really feel like driving this car off a bridge!!!! So far I have replaced both belts with oem ones, new oem alternator, new battery, replaced both tension pulleys, new fan clutch... and the noise is still there! I have dumped so much cash I am starting to think it has the be the water pump there isn't anything else to replace. I have started the car with both belts off and that is the only time the noise wasn't there.... It seems like it is getting worse... but like I have said before it goes away after about 15-20 minutes of idling or driving somewhere.... so how hard is it to replace the water pump? Thanks in advance...

[qship96]

At this point, it may be cheaper and less painful to just take it to the Nissan or Infiniti dealer in your town and pay the 1 hour diagnostic charge for a trained professionals accurate diagnosis.

randomly throwing parts at it hoping to get lucky gets emotionally and financially draining quick.

[NJ 666]

01 Qx4 has the water pump driven off the timing chain. Does the noise go away if the throttle is cracked open? Ive seen a few where the throttle plate is a little carboned up and the IAC will cause a whistle noise. Are you sure there are no vacuum leaks? Lines,hoses,gaskets, etc?

[01qx41983]

I have recorded two video clips the first one is the car started up cold and you can hear the noise. The second clip is the car idling after about 15 minutes the noise is gone... (Car is in the garage kind of dark but you can hear the noise)

cold start up noise you can clearly hear it (i also dropped something disregard that noise )

http://video.google.com/videop...hl=en

this is the car idling after about 15 minutes noise is gone

http://video.google.com/videop...hl=en

[qship96]

Sounds like a bad bearing....check a/c compressor/alternator/steering pump/waterpump/idler pullys. It is one of them.

[01qx41983]

I finally may be onto something here guys! I took the belts off and spun every single pulley by hand al sounded good. I then removed the fan clutch from the water pump pulley and spun that by hand that did not sound good! I think this may finally be the one causing all this noise... How would i go about replacing the water pump pulley?? I am going to order it from infinitipartusa.com its part number 12 in this picture called a bracket? when i spin this by hand it sounds bad http://www.infinitipartsusa.co...gid=0

[01qx41983]

Okay so i am positive this is it i couldn't find anything on the net on how to replace this. It is sometimes called the false water pump, or fan idler bracket.... this has to be it !

[Blackula]

I have the EXACT same issue - I posted a video on youtube here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqRMT2Wopls

I've been getting the run-around by the Dealer for 2 YEARS, (yes, that's YEARS) now about this horrible noise. It occurs whenever the temperature goes below freezing, and dissappears after 10-15 min of driving.

So far I've had the belts replaced TWICE (the last time was a few days ago - the explanation for the warranty replacement was bad belts), the belts re-tensioned 3 times, and an "I don't hear a noise" twice... that's 6 visits over 2 years to my Dealer, 417 Inifiniti in Ottawa.

They are unable to determine the reason for the noise. I have left it with them on 3 occasions, over night, so they can cold start her and hear the noise.

Comments on the youtube video posting seem to point to the alternator. I had a ride back to the Dealership on my last visit with another Dealership client whom had had the EXACT same issue with his older Patherfinder... after 3 months of troubleshooting with his son, whom was a mechanic, they replaced the alternator, which fixed the problem.

SO, all signs point to the alternator. HOWEVER, on my last visit, I was told they would be ordering in a new clutch fan assembly, as that was most assuredly the problem. For $450. Keep in mind this car WAS IN FULL WARRANTY when this issue first presented, and I'll be damned if I'm paying another cent to get this fixed.

The noise is so loud in the mornings my neighbours can hear it and have complained.

If ANYONE has ANY ideas, please help me [us!]

Thanks!

[YELLOW S13]

Not sure but wouldnt just replacing the water pump assembly do it I assume the bearing and pulley are connected?

[01qx41983]

*update* Replaced the fan clutch bracket and car runs beautifully !!!! The part number is 21046-R50001 cost me 80 dollars and some change at the dealer. So happy I finally resolved this issue !!!!