Weird Wining Sound

[owinbush]

How do you know when your pulley bearings are going bad. I have a weird noise that began about a week ago after a torrential rain that cause flash flooding. I was left with no choice but to drive through about 6 inches of standing water with my very lowered car which is a 98 Q45.

After I got home I noticed a wining that sounds like it is coming from the front of the car where the accessory/serpentine belt is. At first I thought it was my transmission. But the sound doesn't seem like it's coming from the transmission. My gut is that I've gotten water somewhere it should have gone. Like the power steering or ac compressor or something related to either the accessories and/or pulleys or the steering rack.

What noises will bad pulley bearings make. and is there anything on the serpentine system that will make the wining sound.

[jimbyjimb]

You can try using brake cleaner and a wire brush on the back of the belt or spraying different pulleys at the bearing with a lube. Don"t get lube on the belt. That should help you determine if it's just belt or bearing noise. 6in. of water shouldn"t have done any serious damage.

[Q451990]

The whine you would hear from a failing idler is very similar to that of a transmission or power steering pump that is failing on a Nissan product or operating normally on a Ford

Your best bet is to use a mechanic's stethoscope to narrow it down - it will let you pinpoint the source of the noise very efficiently.



http://www.harborfreight.com/c...41966

Heath
Modified by Q451990 at 5:31 PM 4/11/2009