Maybe I have missed this in the forms but I have a whine that driving me nuts. My 1999 SE has always had a faint whine coming from the right side of the engine. The dealer has replaced the alternator and power steering rack in the past but nothing changed. My suspicion is the idler but I have also read somewhere that the brackets that support the heater hoses can cause EMI noise from the alternator to generated from the heater core.. I don’t notice it while driving the car, just at idle. I haven’t troubleshoot it yet but planning to soon. Any ideas?

1999 SE
80,000 mi

Here'* the link regarding the heater hose theory....

http://mightyautoparts.com/pdf/articles/otl1000.pdf

first way to diagnose.
remove the belt and turn each pulley by hand..if one kind of hangs up in a spot id suspect that for sure. Possibly just a tensioner pulley going bad.

This may be out there - but I had a whining noise that kept getting worse and louder. I would hear it at idle and as I accelerated. I thought it was the transmission until finally I determined the noise got worse when i would turn the steering wheel.

Turned out to be a leak in the power steering pump. Once I added fluid it disappeared.

I haven't replaced it yet - I'm going to try using some PS sealer first since it'* a slow leak. On the 1995 SE, the pump is located on the right side of the engine (when sitting in the car) under the alternator (who the hell put it there?) It took me awhile to find it. Dumbest location - had a tough time getting the cap off just to fill it.

Hope this helps.

Getting things ready to go to Flordia this friday in the ride.Disney World and Daytona for Turkey Run.I have the whine problem also.I replaced the alternater thinking it was the rear baering .Not it.Took belt off and checked pulleys.Well the water pump pulley was makeing a whining noise.The pulley had a little play in it ,so I had my water pump replaced.Well the whine IS steal there.Now my guy says the whine I,ve got is comeing from my AC compresser.He said it'* a $1000 job.The whine will only get worse.So I'll be whining my way to Flordia.If anybody ever gets a chance to go to Turkey Run, Go! 5000+ cars and trucks in the infeild of the Daytona Speedway.Great way to spend Thanksgiving weekend.On our last trip two years ago my tintion pulley went out,84,000 miles and ready to go .SOCLEANONE

I got a whine that I hear constantly and the harder on the gas I am, the louder the whine....OH ya SC.....Hehe j/k Only think that I can come up with is you got a pulley with a bad bearing that'* just starting....maybe something on the intake end....Not sure what kinda whine you're describing....but my 2 cents

I'm in exactly the same boat as JR here. Mines as loud as stock M62'* depending on the weather.