I have a 1999 cav with 153,000 miles on it. Recently it sounds as if I have a supercharger installed, but I don’t. What I’m saying is I’ve got this whine that gets louder while revving or accelerating, even while sitting still so not the wheel bearings. It sounds just like a supercharger or exactly like a power steering pump whine. The pump checks out but while listening using a flat tip screwdriver with my ear on it I have noticed that the alternator sounds like the source, but through all my years working on cars, I never had a bad alternator or alt bearing whine. Just vibrate and rattle if it was bad. I have also listened to the valve cover because it was next to the noise. Hard to pinpoint where it is. Can anybody help me out on this one? I don’t want to just start throwing parts in to figure it out. Thanks for the help.
check out the bearing on the belt tensionner.
It's definitely possible the alternator is "whining" on it's own. If by chance you noticed the noise first in the cabin, then went hunting for it in the engine bay with some difficulty, then perhaps the noise is being passed through your audio system. I've got a nasty case of alternator whine right now that sounds like a supercharger in my door speakers. It's usually a case of bad electrical grounding someplace. In my case, the sound gets worse on humid or rainy days, or after I've used accessories that take a lot of electrical load.
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check your power steering fluid level first,
then re-listen.
It could indeed be your alt, but I have only heard power steering problems make that type of raquet.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Friday, September 12, 2008 10:21 AM
I think I have the same problem with my cav for quite some time now. It sounds like its coming more from the right side of the engine. I only get it in high rpms going atleast over 75mph...
ok so i have the same problem< every time i accelerate i get some weird whine sound now following the rule here at jbody i searched this back in august and have been watching it....
I have tried the screw driver thingy .. didn't make much since to me lol but tried
replaced alternator,
replaced water pump
all fluids are perfect
... other ideas are that it could be from the alternator being poorly grounded and putting the whine thru the speakers, well how would i be able to test that?
So it is driving me nuts and would love to solve the issue and since no one else had stated a fix and MR. Wally Hadley hasn't stated that he has fixed or hasn't fixed it then its now my turn. Thanks jbody
you can test it by turning off the radio.
do you have aftermarket head unit or amps?
aftermarket cd player.... whine still there even completely disconnected the cdplayer
I have the same problem. My P/S pump did go bad so I replaced my whole P/S system, fluid is full, I know it's not the P/S but that's exactly what it sounds like it is. Or the Alternator. It's not passing through the speakers, it sounds exactly like a supercharger, I have people make fun of me because of it all the time. My buddy told me it was just my intake, but I know that intake isn't sucking air THAT hard.
I have no electrical problems, starting issues, dimming, anything that would make me think the alternator was going. I've had this since I can remember buying the car.
Somebody please figure this one out!!
http://www.cardomain.com/id/Gerkn
2000 cavalier
TSB Number: 071003
NHTSA Number: 10003815
TSB Date: July 10, 2003
Failing Component:
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
This vme message is a water pump replacement due to a known cam driveline. Some customers may question about whine noise coming from the front engine area.
http://www.cardomain.com/id/Gerkn
