Whining noise
Whining noise
One day i drove home from my friends and a loud annoying whining noise came about. It definately sounds like the front driver side of the engine bay but i really cant pin-point it. It gets louder with higher rpms until i get about 20mph and it stops. Theres also a slight odor when driving for a while, kinda like oil or something.
I really need some ideas here cuz its extremely annoying and its making me nervous.
I really need some ideas here cuz its extremely annoying and its making me nervous.

Alpine CDA-9886
Sundown Sax100.4
Focal Polyglass VR comps
Sundown Saz-1500D
Ssa Xcon 15"
Big 3 1/0 guage
- Canada
- Junior Admin
- Posts: 4816
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2005 4:05 pm
- Location: Island Grove, Ontario, Canada
Re: Whining noise
Did you have your GF or wife in the car?glasjaw wrote:One day i drove home from my friends and a loud annoying whining noise came about.
I really need some ideas here cuz its extremely annoying and its making me nervous.
- BlackRoseRacing
- 2009 Platinum Contributor
- Posts: 12729
- Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2004 8:58 am
- BlackRoseRacing
- 2009 Platinum Contributor
- Posts: 12729
- Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2004 8:58 am
Re: Whining noise
Burning rubber smell perhaps?glasjaw wrote:One day i drove home from my friends and a loud annoying whining noise came about. It definately sounds like the front driver side of the engine bay but i really cant pin-point it. It gets louder with higher rpms until i get about 20mph and it stops. Theres also a slight odor when driving for a while, kinda like oil or something.
I really need some ideas here cuz its extremely annoying and its making me nervous.
Is the noise there when idling? If so, pop the hood and try to determine which side. While in there check all fluid levels. Does the noise appear to go away with a shift into a different gear?
I'm just guessing below...
Perhaps the noise is on the passenger side... could be PS/AC drive belt or the alternator drive belt or worse it could be the timing belt which is major job to inspect properly.
2011 Honda Fit Sport
- TN.Frank
- 2GN Member
- Posts: 691
- Joined: Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:11 pm
- Location: Crossville, TN., U.S.A.
- Contact:
I have a whining noise in my car too but I just figured out it's just me bitchin' about the NGC computer system. 
?You know what the difference between me and you really is? You look out there and see a horde of evil, brain eating zombies. I look out there and see a target rich environment.?
-Dillis D. Freeman Jr. 11/2/2001
-Dillis D. Freeman Jr. 11/2/2001
- jonnymopar
- Junior Admin
- Posts: 3039
- Joined: Sat Nov 19, 2005 7:49 pm
- Location: Southeastern MA
Alternator is sounding more promising now. A dying alternator bearing would whine a bit. See if you can pop the belt off of it and spin it by hand. Try spinning it slowly to see if it's smooth. If not, new alternator might be in store for you.
Jon J.
2003 Neon SXT - new home, new owner. Thanks for everything, old friend.
1989 Daytona ES - 2.4L/A555 swapped
Official "I'm Going To Drive My Neon Until Jerry Buys It" Club Member #11
- hansken_yo
- 2GN Veteran
- Posts: 5148
- Joined: Wed Oct 11, 2006 10:54 am
- Location: Washington
pretty much the alternator recharges your battery. If the alternator goes out your running your electronic all on the battery and then you burn through that. Soooo. supposing you charge the battery and it dies again (rather quickly) then the alternator is most likely dead and should be replaced. You might be able to find on in a junk yard, but I don't know how long they are meant to last.

| - John || Project Log || Official I'm Going To Drive My Neon Till It Dies Club #000001 |
Everyone knows that for breasts to be "perfect" they need to be within reach.
-
occasional demons
- Junior Admin
- Posts: 20067
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 12:14 pm
- Location: Ashland Ohio
Well if it isn't your alternator, then it was your starter not disengaging from the flywheel. Do your lights stay lit when you engage the starter? See if you can get someone to jump start you. If it still clicks then prolly the starter. But I would still check the alternator like johnny mopar suggested.
Bill
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
Probably shouldn't listen to anything your penis says, that guy's a dick.
Too much time spent here is a sign of a bad case of Ownaneonvirus.Patience, of course, is a very powerful weapon, but sometimes I start to regret that it is not a firearm.
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
Well, im thinking about just a gun and some bullets to fix this problem.
Replaced the alternator (biggest pain in the ass of all time)
Got a new battery.
Within 10 minutes of the car running the battery light comes on.
Anyone PLEASE have any ideas on this before i just kill myself.
Replaced the alternator (biggest pain in the ass of all time)
Got a new battery.
Within 10 minutes of the car running the battery light comes on.
Anyone PLEASE have any ideas on this before i just kill myself.

Alpine CDA-9886
Sundown Sax100.4
Focal Polyglass VR comps
Sundown Saz-1500D
Ssa Xcon 15"
Big 3 1/0 guage
-
occasional demons
- Junior Admin
- Posts: 20067
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 12:14 pm
- Location: Ashland Ohio
Check the fuseable link by the starter. Did the whining go away?
Bill
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
Probably shouldn't listen to anything your penis says, that guy's a dick.
Too much time spent here is a sign of a bad case of Ownaneonvirus.Patience, of course, is a very powerful weapon, but sometimes I start to regret that it is not a firearm.
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
-
occasional demons
- Junior Admin
- Posts: 20067
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 12:14 pm
- Location: Ashland Ohio
It is the smaller wire that connects to the starter. IIRC the wire that goes between the alternator and the starter contains the link. the cable that goes from the starter to the battery does not as it needs alot of amps to turn the starter. The link is at the starter. It will look like apiece of wire and should have "fuse link" or similiar on it. check for volts at the alternator output terminal with the engine off, key off there should be battery voltage there if it is signifigantly lower or not at all, then the link is burnt out. they can be purchased at any parts store. you will prolly have to splice it in. don't know how the dealer sells it: ie if you have to buy the whole wire to the alt/starter. It could be a bad connection at the starter also, check everyting in the alternator/starter/battery path.
Bill
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
Probably shouldn't listen to anything your penis says, that guy's a dick.
Too much time spent here is a sign of a bad case of Ownaneonvirus.Patience, of course, is a very powerful weapon, but sometimes I start to regret that it is not a firearm.
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
I just replaced the battery with a red top altimaIf your battery is older, It might not respond well to being completely drained.
I'll see if i can check it some time tomorrow...kinda hard to find time during the xmas season.It could be a bad connection at the starter also, check everyting in the alternator/starter/battery path.
Worst case scenario...with ephasis on WORST is me and pops fucked up the alternator while trying to jam that thing back in there...hopefully thats not the case.

Alpine CDA-9886
Sundown Sax100.4
Focal Polyglass VR comps
Sundown Saz-1500D
Ssa Xcon 15"
Big 3 1/0 guage
-
occasional demons
- Junior Admin
- Posts: 20067
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 12:14 pm
- Location: Ashland Ohio
Meh, about the only way the alternator could get damaged is hooking the battery terminals backwards or dropping it from a few feet. (Or throwing it at the wall)
Also check your grounds, they may or may not have an effect. Seen some weird stuff with faulty grounding.
Also check your grounds, they may or may not have an effect. Seen some weird stuff with faulty grounding.
Bill
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
Probably shouldn't listen to anything your penis says, that guy's a dick.
Too much time spent here is a sign of a bad case of Ownaneonvirus.Patience, of course, is a very powerful weapon, but sometimes I start to regret that it is not a firearm.
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
How bout a 1/4" drive extension and a mallet? haha.Meh, about the only way the alternator could get damaged is hooking the battery terminals backwards or dropping it from a few feet. (Or throwing it at the wall)
Is there a possibilty that the weird shape of the optima would fuck with the battery sensor?

Alpine CDA-9886
Sundown Sax100.4
Focal Polyglass VR comps
Sundown Saz-1500D
Ssa Xcon 15"
Big 3 1/0 guage
-
occasional demons
- Junior Admin
- Posts: 20067
- Joined: Thu May 03, 2007 12:14 pm
- Location: Ashland Ohio
As far as the sensor, it just measures temperature so as long as it is near the battery it shouldn't matter You could duct tape it to the battery and it will work. Um, the mallet part would depend on how hard of a hit. not sure how the diodes are configured in the newer stuff but the older ones were soldered in. a good enough hit could break it loose, but it would bend the case if it was hit hard enough. I don't think it is because of that, but it can't be ruled out. I would check the above stuff first.glasjaw wrote:How bout a 1/4" drive extension and a mallet? haha.Meh, about the only way the alternator could get damaged is hooking the battery terminals backwards or dropping it from a few feet. (Or throwing it at the wall)![]()
Is there a possibilty that the weird shape of the optima would fuck with the battery sensor?
If you want to do a quick test you could fab a wire to go to the alt. post to the battery + post w/40 A Maxi fuse ( the big spade one) otherwise you may get a melt down. use at the min. 10 gauge wire. If it charges then you know it is something in the circuit to the starter. Just charge the battery good before hand so there isn't a big amp draw, that alone could blow the fuse. You'll need a volt meter to check the running against shut off voltage. just be careful when connecting the jumper. Install the fuse last and wear some heavy gloves incase the wire starts melting. If you have an ohmmeter check the bat. post on the alternator to ground to make sure that it isn't shorted. that will prevent any nasty suprises
Bill
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
Probably shouldn't listen to anything your penis says, that guy's a dick.
Too much time spent here is a sign of a bad case of Ownaneonvirus.Patience, of course, is a very powerful weapon, but sometimes I start to regret that it is not a firearm.
2000 Neon MTX swap with '02 R/T PCM
1999 neon coupe 2.4 swap
