Need help with under-hood noise
krajesj
10-07-2003, 08:05 AM
Hello,
I have a 1994 Dodge Intrepid, 3.3 liter flex fuel engine, ~160,000 miles. Here's my problem.
Immediately after my wife picked up the car from the dealer after a scheduled 3,000 mile oil change she heard a strange noise from under the hood. Since I can't tell you as with an audio file I'll try to describe it. It sounds like a rrrrRRRRRrrrrr noise when you rev the engine. Normally, a revved engine makes a sort of "vroom" noise.
You cannot hear it at idle, only when the rpm picks up. The car is in "Park", parking brake on, AC off. Very first thing I suspected was the alternator or water pump, as the noise sounds just as if the belt was too tight and either the alternator or the water pump bearing(s) were damaged. I checked the belt and it was VERY tight. I would NEVER have put it on that tight. I suspect the mechanic at the dealership tightened it, but of course cannot prove it. And they will, of course, deny it. Because of the tight belt, and in my past experience, I have found this noise caused by either the alternator bearing or the water pump bearing failure from excessive side stress.
The noise goes away if I remove the serpentine belt. If I then start the car and rev it, there is no noise. This is also what led me to believe that the problem was alternator, water pump, or power steering related.
On the '94 Intrepid 3.3 flex fuel engine there is a bracket to which the alternator, water pump, and power steering pump are all attached at some point (as you face the open hood, the noise is concentrated in the right front part of the engine.) If I use a stethoscope on the bracket, the noise is much more pronounced than any other place in the engine when revved. I've since replaced the alternator and the water pump without curing the problem.
I have no indication, before or since, that there is any problem with the alternator or water pump, except for the bearing(?) noise.
Before I replace the power steering pump unnecessarily, I need some guidance, please. Could this noise be coming from the power steering pump, or could it still be coming from some other place other than what I've checked? I detect no problems in the operability of the power steering.
Thank you for your time, I await your reply,
Steve
I have a 1994 Dodge Intrepid, 3.3 liter flex fuel engine, ~160,000 miles. Here's my problem.
Immediately after my wife picked up the car from the dealer after a scheduled 3,000 mile oil change she heard a strange noise from under the hood. Since I can't tell you as with an audio file I'll try to describe it. It sounds like a rrrrRRRRRrrrrr noise when you rev the engine. Normally, a revved engine makes a sort of "vroom" noise.
You cannot hear it at idle, only when the rpm picks up. The car is in "Park", parking brake on, AC off. Very first thing I suspected was the alternator or water pump, as the noise sounds just as if the belt was too tight and either the alternator or the water pump bearing(s) were damaged. I checked the belt and it was VERY tight. I would NEVER have put it on that tight. I suspect the mechanic at the dealership tightened it, but of course cannot prove it. And they will, of course, deny it. Because of the tight belt, and in my past experience, I have found this noise caused by either the alternator bearing or the water pump bearing failure from excessive side stress.
The noise goes away if I remove the serpentine belt. If I then start the car and rev it, there is no noise. This is also what led me to believe that the problem was alternator, water pump, or power steering related.
On the '94 Intrepid 3.3 flex fuel engine there is a bracket to which the alternator, water pump, and power steering pump are all attached at some point (as you face the open hood, the noise is concentrated in the right front part of the engine.) If I use a stethoscope on the bracket, the noise is much more pronounced than any other place in the engine when revved. I've since replaced the alternator and the water pump without curing the problem.
I have no indication, before or since, that there is any problem with the alternator or water pump, except for the bearing(?) noise.
Before I replace the power steering pump unnecessarily, I need some guidance, please. Could this noise be coming from the power steering pump, or could it still be coming from some other place other than what I've checked? I detect no problems in the operability of the power steering.
Thank you for your time, I await your reply,
Steve
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2025