'97 GT new sound, I'm worried

[seahorse]

Hi, I have a '97 GT with 168k miles. I was half way home, and I began to hear what sounded just like a ringing in your ears, only it wasn't my ears, it was my car. It slowly began to get louder, just a little, but noticable.
I was almost home so I kicked the cruise off, as I pressed on the brake I heard that sound, now more like a whine, get loud then slow down as the car slowed, and then increased as I accelerated down the driveway. When I got in the garage I popped the hood, it was in park so I pressed on the gas, and it got louder, so ok, fuel system? Fuel pump perhaps? It's not the cruise cuz it didn't change when the cruise was off.

Just wondering if I can self diagnose to try to figure if this is good, bad, or ugly. I may be car shopping sooner than I want to, dang. I love this car but it's costing me more and more every year to keep 'er running. Thanks!

[jem270]

Try to narrow down exactly where the sound is coming from. My 97 SE made a funny sound and I found out it was coming from the map sensor. You can use the broomstick in the ear trick or use a short piece of garden hose to help find the sound source.

[seahorse]

thanks, I ran it up to my mechanic and it's the alternator, it stinks, burning up inside. No biggy, but the cheapest I've found is $109, ah well. That's a cheap fix considering some of the stuff I've had to do to keep her running.