98 Intrigue with loud whine - need help

rhille130 · #1 04-13-2010, 07:58 PM

I have a 98 Olds Intrigue with 3800 SII with approx. 124k. For a couple months now it has a soft whine during idle which get significantly louder when you tap on the gas. This noise becomes very loud while driving at about 3,000 rpm. I have checked all accessories on main belt. All fluids look normal (both look and level). Car drives great, but noise is very annoying and seems to be getting louder over time. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

BNaylor · #2 04-13-2010, 09:03 PM

Welcome to AF.

Your post has been moved to the regular Grand Prix tech forum. Posts concerning the Olds Intrigue with the SII 3800 engine are allowed so feel free to weigh-in or help the OP.

grandprixgtx00 · #3 04-13-2010, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhille130

I have checked all accessories on main belt.

out of curiosity, how did you check? Best way is to remove the serp belt and run the car for a bit. if the noise goes away...you will want to check all pulleys to make sure they spin freely.

a fairly common problem is the serp belt tensioner.

Is there a way you can provide a video clip so we can hear the noise?

rhille130 · #4 04-13-2010, 10:54 PM

sorry I didn't say that.... I did remove the serp belt to rule out all accessories. Also forgot to mention the idle noise occurs in all gears (including park) and tranny fluid is normal color and smell.

rhille130 · #5 04-13-2010, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grandprixgtx00

Is there a way you can provide a video clip so we can hear the noise?

I will try to get a good video clip tomorrow after work. Thanks for the reply.

00GTP4ME · #6 04-13-2010, 11:11 PM

I'm having a similar issue. It's very odd and I have no clue what it could be. I'm curious to hear how your issue turns out.

rhille130 · #7 04-13-2010, 11:53 PM

Hopefully I did this right...I have never posted video on a forum so I did it through you tube. This should work. Also, and this may be the case with '00GTP4ME' as well, but the sound only occurs when the engine is at operating temp. Thanks again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOLmdw8kzqM

00GTP4ME · #8 04-14-2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhille130

Hopefully I did this right...I have never posted video on a forum so I did it through you tube. This should work. Also, and this may be the case with '00GTP4ME' as well, but the sound only occurs when the engine is at operating temp. Thanks again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOLmdw8kzqM

Yep! Me too! When the engine is cold, I hear this weird ticking, almost knocking sound, but then when the engine warms up the ticking goes away and I get this strange whine/droning sound.
It also sounds like I might be having a pulley going as well because after the engine is warm and I'm sitting at a light, it sounds like there is a slight sporadic grinding sound. It's not near as bad as when my tensioner went out, but it sounds similar (only without the screeching). When I pop the hood and just let it idle, the scratchy almost grinding sound seems to be coming from the S/C'er pulley.

Don't know if all that is related or if I have two separate issues going on. Oh yeah, and the check engine light came on - P0420 again.

LOVE IT!

Youtube is blocked at work so I can't check out your vid right now.

grandprixgtx00 · #9 04-14-2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00GTP4ME

Youtube is blocked at work so I can't check out your vid right now.

yup...me too lol. I'll check it out when i get home

rhille130 · #10 04-14-2010, 06:58 PM

okay....had a mechanic listen to it at home (favor from a friend) and if he had to bet he would say it is restriction in the oil flow or coolant flow. I don't know if any of you guys have this problem but this car has always run a little hot when idling. The water pump and thermostat have both been replaced in the last year. Not sure where I will go from here because the alternator is about to quit...and the power steering pump sounds like it is getting ready to shortly after. oh joy

grandprixgtx00 · #11 04-14-2010, 07:23 PM

it is fairly normal for the car to run around the 210 mark when at an idle. How warm is "warm"?

you could try putting a bit of seafoam in the crank case and run the car for a couple mins to clean out the engine...then do a oil and filter change immediately after to see if that helps at all

rhille130 · #12 04-14-2010, 07:28 PM

the temp gauge doesn't list the degrees, but at idle it goes over half mark. Can you elaborate on the seafoam? I haven't heard that done before, thanks

grandprixgtx00 · #13 04-14-2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhille130

the temp gauge doesn't list the degrees, but at idle it goes over half mark. Can you elaborate on the seafoam? I haven't heard that done before, thanks

fairly easy actually. put 3-5oz into the crankcase, run the car for 10-15 mins and drain the oil. do a full oil and filter change.

when i do it...after running the car, while draining the old oil, i usually leave the drain plug off and put a quart of clean oil in and let it drain...allowing any additional contaminants to drain out. some people would do this...and some people may not. again...just something i do

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