88 caravan making whining noise

[Anna B]

Have an 88 with around 45,000 miles that has started making a whining noise when you accelerate. Has anyone else had this problem or know what it might be?

[pcv]

Sounds like you may have an alternator or power steering whine. I'd open the hood and listen to the noise while giving it gas at about 2000 rpm. If it is coming fron from the pulley area, then the belt will have to come off and each pulleys will have to be hand spun (fast) to hear the noise. A well tuned tech will be able to identify it for you pretty quick. Good Luck.

[yale329]

I agree, but there is a old fashion and safe method to check this. Very carefully use a peice of heater hose, about three feet will do. Carefully listen place one end of the hose to your Alternator, power steering etc. Safer than a metal stethoscope, ***but stay away from your belts. or any moving pulleys****

[bridget36907]

so did you get it figured out?

[chucknpat]

Our 2002 T&C had this power steering whine start this past summer. First thing checked was fluid level which was just barely above the Add Mark. Anyhow, the whine would usually clear in about 15 miles of driving. So, the thought was it was temperature related. Taking a wait see attitude we drug on into fall and cold temperatures. Sure enough, it was taking another ten miles or so for it to clear if at all-------temps in the low 30s wouldn't let it get well enough. In the meantime I am searching this forum and a couple of others (Dodge being one that had lots of input) and concluded I needed to change the fluid because a fluid spec change to ATF-4 was made in 2004.

I bought a couple quarts from the local Chrysler dealer to the tune of $24 and planned to do this change out but remembering a comment in one of the forums I topped off the reservoir to slightly over fill (added about 4 ounces) and I have not had the whine since. (Yes I know mixing fluids is usually unsound but the old and the new are just hydraulic fluids with the same base)
Why did this occur? This is my opinion; even though the level was not down between the add brackets it was low enough to allow the fluid return entry point to churn the surface and pulling some air down to mix. Other comments in other forums cautioned about getting all the air out. It is like when you place the hose in a bucket and until the hose end is covered it will allow a tremendous amount of air to be entrained. But once the end is covered it calms right down.
In my case it was so borderline that just getting the fluid up to temperature caused it to expand enough to raise the level just enough to stop the entrainment.
It has only been a week now so if the steering is still quiet I will report back in about a month. I think it will be ok.
Suggestion:If you want to try this before I report back you should get the fluid well up to temperature so that it is at it's maximum volume and then add a few ounces. The owner before me had the reservoir changed out under warrenty to an improved type and now with it being slightly over full the level sits about half an inch below the slots tops that can be seen down inside the reservoir and a good inch down from the top.