whirring sound in engine

[pixistix]

i have a '99 saturn SL2 5-speed manual and lately it's been making a whirring sound in the engine all the time and it's really loud. it's not a squealing sound so i don't think it's a belt. Someone told me it could be that i'm out of power steering fluid and i'm going to check that it the morning, but i wanted to see if it could be something else too.

[pixistix]

It was low on power steering fluid so i filled it and it doesn't whine as bad but it sounds like the belt is buzzing. any suggestions?

[ImpoRt_KiLLeR_5.7]

well it does sound like power steering, but does it do it all the time, or only turning the wheel put it in park running stand out side and turn your wheel? does it only do it while driving or also in park ? can you compress your clutch and it stops? gimmie some details i help if i can

[pixistix]

it makes the sound all the time. while idling, driving, everything. clutch in or out doesn't change the sound. it gets louder if the rpm's go up. The power steering fluid was low but i filled it and it still sounds bad.

[Lucas1]

it is probably the idler pulley bearing. the idler pulley needs to be replaced as a unit. common failure. could be power steering though

[pixistix]

i had a friend look at it and it turns out it's the tensioner and the belt. I know i can replace the belt on my own, but i'm not sure how hard it is to do the tensioner. any advice on whether to try on my own or take it to a shop?

[ImpoRt_KiLLeR_5.7]

well as i read it again i was thinking a pulley and go down and it was im not sure the setup on your car but it is usually very easy 2 bolts