98 Malibu Whining, HELP?

[rdhl]

I have just recently replaced the power steering pump twice, 4 alternators, 2 new idler pulleys, a new tensioner pulley, new water pump, new platinum spark plugs and gapped, all new coolants including the power steering fluid, and i have a whine thats RPM related !! I cant replace anything else, theres nothing left to repalce, all items are OEM and torqued to the manual specs. It still sounds like an alterantor whine but i cant believe 4 in a row are bad, any suggestions out there? Its really loud at 1700 to 2500 RPM and goes up and down with the RPM range, very annoying. When i put a tuning device on the alternator bracket and or alternator , thats where the sound comes from, Is there possibly something that can make an alternator whine other than the alternator itself being bad?

[bcopeland]

Maybe its not the alternator and it is the belt tensioner.

[rdhl]

Originally Posted by bcopeland

Maybe its not the alternator and it is the belt tensioner.

replaced that as well!

[maxwedge]

Is the noise gone with the belt off?

[rdhl]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

Is the noise gone with the belt off?

I did not know you could do that, will that hurt the car?

[maxwedge]

No, get the belt off and run it for a few minutes see if the noise is gone.

[rdhl]

Originally Posted by maxwedge

No, get the belt off and run it for a few minutes see if the noise is gone.

I will try that this weekend.

[goofy4467]

Check the air conditioning pump clutch, if it does not release all the way it will whine its metal on metal, with the car at idle and the ac off the end plate on the clutch will not be turning if its off.
When they drag it will turn slowly.
OR the bearing in the clutch is dry and squealing.
Take the belt off and turn it by hand

[rdhl]

Originally Posted by goofy4467

Check the air conditioning pump clutch, if it does not release all the way it will whine its metal on metal, with the car at idle and the ac off the end plate on the clutch will not be turning if its off.
When they drag it will turn slowly.
OR the bearing in the clutch is dry and squealing.
Take the belt off and turn it by hand

Ok Thanks i will check that as well,

[cavicchia]

Originally Posted by rdhl

I have just recently replaced the power steering pump twice, 4 alternators, 2 new idler pulleys, a new tensioner pulley, new water pump, new platinum spark plugs and gapped, all new coolants including the power steering fluid, and i have a whine thats RPM related !! I cant replace anything else, theres nothing left to repalce, all items are OEM and torqued to the manual specs. It still sounds like an alterantor whine but i cant believe 4 in a row are bad, any suggestions out there? Its really loud at 1700 to 2500 RPM and goes up and down with the RPM range, very annoying. When i put a tuning device on the alternator bracket and or alternator , thats where the sound comes from, Is there possibly something that can make an alternator whine other than the alternator itself being bad?

What did you ever find out about this I have the same symptoms and have already did everything you just described.
Thanks

[sswpriz]

I had a whining noise that I posted about also here a month or so ago. Well, on Friday, is sounded like every bearing under the hood was going bad !!!! I started the car up on Sunday nad all was quiet for about the first 3 minutes, then it started again. Definitley metal grinding, and after carefully listening with the long screwdriver place against a few pieces it sure does sound like the bearings in the power steering pump are shot. I will let you know what my mechanic says after he fixes it !!!

[sswpriz]

Mechanic replaced the bad water pump and serpintine belt....no more whinging noise. This must have been going bad for quite a while !!!