High pitched engine noise

[fintystick]

Thanks in advance for any help
I was recently coming home from a road trip when I began hearing a high pitched whining noise coming from the engine, that rose and fell with the engine's rpm's. It was most noticeable at low speeds, and became increasing worse as I continued driving. I found out the power steering was leaking, so I had it looked at and they replaced the high-pressure line and the return line, and I'm no longer losing fluid (the reservoir remains full). However, the high-pitched noise is still there (not as bad as before, but still there). I've also noticed that it's worse with the A/C on and that it makes the car run a bit hotter than usual (the engine temp guage tends to run on the high side of normal now).

[Lances133]

Knowing what year your car is or what engine you have would be helpful, could it be the pulley, if you have that.

[millrtime]

sounds like the pulley to me. although all the squeaky pulley's i have heard, the noise stays constant, no matter what rpm so thats kinda weird. could also be something on the accessory drive driven by the belt. i have known ac compressors to squeak A LOT. and how much hotter does it make ur car run? cuz if its 20+ degrees i would def. have it looked at.

[fintystick]

It's a '97 with a 2.2L engine. What about the power steering pump? Could that be the problem even though there isn't a leak? I'm not sure how much hotter the car is running, but the temp guage is just a bit closer to the upper limit of normal running temp (midway between dead center and the upper limit)

[millrtime]

could be. when they changed the hoses, they could have gotten a little fluid on the belt and/or pulley and that could be causing it to slip. does the noise get louder when u turn? cuz that would be putting more resistance on the belt. it has something to do with the belt or something on the accessory drive. its just a matter of finding it.

[MrR0b0t0]

Hmm that whining noise is just the turbo. Haha jk, but yeah, sounds like a mix between the belt and a pulley.

[Ryan066]

id first bleed the air out of the PS system (jack the vehicle up so both wheels are off the ground then turn it lock to lock about 15 times with the ps cap off),, maybe they didnt do so after replaceing the lines..
then if that doesnt get rid of it, take the drive belt off and run the car for a minute or so, if you hear it then u know its not a pully/ps pump/belt issues.
if u dont then replace the belt while it is off then put it all back together and get a stethoscope and place it around all the pullys and power steering pump.
my guess is its the ps pump because it prolly ran dry on fluid and wrecked it.
then if you still cant find it check for a vaccum leak.