Weird whine, maybe alternator?

[JGood]

I have a whining sound coming from the front of the engine. It's loud enough to hear up to about 50 mph before wind noise drones it out. It's like a whining, but it's not high pitched. With the screwdriver-to-the-ear test it seems loudest on the alternator. I hit every pulley bearing with WD-40 while it was running and it didn't change the sound.

The sound increases with RPM, and is not dependent on load (it will make noise under acceleration and deceleration). I'm really thinking it's the alternator, but would like to know if anyone has experience with something like this before I go buying a new one.

Thanks

[ed94r]

My AC belt made a racket when it was worn. Also, it has a tendency to walk on the AC clutch pully when you run the car haaard, hanging half on,half off the pully.

Worn idler pulleys can be noisy as well. There's a post on BFc on rebuilding/repacking pulleys in the E36 section....

Ed

[gazellebeigem3]

Worn idler pulleys can be noisy as well.

I was just about to say the same thing. the idler can sound like its coming form the alternator. the tensioner telescopes through the oil filter housing with the screwdriver test. Pop the belt off and spin pulleys by hand. I have also seen a few whining alternators too.

[JGood]

Will do. Thanks guys!