RPM based Whine, PS Pump?

[ArtClassShank]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to track down a whine I have in my 24V E30. It's based on engine rpm, and will whine with RPM even while stopped. It's a pretty loud whine, sounds like straight cut gears when I drive through a parking lot.

Heres a video, its pretty prevalent in the first 5-10 seconds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20eY63qcdAw

So far I've

• Flushed/Replaced PS Fluid
• Upper and Lower Tensioner Pulleys
• Replaced Serpentine and A/C belt

I got rid of a bunch of other noisy motor issues, but the whine persists.

After all that, I think I've narrowed it down to a PS pump or the alternator. When you rev it up, it definitely sounds like its from the alternator, but I know the PS pump sits under it, so it might be a wash.

I'm wondering if anyone else has has a whine like this, and what did it end up being?

I kinda don't want to drop a bunch of cash on both and cover both my bases, especially since PS pumps are pricey. Hoping I can narrow it down to one of them before this weekend, might pull an Alt/PS Pump from a junkyard car.


Thanks

[wilholl]

my e36 does this exact same thing even after I changed the alternator.
Several people have asked if I was running a blower.
I just smile and go with it

[pantelones]

Upon driving my e30 for the first time in a few months I realized that the alternator bearing was on it's way out. Not running power steering, and it comes directly from the alternator so it cant be anything else... I know exactly what you mean by sounding like "straight cut gears" hahaha Pull your belt that runs the power steering pump and see if the noise persist. Provided you can do that on m/s5x motor....

[Northern]

Still have your radiator clutch fan?

[AndrewBird]

A fan/power steering belt that is too tight will whine. I'd try loosening them up a bit.

[ArtClassShank]

Upon driving my e30 for the first time in a few months I realized that the alternator bearing was on it's way out. Not running power steering, and it comes directly from the alternator so it cant be anything else... I know exactly what you mean by sounding like "straight cut gears" hahaha Pull your belt that runs the power steering pump and see if the noise persist. Provided you can do that on m/s5x motor....

Don't think I can. Runs off the drive/serpentine belt.

Either going to get a new Alt/Rebuild it and see if that fixes it.

Lights are also flickering, maybe another indication of a failing Alt.

[pantelones]

Still have your radiator clutch fan?

In my case no... The radiator was out for a long bit, and I wanted to get the car up to temp quick/was just doing a short drive so I didn't put the fan on.

A fan/power steering belt that is too tight will whine. I'd try loosening them up a bit.

My first thought when I was doing the valve adjustment... It really didn't seem too tight, was under tension and taught, but still easily movable. It sounded more like a bad bearing than a belt squeal while tuning the motor over.

Don't think I can. Runs off the drive/serpentine belt.

Either going to get a new Alt/Rebuild it and see if that fixes it.

Lights are also flickering, maybe another indication of a failing Alt.

In my case, the alternator seems to function fine, but I didn't check it with any instruments. It just sounds like a bad bearing. Good luck though! It is kind of a tricky problem to diagnose :)

[ArtClassShank]

Heres another thought, anyone know what a bad mechanical tensioner sounds like?

I did all 2 of my pullies and got rid of some belt noise, but not the whine. Could it be possible the mechanical tensioner itself I have is bad? BMW did switch away from them some time ago.

[Wh33lhop]

One (relatively) easy surefire check: run it without the PS pump and see if it still makes the noise.

[ArtClassShank]

Well it turned out to be my PS pump. Deleted my PS today and my supercharger is gone.