Weird whine/air sucking noise

[02celica]

Well ive noticed this noise that sounds like air being sucked in a CAI lately.. or maybe a whine. Mixture of both. Its not very noticeable unless music is down low, so im ruling out alt whine. Havent listened to it under the hood but it sounds like its coming from the belt area. RPM dependant, found that out on the curvies tonight.

Any ideas? thanks for the help.

[GSBoek]

Could still be alternator whine.

[Furies]

Does it only whine in gear and not in neutral? cause in my car the whine got progressively louder over the last couple months to where 3rd through 5th sounded like the whine from when you're in reverse. Transmission bearings i think are the problem for me.

[02celica]

It whines in neutral as well.

[theguy216]

have you noticed the noise with the radio off as opposed to just down low? alternator whine can still come through even if the stereo volume is low. I would listen to it under the hood before anything. Could be your serpentine belt or something different. really not enough info for an accurate guess.

[Dasher17]

When my alternator was going it started low then a few weeks later was insanely loud. Just pop the hood and listen to where its coming from. And theguy is right it could also be your serpentine belt. Do you know when the last time it was replaced?

[02celica]

the belt was replaced not more than 6 months ago. The whine is from alt/belt area.. but seems to be coming from more towards the block? like towards the firewall. And it is with the radio off and low.

[dead_star04]

either go buy an automotive stethoscope or use a screwdriver pressed to your ear, as it does the same job

[Blue Bomber]

PS pump? Check the fluid level.

[khooper]

The belt might be in OK condition but it is not TIGHT enough! A belt being too loose will cause a loud squeal and possible no power assist. try checking it.
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[Demon Knight]

Does it only whine in gear and not in neutral? cause in my car the whine got progressively louder over the last couple months to where 3rd through 5th sounded like the whine from when you're in reverse. Transmission bearings i think are the problem for me.

I am having a similar problem. I get the noise when I am in 4th and 5th just below 3200 RPM when I hit the gas. I picked up a buddy at a shop and took him for a test drive. He said it was probably normal and to come back if it gets worse since he couldn't tell what it was.

I was thinking it was from the CAI (since it only does it when I am accelerating in those gears), and the only way to tell is to take off the CAI and go back to the stock airbox for a bit.

[trdmsprts27]

Its a normal effect. I had a CAI on my GT and one on my GT-S. They both did the same thing its an air sucking whine lol. Next time have your car running stand next to the driver tire were the filter is and just listen thats were the sound is coming from (of corse) then have someone turn the car off while your still standing there. Itll make another sound kinda hard to explain but its due to the throttle body being opend then closed is the best way to describe it. Even SRi's will have a air sucking whine to em. Mine has a hum due to it being so short lol. I would do a sound clip but i dont have the means of making one.

[02celica]

The belt might be in OK condition but it is not TIGHT enough! A belt being too loose will cause a loud squeal and possible no power assist. try checking it.

Well i did install my alt myself... so i will check it.. but its not very loud.. just noticeable.

And i dont have a CAI or SRI so its not my intake. its deff from the alt area.

[afgsk8er]

i get that too but its wierd...it only happends when i have my fm transmitter plugged in for my ipod.

its the wierdest thing ever.

[theguy216]

yeah check the powersteering pump if the alt seems ok. I server at work had a sound similar to the one you described and it was because her powersteering pump had no fluid. I thought it was the timing belt at first because it sounded ike it was coming from that area

[02celica]

Well its not when i turn or anything.. its all the time. its really weird.

[theguy216]

yeah thats what the power steering pump did. it sounded like a bad belt or tensioner and she didn't notice it being harder to steer but it was a leak in the power steering pump. I'd check that if you can't find anything else that is wrong