Want Some Cheese With That Whine?

[MikeinCincy]

So, over the past year of ownership with my 4Runner, I have come to notice a whining sound coming from the engine bay. I usually hear it when driving with my window down at low speeds (like in a parking garage) or when I put the truck in park. I searched the forum and it seemed that there was no general consensus on what the problem could be. Power steering pump low on fluid? Idler pulley going bad? etc. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it's nothing too bad. Thanks in advance.

P.S. My 4Runner is a 2006, has 37,000 miles, and is 4WD.

 

[MikeinCincy]

Oh, and no, I do not have a supercharger.:bash:

 

[MikeinCincy]

Anybody??

 

[jharris2]

Anybody??

Patience -- you only posted the original 4 hours before this post.

 

[MikeinCincy]

Patience -- you only posted the original 4 hours before this post.

Haha, sorry for being impatient. I don't know what got into me!!!

 

[TechWrench]

So, over the past year of ownership with my 4Runner, I have come to notice a whining sound coming from the engine bay. I usually hear it when driving with my window down at low speeds (like in a parking garage) or when I put the truck in park. I searched the forum and it seemed that there was no general consensus on what the problem could be. Power steering pump low on fluid? Idler pulley going bad? etc. I am keeping my fingers crossed that it's nothing too bad. Thanks in advance.

P.S. My 4Runner is a 2006, has 37,000 miles, and is 4WD.

Is it a V8 or V6? If the V6, it may be the serpentine belt whine common with the V6. Or you may have a power steering pump problem, maybe low fluid?

 

[MikeinCincy]

Re: Re: Want Some Cheese With That Whine?

Is it a V8 or V6? If the V6, it may be the serpentine belt whine common with the V6. Or you may have a power steering pump problem, maybe low fluid?

I have the V6. I'm assuming it's not my serpentine belt. My truck only has 37,000 miles. Seems to be a little early for a bad serpentine belt. Don't you guys think?


Hopefully my power steering system is just low on fluid. I'll have to just check it out.

 

[loudog2]

Re: Re: Re: Want Some Cheese With That Whine?

I have the V6. I'm assuming it's not my serpentine belt. My truck only has 37,000 miles. Seems to be a little early for a bad serpentine belt. Don't you guys think?


Hopefully my power steering system is just low on fluid. I'll have to just check it out.

Never assume! I had my serpentine belt changed. Along with the tensioner. All before 20K miles.

 

[MikeinCincy]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Want Some Cheese With That Whine?

Never assume! I had my serpentine belt changed. Along with the tensioner. All before 20K miles.

Wow! That is incredibly early! I had my serpentine belt replaced at about 80,000 miles in my old A4. I thought that seemed reasonable. I will make a trip to the ol' stealership and see what those crooks have to say.

 

[MikeinCincy]

Anybody else have any insight on this matter?

 

[TechWrench]

Re: Re: Re: Want Some Cheese With That Whine?

I have the V6. I'm assuming it's not my serpentine belt. My truck only has 37,000 miles. Seems to be a little early for a bad serpentine belt. Don't you guys think?


Hopefully my power steering system is just low on fluid. I'll have to just check it out.

I've got 62k on mine, and in the 1st two years, the dealership replaced the belt three times, and did the belt/tensioner TSB twice. All within 24k of new. It took them a total of 7 visits, and 5 attempts, before it finally settled down.

 

[MikeinCincy]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Want Some Cheese With That Whine?

I've got 62k on mine, and in the 1st two years, the dealership replaced the belt three times, and did the belt/tensioner TSB twice. All within 24k of new. It took them a total of 7 visits, and 5 attempts, before it finally settled down.

That is absurd. I will have them check it out the next time I am in. I just can't believe the serpentine belt would be going bad already. My truck is out of the bumper to bumper warranty, so, there is no way I could afford to have them fix it 5 times like you experienced. Now I am worried!

 

[TechWrench]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Want Some Cheese With That Whine?

That is absurd. I will have them check it out the next time I am in. I just can't believe the serpentine belt would be going bad already. My truck is out of the bumper to bumper warranty, so, there is no way I could afford to have them fix it 5 times like you experienced. Now I am worried!

The reason it took them 5 tries to fix it, is they spend more money on their sales staff, then their shop personnel. If you have the problem the TSB addresses, it is not actually caused by a direct failure of the belt. The original design of the belt tensioner pulley wasn't aligned properly with the other two belt pulleys next to it. The amount of offset caused the belt to make noise as it transitioned between the three pulleys. The TSB repair was to install a new tensioner and mounting bolt, and install shims to bring the pulley into alignment with the other two. If you install a new belt, it will be quiet for a while, then start making noise as it wears in. Check the 'sticky' threads, and you should find a copy of the TSB. It will indicate the year and vin# range it covers. If this is your problem, maybe they will still honor the TSB if you push it a little. Good luck.

 

[MikeinCincy]

Bump

 

[Methodical]

my '04 has a bit of rear differential whine. You sure thats not what it is?