Terrible loud whining has me shaking my head
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2023
Posts: 17
Likes: 7
From: Las Vegas Nevada
Slightly Modified E500, 2005 PT Cruiser
Terrible loud whining has me shaking my head
Hello all,
It's been a minute since I've posted which actually is a good thing as "Benzilla" has ben treating me fairly well the last year or so.... That said make no mistake her version of treating me "well" means broken parts and issues consistently as ever but easy diagnoses and fixes.
Until now ....She had developed a horrible loud ( and I do mean LOUD) whine from the engine front drivers side (well sure sounds like the driver-side) Ok lets see.... to this point I've replaced p/s pump twice actually becase if you had your eyes closed and stood there while it's at idle you'd about swear it's the pump....then replaced tensioner, idler, water pump AND a/c compressor each time no change in sound!!!
So only thing left is the alternator but it just can't be that? I mean that side of the motor is distinctively quieter and it passed the long extension to ear test with flying colors?
Now here's the big concern I have....when I run her w/out the serpentine belt it is quieter but not totally? I'm wondering if it's in the engine I.E: the camshaft or sprocket... maybe weak timing chain tensioner? My thought is once I reinstall the belt the added strain then amplifies the internal engine whine? Of course could be the the torque conv. all together because... as we all know mechanical "car-noise" can be a son of a B**** sometimes how many times have we said "I hear it from the drivers side only to have your wife say "no no honey it's coming from myside'!! LOL ......any thoughts? BTW... 05 E500 with various performance upgrades
It's been a minute since I've posted which actually is a good thing as "Benzilla" has ben treating me fairly well the last year or so.... That said make no mistake her version of treating me "well" means broken parts and issues consistently as ever but easy diagnoses and fixes.
Until now ....She had developed a horrible loud ( and I do mean LOUD) whine from the engine front drivers side (well sure sounds like the driver-side) Ok lets see.... to this point I've replaced p/s pump twice actually becase if you had your eyes closed and stood there while it's at idle you'd about swear it's the pump....then replaced tensioner, idler, water pump AND a/c compressor each time no change in sound!!!
So only thing left is the alternator but it just can't be that? I mean that side of the motor is distinctively quieter and it passed the long extension to ear test with flying colors?
Now here's the big concern I have....when I run her w/out the serpentine belt it is quieter but not totally? I'm wondering if it's in the engine I.E: the camshaft or sprocket... maybe weak timing chain tensioner? My thought is once I reinstall the belt the added strain then amplifies the internal engine whine? Of course could be the the torque conv. all together because... as we all know mechanical "car-noise" can be a son of a B**** sometimes how many times have we said "I hear it from the drivers side only to have your wife say "no no honey it's coming from myside'!! LOL ......any thoughts? BTW... 05 E500 with various performance upgrades
Last edited by JDVIKING; Sep 13, 2025 at 11:37 AM. Reason: Spelling error
