howards11 Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 HELP I've been having a strange problem with my 2000 Forester. When I accelerate I get a whistling sound. It seems to vanish once the car warms up a bit. Everything seems to be functioning OK but this noise really bugs me. Could it be a small leak in the muffler ? Anyone have a clue what this might be ? Thanks in advance for your help ! ~Howard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OB99W Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 Whistling noises that disappear as the car warms tend to be from either exhaust or vacuum leaks, although some are caused by air passages that are "carboned" or otherwise "gunked". If the noise will show up when revving in neutral, you might be able to localize the problem. On the other hand, if it's a "whining" noise, the source could be the alternator; sometimes that sound will be heard until the battery charge used to start the engine is replenished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howards11 Posted May 19, 2008 Author Share Posted May 19, 2008 Whistling noises that disappear as the car warms tend to be from either exhaust or vacuum leaks, although some are caused by air passages that are "carboned" or otherwise "gunked". If the noise will show up when revving in neutral, you might be able to localize the problem. On the other hand, if it's a "whining" noise, the source could be the alternator; sometimes that sound will be heard until the battery charge used to start the engine is replenished. OB99W: Does that mean my alternator is going bad or is this "normal" ? ~Howard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OB99W Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Does that mean my alternator is going bad or is this "normal" ?Sorry to say, I can't reassure you. I've heard some (my own, for example) do it for years without apparent problem, and some fail a short time after the whine develops. To some degree, it seems to depend on how loud the whining is. But... Are you sure the alternator is the noise source, or is it just that I made you overly concerned? Don't panic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
howards11 Posted May 21, 2008 Author Share Posted May 21, 2008 Sorry to say, I can't reassure you. I've heard some (my own, for example) do it for years without apparent problem, and some fail a short time after the whine develops. To some degree, it seems to depend on how loud the whining is. But... Are you sure the alternator is the noise source, or is it just that I made you overly concerned? Don't panic. OB99W: I'm not in a panic . I just don't want to get stuck somewhere at night. The noise is not very loud and you really have to listen for it. Question: Can I get my mechanic to test the alternator? Would that show anything? It's still working and charging the battery. ~Howard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon38iowa Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Can I get my mechanic to test the alternator? Would that show anything? It's still working and charging the battery. ~Howard ALternators can easily be tested. Though, it might not be definative. I had one go, no warning or noise at all. It was a long walk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiffy Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 I'm voting for alternator as well... but it would be something as simple as a slightly loose belt... or it could be the AC pump... my bet is on something with a belt attached... get one of those automotive stethoscopes and get under the hood one morning... --Spiffy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uniberp Posted May 22, 2008 Share Posted May 22, 2008 Check the power steering fluid level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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