Whistling noise. Alternator or chain? Or something else

[evil]

Hey all I'm driving a 2002 corolla reaching 185 k and I m noticing that I hear a whistling noise Which I believe is either coming from the alternator or mayb the chain? Any One ever experience this kind of thing with their vehicle? I dunno if I should be worried about it or just let it go. Any suggestions.

[Steve40th]

My 02 has the same noise. It seems to be in the area below the injectors. Sound travel funny within the car. I used a stethoscope and could not pinpoint the noise. It isnt the pulleys, thats for sure, and no the alternator.
Still looking, and mine is at 100K miles.

[boxer4luvr]

a whistling noise.... like it sounds like there's air involved?.... or you just mean a really high-pitched sort of sound? not trying to be smarty-pants... just trying to clarify.

how long's it been since you replaced the belt?

does this sound change under engine load?...or does it remain the same?.. does it change with rpm but not vary with engine load?

does it sound more or less pronounced if you listen fromt he passenger wheel well area?...versus the driver's side wheel well area.

[leeor_net]

My '02 Corolla LE with 130K miles on it has a whistling sound but that's just the way air is moving around the wiper blades and only happens at speeds. It could also be worn weather stripping. Do you hear the whistling at all speeds or just at speed?

If you hear the whistling all the time it could be a vaccuum system leak.

[evil]

Hey thankz for the reply. The noise is not from the wiper blades or weather striping. It's there at all times regardless of the vehicle moving or idling. Comes from somewhere around the alternator side.

[leeor_net]

I would suspect a leak in the vaccuum system but if it sounds like it's coming from the alternator you can take your car over to your local AutoZone (or other similar store) and they can test it for you. At 185K it could very well be the alternator. It's also possible that the battery is bad or you have very high resistance between the alternator and the battery so check that also.

[evil]

Ok thankz man. I'll take it and c what they say. Ill inform u about the problem. But tht whistling noise has been there for a very long time since 130k or so.

[Steve40th]

I just went through the entire engine and anything else I could get my stethoscope onto. The noise is a whistling, but I think it is a chain type noise. Ever heard a VW bugs chain noise. Its fast enough to be a annoying whine.
I touched the alternator, timing chain area, pulleys, injectors, valve cover, block, exhaust all sensors, and nothing changes. The whistling noise on mine is on/off intermittently, mostly on.
Ever seen a belt go through harmonics, as it will vibrate, then steady up then vibrate again. Thats the same thing happening within the engine.
Can it be the VVti system?

[boxer4luvr]

Yes, exactly Steve. That's why I was asking my questions earlier.
My car (98 Prizm with hybrid motor) also makes a little whine... but it's really only at idle and then only when it's low speed idle... for example, I can hear it quite well when I roll through a drive through....as I'm just idleing along.. but if I rev the rpms up past about 1200 or so it seems to dissappear. ....or perhaps the frequency simply goes above the audible for me. ........although I haven't notice the dogs in the neighborhood start running to car or anything.
I suspect mine is something akin to to an idler pully bearing or something of that nature... just doesn't seem to be worthy of troubleshooting at this point.

[MARK70]

check the IAC
1999 Rattling Noise! Please Help