1992 Dodge Shadow Whining Noise

bottledan · Posted at Sun Sep 06, 2009 5:06 pm

Noises problem
1992 Dodge Shadow 4 cyl Automatic 95,000 miles

My 1992 Dodge Shadow recently started to make a whining noise when I press the gas pedal , even when in park. It gets louder with higher RPM, and gets louder after the engine becomes warm. Sometimes at highway speeds at 50 mph the whine just stops for a few minutes and then starts again when I change the speed, but for the most part it seems to be more continous than not. It almost seems like it is coming from the alternator area or the area where the belts are. All the belts are in godd condition. It almost sounds like and electrical motor wine. I am wondering if it could be the start of the bearings in the alternator or could it be even a timing belt starting to go. Any ideas on this.

caradiodoc · Posted at Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:18 am

Remove the serpentine belt, then see if the noise is gone. Feel the alternator for rough-sounding bearings.

There was also a service bulletin for a squealing belt. It involved prying the alternator sideways while the engine was running. If moving the alternator in its rubber mounting bushings made the noise go away, there was a special washer to install that would cause the alternator to stay properly centered.

caradiodoc

bottledan · Posted at Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:03 pm

Thank you, I removed the belt and still get the noise when the belt is not hooked up to the alternator, so it can not be the alternator like I thought. Also, the alternator spins smoothly. The noise seems to be coming from that area of the engine compartment. It sounds like a whine from a supercharger on a hot rod almost. No squealing at all, just a whine. Gets louder with higher speed. Could this be a early sign that the timing belt is going? I am at a loss as to what it could be. Is the timing belt hard to change. I can do some basic repairs to cars, but not sure about replacing the timing belt.

caradiodoc · Posted at Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:55 pm

Not sure I've heard of a timing belt making a whining noise. I'd more likely suspect the plastic cover rubbing on a sprocket. Try pressing on it to see if the noise changes. The next thing would be to poke around with a stethoscope. Don't overlook the front crankshaft seal. Axle seals will squeal too, but obviously only when the car is moving.

caradiodoc