2002 Dodge Stratus Stratus 2.4 motor whirring noise

The clunk noise sounds like it might be coming from the strut tower. Open the hood and remove the little plastic cover from the suspected strut. Bounce the car up and down on that side and observe the center strut nut. When the car bottoms, is there space between the nut and the top of the stut? If so, tighten the nut, if possible.
If there is space and the nut can't be tightened anymore, the strut will have to be replaced.

Listen at the alternator itself for the whinning noise.

Please post the results of your checks for further assistance if needed.

OK good to see a NEW expert overhere. Did you APPLY or get ASKED? I used to be from the good ol days1 but got canned for humorus remarks like click and clack, call it BAD TIMING as place was slow I guess! Didn't even fight it. You can make some decent money if you get with the program. First answer gets paid ya know! I mean I coulda been more specific like I used a plastic tube and mechanics steth earphones to try and locate noise. Was not just focused on that though as I was doin other repairs. It actually sounds like gears whining? I'm gonna pull the serpentine and see what that does. It's not a power steeering sound either. Hey here's a strange 1 for ya. My 90 lumina 3.1 used to make the same sound! It went away by itself! Also it has a noisy lifter but it ONLY sounds off if the BATTERY is DEAD and I charge it! Dont matter if 3days or overnight! Trust me if you been around cars enough you KNOW how SPOOKY they can be! I'm wonderin if the noise is NOT front left? You know how wheel bearings can fool ya? It's not a dull clunk but more of a tap/rap! But YAH I think the 2 strut nuts/assm look diff from side to side on top. Set yourself a quota for answers per day!

Wow a legend! Glad to meet ya'
Let me know how the check of the strut turns out.

Concerning the whining noise, once you have the belt off, if you don't hear the sound anymore try spinning the alternator, water pump, power steering, etc by hand to see if the sound occurs. Remender those bearings in the alternator will make noise but mostly under load (with the belt on).

Before takinig the belt off run the engine (idle) with a lot of electrically powered accessories on, if the noise changes, suspect the alternator bearings.

You should raise the front tires and check for loose parts, including the wheel bearings.

That bad lifter, dead battery thing is surely a mystery. I'll try developing a hypothesis on this one (just for the fun of it), but it will be a long shot, no matter what I come up with. [Strange indeed]

Thanks for the quota advice. Let me know how it goes and if you need further help or can offer further assitance to me. Thanks.