eurovan front end noise

2001 VOLKSWAGEN EUROVAN
140,000 MILES • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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JOEJR
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  • 1 POST
2001 eurovan GL V6 has a whining noise coming from the right front passenger side alternator area. The sound gets louder and changes pitch with higher RPM's. Any Ideas what it might be? The sound has gotten louder over the last couple of months.
Jun 4, 2011 at 9:18 PM
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CARADIODOC
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 34,321 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
Most common cause is an idler pulley for the serpentine belt. One method for finding the offending pulley is to listen with a stethoscope touching the bolt that the pulley spins on. You can also remove the belt and feel for looseness or roughness in one of the pulleys although that won't always identify it. Generators and water pumps can make that noise too. Power steering pumps rarely make noise from the bearings, but they can make a lower-pitched buzzing noise if the fluid is low or there is air in the system.
Jun 4, 2011 at 11:24 PM
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