A high pitched whinning at McDonalds' drive-thru

[4ESTJP]

I did a search, but I did not get accurate results.

Something under the hood started making a high pitched whinnning noise at idle. When I step on the gas it goes away. When I opened the hood, it sounded like it was coming from the power steering pump. Is it ruined? The bearings burned out? Any help would be appreciated. SM

[gba88]

Are you sure it's not the alternator? (any dimming light action lately?) I've known quite a few alterntors to start whining while they're on their last leg(disappears under accelration too). Just a thought.

[RichP]

I used to have a similar problem at the mcdonalds drive thru, loud whinig, solved the problem by buying them happy meals till they out grew them...
More than likely a bearing in either the alternator or the idler wheel. Use a stethiscope to find it...

[basalt51]

Originally Posted by RichP

I used to have a similar problem at the mcdonalds drive thru, loud whinig, solved the problem by buying them happy meals till they out grew them...

Sure it isn't the belt? Could it almost be described as a screaching?

[4ESTJP]

It could be described as a high pitched screach. Would the belt be loose? worn?

[basalt51]

Maybe both. Check the belt the correct amount of play or deflection. A Haynes manual can help with that. The look at the belt for obvious signs of wear. If the belt looks good and it seems to have the right amount of tension, then I would look into the other things mentioned.

EDIT: While idling, try turning the wheel from lock to lock while you're sitting still. If it is the belt it should have some effect on the sound.

[piperRonnie]

Did you check the PS fluid level?
If it is low, that's the source of the screech.
Same thing happened to my '86XJ.

[4ESTJP]

I checked the level of the fluid and added some just to make sure. I thought I was doing okay, until the jeep warmed up. The screach came back. It still sounds like it is coming from the powersteering area. I'll try moving the the steering wheel back and forth to see if that changes the sound.

How much is a power steering pump?

[RichP]

Spend $15 at a NAPA store and get a Krikit II belt tension gauge, start there...the 'twist n guess' method is not even a close thing. 190lbs for a new belt, 160lbs for one thats been run 15 min or longer...twist n guess method puts you at about 80-120lbs ballpark..

[XJFreak]

A high pitched whinning at McDonalds' drive-thru

Could be your stomache complaining about what you are about to put in it.

[kc7bur]

I bought a cheap water pump a couple years ago in Hermiston, OR. It lasted, well, a couple years. Started screaching. It was the bearing. Got a lifetime warrented NAPA in it now.

[Frank Z]

I had a high pitched squeal comming from the bearing in the A/C compressor. I fixed it by using a large syringe to inject grease through the race cover. A simple fix that can be performed on most if not all of the bearings on the front end of your XJ.

[Ivan]

Does it sound somewhat like a turbine whine, which varies with the throttle. If so, I had the same situation. It turned out to be the power steering pump on my '98. Replaced the unit, and the noise went away.

Ivan

[AJ-MJ]

I had a similar problem and replace idler puller which did not fix it. Then I sprayed belt dressing on the belt which did stop the squeeling. If that doesn't work try a different fast food joint!!

[4ESTJP]

I finally found the squeal. The gaskets around the throttle body spacer split and was sucking air in. Terrible whistling noise.

I went down to buy a new belt and the auto store guy came out to investigate the horrible whinning with his stethoscope. It took him about 20 minutes to find it. He was probing around the power steering pump and was convinced that was the problem.

Thanks for all your guys' help.