# Lexus es 330 engine whirring noise?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/lexus-es-330-engine-whirring-noise/75125>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** lexus\
**Created:** [October 23, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lexus-es-330-engine-whirring-noise/75125 "2012-10-23T20:56:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![muggie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@muggie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/muggie)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 8:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lexus-es-330-engine-whirring-noise/75125/1 "2012-10-23T20:56:30Z")

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I have a 2006 lexus es 330 that just turned over 90,000 miles. My dad and I have done the regular maintenance on it so far but this weekend after a 3 hour drive, I turned the car back on and a loud whirring/humming/whining noise was coming from the engine. It get’s slightly louder with acceleration, but I can barely hear it once I’ve picked up speed (but it’s still there.) It still happens when I am in neutral. It sounds like it is coming from the passenger side of the engine. Close to the power steering pump area, but the power steering fluid is full (although it is a very dark/black color and has a slight smell…not sure if this is normal.) I’m not having any trouble or hesitation while steering. The rack is operating smoothly and it is not leaking. I plan on taking it into the shop but wanted to go in educated. Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [October 23, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lexus-es-330-engine-whirring-noise/75125/2 "2012-10-23T21:08:57Z")

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Anything with a pulley is suspect. And the timing chain. A stretched timing chain can whirr along with the engine’s RPMs. While your miles accumulated seems too early for a timing chain stretch, the miles vs. years suggests lots of around town driving, and this can make a dramatic difference. 90,000 around town miles is easily worth 180,000 highway miles.

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**Author:** ![muggie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@muggie](https://community.cartalk.com/u/muggie)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 4:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lexus-es-330-engine-whirring-noise/75125/3 "2012-10-24T04:39:44Z")

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Thanks for the reply. I took it into the shop and they suspect it is the alternator. Hopefully the replace will fix the problem.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 10:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/lexus-es-330-engine-whirring-noise/75125/4 "2012-10-24T22:24:01Z")

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Thanks for the follow up post.  
Sincere best.