# Whining noise all of the time

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/whining-noise-all-of-the-time/136801>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** outlander\
**Created:** [March 19, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whining-noise-all-of-the-time/136801 "2019-03-19T19:05:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tanner\_Nelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9dc877/32.png) [@Tanner\_Nelson](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tanner_Nelson)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whining-noise-all-of-the-time/136801/1 "2019-03-19T19:05:00Z")

</div>

There’s a whining noise coming from my car whether it’s in gear or not. It  
increases in frequency and amplitude as the RPM’s increase. I’ve replaced  
the alternator with no change. It sounds like it’s coming from a pulley on the  
belt but I don’t want to rip into anything else without some clues as to what it  
might be. Any help is appreciated.

05 mitsubishi outlander  
2.4 l, 4 cyl engine  
Manual transmission

Here’s a link to the video of the noise:

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 7:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whining-noise-all-of-the-time/136801/2 "2019-03-19T19:36:03Z")

</div>

Power steering fluid full?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tanner\_Nelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9dc877/32.png) [@Tanner\_Nelson](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tanner_Nelson)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 8:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whining-noise-all-of-the-time/136801/3 "2019-03-19T20:17:16Z")

</div>

It was low, but I filled it to just below max and it still makes the same noise.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tanner\_Nelson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9dc877/32.png) [@Tanner\_Nelson](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tanner_Nelson)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whining-noise-all-of-the-time/136801/4 "2019-03-19T20:33:15Z")

</div>

Ok, so I put the power steering fluid in with no change. I listened to all of the pulleys with belt off. There was only one pulley that sounded bad. It’s not connect to any component though, It’s just bolted to the engine block. What is this pulley called. Also, it should be noted that I started the engine with the belt off for a few seconds and the sound went away.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2019, 8:37pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/whining-noise-all-of-the-time/136801/5 "2019-03-19T20:37:13Z")

</div>

Idler pulley. Good diagnostic work - running engine briefly with belt off.

The bearing in the idler pulley may be replaceable by pressing in a new one - or just buy a new pulley.
