dry sounding whine/grind from pulley area?

So today, I start up my car (02' WRX, no mods, 85K) and head out for my morning esspresso, and I notice my car making more noise than usual.

I hate to say this, but it sounds like something is running dry...oil level is fine, car is warmed up.
(after my recent posts on warming/not warming up cars, I am fully prepared to get flamed)

Sound seems to come from the pulley area of the engine bay, more towards the drivers' side.

While driving, the noise seemed to go away when the clutch was depressed, but in neutral in the driveway, the noise is still there.

Any ideas?

 

Have you had your clutch replaced yet? I know this isn't in the front of the engine bay, but sounds can be deceiving..

 

Clutch was replaced at around 60K...

I would rather have it be the clutch again, vs an engine bearing...

 

check your power steering level. its on the passenger side but it is connected via a pulley.

 

Timing belt or water pump? or even a belt rubbing on something?

just throwing ideas out

 

you can look and see if you have any belts rubbing. I would pray its not the timing belt. if that breaks you motor is toast. you can have the timing belt inspected but its rather $$$. you could take off the timing belt cover and look, its only a few 10mm bolts i think.

 

PS fluid level is a shade below cold minimum...will try topping it off.

I didn't take the belt cover off, but there is a black sticky powder residue (akin to burnt belt) on the front (right side) of it.

 

I would make sure that its not the timing belt, even if its not, you should replace it within the next 15k

 

Went away on it's own:crazy:

Mouse nest?

 

could be the bearing on the alternator or idler/tensioner.... common porblem on all vehicles when the bearing begins to go.... remember it spins fast and a lot...

 

Excellent E-diagnosis!

Picked up a $2.99 stethescope at harbor freight yesterday, and tracked it down to the tensioner...I hope, I haven't fixed it yet, but thats where the sound is the strongest.

How much will a new tensioner set me back? Or can I just have new bearings put in?

 

i think he means AC tensioner, not t-belt tensioner.

 

yeah I was talking about hte serpentine belt tensioner which ever one you call that.. A/C??

 

Yeah, it is the one right next to the AC, actually, when I was probing around with the stethescope, I thought it was the AC unit, then I probed the tensioner, and there it was...

02 WRX

Thanks,
Brian