Rice

I have a 97 LS400 with 120,000 miles.
When the car wormes up and the RPMs drop, I hear a whining noise that comes from the front of the engine. At first I thought that it was one of the accesories, like the alternator or A/C compressor or the accesory belt tentioner. To check, I removed the accesory belt and ran the engine for a short time. The noise was still there.
The only other source of noise is the timing belt / tentioner. I went to my mechanic and he said that the tentioner can not be adjusted because it is tightened by the oil pressure of the engine??? This sounds strange to me.
Does anybody have the same problem and does changing timing belt and puley fix it?

I really need to hear from you guys, because I hate to spend the bucks and find out that the problem is still there.

P.S.
My mechanic tells me that I am nuts and that a little noise should not bother me. I know that mechanically this is no biggy, but the noise bothers the heck outta me! It wouldn't bother me if I was driving a Subaru, by Lexus...

dunn378

like u said it could be one of the tentioners that are run by the timing belt or it could be worn out bearings in the water pump. no way to tell unless u take it all apart. i have a slight whinning noise coming from the same area but i'm not worring about right now. i hope it doesent come back to bite me!!!!

rybikowsky

Buy a mechanics stethescope. they dont cost much. use it to pin point the source of the noise. BE VERY VERY Careful. if you get it hit by a moving part you could do serious harm to yourself. Carpe Diem.

Pilot

Most whining noise is caused by the power steering pump. It is not unusual to replace at your millege.
It is located on the left side if you are facing your engine with the hood up. The dealers have a rebuild kit, but most folks just put a rebuilt pump on. I bought a factory new pump and paid about 160.00.

Pilot
91 LS400
91 RX300

additude

First try putting a little dish soap on the inside of the belt (with the groves) and see if that makes a difference. If the noise diminishes or goes away, replace the belt.

oldkhmerle

I have a 95 ls400 with 205,000+miles on it. I have the same problem with a whining noise from the front of the engine very bad for the first couple week it go a way when engine warm up..but now whining all the time and get louder. so now i try to find out where the noise from i took a drive belt off and try to spin all the pulley by hand all pulley are smooth except the idle tensioner pulley. so i take it off ( 14 mm bolt left hand thread ) and there some metal fake in the back of bearing. so get on ebay order OEM part cost about $34.00 with free shipping and it work like champ.

steve2006

The noise was still there after the sepentine belt was removed so this would eliminate the PS pump or the belt.
Timing belt area sounds more likely the cause.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

The serpentine belt idler bearing is a cause of noise as the bearing heads south. That is a cheap easy fix. The other clutch activated pulleys are next but since you removed the accessory drive belt and still heard the noise, that indicates one of the pulleys with the timing belt. I would suggest getting in there ASAP. Any of those seizing up is going to have dire issues to contend with.

Has the timing belt been serviced? The usual changing of water pump, idlers, etc.

akitomk3

iTrader: (2)

Does it whine as it idles, steer? I had a whining noise and it was because my P/S pressure line had a leak in it and my P/S pump was low on fluid, it would whine when i make a turn.

steve2006

The whine is there even with the serpentine belt off and therefore the PS pump is not running so it cannot be due to a fault with the PS system.

j2b4o

The guy fixed his problem with an idler pully.
The OP is from 2003 I doubt he needs our help anymore lol

RA40

iTrader: (6)

HAhaha...missed the post date.

RA010623

iTrader: (1)

LOL!! such old post.

johnnyg66

Well the OP was old but someone reused it to post a new question. Thats who the response was for.

lahi671

It's an old post. But, It still helps people like myself in search for answers.