i know theres topics about this but cant find none with this problem wondering if yall can help me,firt off its a 92 ls400, i know my power steering pump needs to be fixed but i know this noise is not comming from that at all cuz i just topped it off with oil, it started today when i was taking wife to work it was a loud whinning noise it goes in and out sometines and gets real loud and anoying at times? i parked the car stated it up and it wasent making no noise then i reved it up then it started to make the loud whinning, what is is?? i thought it was my water pump going out but never heard no whinning noise that loud from a bad water pump, could it be my belt? i kinda smelled a funny smell like it could be the belt but i may just be just asuming stuff? any help plese from you lexus guys thanks much

 

So the noise is NOT speed dependent? As in, does it increase as you go faster? Also can you hear where in the car it's coming from?

It could be a belt slipping, since you mentioned that it starts up when you rev the engine. If you record it on video, it would really help.

 

its real hard to tell where its comming from because its so loud,seems comming from the front some where though, it do get louder when i increase the speed and some times its still loud when stopped to, it starts off as a low pich whinning noise then it gets loud at times,it dont start making noise right away when i start it it comes in like 5 to 10 min im thinking it could be my belt but dont know i hate to take it to the dealer and they kill me on the price, i love to take it but since christmas here im real tight with money and this are daily driver, could it be my tenchiner? belt seems tight and not worn out frm where i can see it, im lost

 

if its a whine coming from the front of the vehicle that is engine speed dependent, then it is either power steering pump, alternator, a/c compressor or water pump.

First off, rev the car in neutral with the a/c off - note the sound. Now, turn the a/c on and rev the car in neutral - same sound? The other three are notably harder to diagnose. Normally it is not the water pump unless it is leaking something fierce at the same time. Does it change pitch at all with the turning of the steering wheel?

To ensure it is engine speed related, if it does it sitting still, then it is definitely an engine accessory. If it does it only when moving, does it change if you put the car in neutral and let the engine speed slow back down?

Oh, one more - on many SC400's, there is a hydraulically driven radiator fan. I don't know if the LS's had these as well in those years, but definitely check that too - it takes power steering fluid (aka ATF)

 

thanks mitsuguy im going to try that and see what i come up with,well like i stated my power steering is leeking and when i start the car up from sitting awhile smoke comes from taillpipes so do you guys think it got worser and now its whinning super loud?? because i noticed it dont even kick smoke nomore from tailpipes and was thinking it got worser and now its just whinning??? could this be the case you think??

 

it dont change noises from turning just when driving striaght it changes, goes to low then loud at hi speeds them sometimes when i stop at lights it goes down or stop

 

where is the VSV(Vaccum switching Vavle)? or idler valve i heard they call this valve many names but whats it really called? could i just plug or repleace it and it will fix the ps leak? or is it to lte to fix it??

 

Could it be a fan? I mean it wouldn't come on until the engine gets warm...which usually takes a few minutes, so it makes sense.

You should take it to a local mechanic, then go to another one and see if they tell you the same thing. It will definitely be cheaper than going to the dealer. And since your car is fairly old, it will be easier to know what's wrong with it.

 

My car used to make whinning noise at idle. I replaced the Belt Tensioner and it 's smooth and quiet again. Good luck!

 

i think the problem was my alt making the noise fromthe leaking ps pump made it spun a bearing now the alt is gone, now got to fix the ps pump and get a new alt