I have a 2000 Cavalier LS with 67K miles. It has recently started making a whinning noise. Not sure if its just becasue it is cold here or what. I originally suspected the trans, but the car runs great and shifts smoothly all the time. Maybe the alternator??? Has anyone had the same thing happen? Any suggestions before I go spend some money! Thanks.............

gonna need to hear it to diagnose it... any specific direction that its coming from? i know that my friends civic has an exhaust rattle and he thought it was his alternator for the longest time...

It hard to tell where it is coming from since I cant be under the hood when I'm drivin....the noise comes and goes, more like a "whir" than a whine. Seems like its more to the passanger side of the engine compartment. I checked PS fluid, it was a little low so I topped it off. One thing I noticed was that the PS fluid resviour was under pressure...pressure was released when I opened the cap...seem strange, I've never seen that happen before..I this normal???

It hard to tell where it is coming from since I cant be under the hood when I'm drivin....the noise comes and goes, more like a "whir" than a whine. Seems like its more to the passanger side of the engine compartment. I checked PS fluid, it was a little low so I topped it off. One thing I noticed was that the PS fluid resviour was under pressure...pressure was released when I opened the cap...seem strange, I've never seen that happen before..I this normal???


If it sounds like an electric motor it's the alternaotr, just spray some WD40 in behind the pulley (not on the pulley or belt though!!) and this will shut it up temporarily. It's not really a big problem. This will work for about 2 weeks to a month and then you'll have to spray it again. I gather it's only when your engine revs build you hear it! Try opening the hood with it running and then twist the throttle (look for your throttle body and then there will be a black plastic thing that is a quarter circle and has the throttle cable attached to it. Twist this and you engine will rev (gently though) and see if you can locat the sound this way. It may be your belt if it sound a little like air being sucked into a vaccuum. If there is any grindsing with it it's probably either the water pump, power steering pump or a/c Compressor (if equipped) that is on it's way out.

I'll give the WD a try in the morning! There is absolutely no grinding sound, just the "whir".

I'll give the WD a try in the morning! There is absolutely no grinding sound, just the "whir".

Do ti with the motor running and give it about 5 mins at idle and it should help.