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04 Cobra has developed a strange whine.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Darkdeltoid
  • Start date Start date Sep 23, 2007

Darkdeltoid

New Member
Sep 23, 2007
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Sep 23, 2007
#1
  • Sep 23, 2007
  • #1
My 04 Cobra has a strange whine that comes from the passenger side of the motor. The whine changes with RPM's. No, it is not the SC. I have had a 2.8 pulley, Diablosport tuner, with K&N cold air for about a year and a half. When I first did these mod there was a definate increase in the SC whine...which is fine. This whine is different. It sounds like the power steering on the old Ford trucks. When a idler pulley goes out does it whine? I have moded this car, but have not abused it at all. The whine just started all of a sudden. I would appreciate any suggestions.
 
U

Uncle Meat

Banned
Jun 13, 2002
0
1
0
Prattville, Alabama
Sep 24, 2007
#2
  • Sep 24, 2007
  • #2
Could be the bearings in one of the idlers I suppose...

U.M.
 
G

grey03cobravert

New Member
Sep 20, 2006
114
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0
Sep 24, 2007
#3
  • Sep 24, 2007
  • #3
could be pulley , my kn fiter makes squssing noise from sucking in air kn fipk one could be you bearings take belt off and spin them?
 

Darkdeltoid

New Member
Sep 23, 2007
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Sep 24, 2007
#4
  • Sep 24, 2007
  • #4
I'll try taking off the belt and spining the pulleys.
Thanks...Any more suggestions?
 

BlackenedSVT

Active Member
Jan 18, 2004
1,841
7
38
New Jersey
Sep 24, 2007
#5
  • Sep 24, 2007
  • #5
When does this noise happen? at idle? at highway speeds? at maybe just a few thousand RPMs over idle?

I would think if it were a idler pulley or any pulley problem, you would hear that with the engine running with the hood up right away. if not, putting a load on the motor (driving basically) might cause the pullies to whine IF they were infact the problem.

I personally might try leaving the e-brake on, and slowly start attempting to drive the car in gear, to put a slight load on the motor (as if it were driving) and see if a friend outside of the car (or yourself) can suddenly hear the pullies whine. Sometimes pullies only whine when there is a load on the motor, so a side from taking the pullies off and inspecting them, they can be annoying to diagnose.

But there are easier ways to diagnose a pulley problem. Here is what I would do 1st: Perhaps try sitting in front of the motor with the car running, and blip the throttle body cable, see if the increase in RPM from doing that causing the pulleys to whine in front of you.

Also try putting a screwdriver around the idler pulley base (basically not on the spinning pulley, but near it), listen through the screwdriver (your ear on the handle) for any rumbling noises. Obviously you leave the car running while you listen through the screwdriver. Be sure not to slip if you do this though!

How many miles do you have on the car? How about mileage on the mods? Did it rain recently or did you wash your car? Perhaps it was just water buildup on the pulleys causing them to whine (not an uncommon problem, due to the vents in our cobra hoods). When its been dry for days, does the car still whine when you drive it?

Honestly, my guestimation is that its just water/condensation build up on the pullies from either washing or weather related. And it will probably go away if it were dried.
 

Darkdeltoid

New Member
Sep 23, 2007
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Sep 25, 2007
#6
  • Sep 25, 2007
  • #6
Thanks for the info BlackenedSVT.
Here are the answers to your questions.
The noise is not apparent at idle RPMS or highway speeds (this maybe because of the SLP Loudmouth exhaust). It is there when I bump the throttle to raise the rpm's above idle. It is also apparent during acceleration, but not usually in 6 gear going down the highway. The whine is there when I put a load on the motor.
I have done the test you suggested with a screwdriver. The whine is definately from the idler pulley area, but is kind of hard to pinpoint, and could be below it.
I have 48K on the car, with about 18K to 20K with the mods.
To answer your water question. Yes, it rains here in Oklahoma all the time, but now that I think of it, the whine started when I started running the car through the superpowered automatic car wash here in town. However, I sometimes go 2 weeks without getting any water on the car and the whine is still there. Would the water still be affecting me all this time later. Or has the water some how made the pulleys insides "crappy."
I really appreciate the help!
 
U

Uncle Meat

Banned
Jun 13, 2002
0
1
0
Prattville, Alabama
Sep 25, 2007
#7
  • Sep 25, 2007
  • #7
I'm still betting it's one of the idler pulley bearings going bad.

U.M.
 

SVT98Snake

New Member
Apr 15, 2005
258
0
0
OK, USA
Oct 4, 2007
#8
  • Oct 4, 2007
  • #8
Uncle Meat said:
Could be the bearings in one of the idlers I suppose...

U.M.
Click to expand...

Also check the Cage (crank pulley) mine shelled the bearings.

look at the crank pulley for a lot of black gunk and pieces of plastic....also take the belt off and wiggle all the pullies on that belt to see if any of them wobble, if so- there's your culprit.

And I hope you aren't driving it....if it is a bearing, who knows what damage can happen.
 

Darkdeltoid

New Member
Sep 23, 2007
7
0
0
Oct 17, 2007
#9
  • Oct 17, 2007
  • #9
It was an accessory pulley...got it fixed today!
 
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