Diagnose this for me. My car sounds like an airplane taking off

[The Stigenator]

I heard it on sunday while coming back after seeing heather (hzl_eyed_grl) on saturday. Anyway I found a small whine when I turned on the lights during the day.

This evening while coming back home after dinner at my parents place, I accelerated past 30 in 2nd and I could hear this airplane sound, goto 3rd it did that too, then at 4th it went quiet but when i got to 70 it started again.

The car has done 100,000 miles (last sunday on the way back it crossed over)and it is not due for service for another 1000 miles.

Any ideas though.. the car is running fine otherwise.

 

[SVTPower]

Whats the Car/Year/Motor/?

Where does it sound like it's coming from. Engine compartment or under you?

 

[guyver01]

sounds like could be a muffler problem... have you had that checked?

 

[The Stigenator]

1994 Toyota Tercel, 1.5 MPFI engine.

There used to be a whine in second when you went past 25 but this is not that whine. It sounds like its coming from teh front.

 

[Vikaden]

Somebody must have stole your engine and put in a Pratt & Whitney engine.

 

[The Stigenator]

the fun thing I was thinking to myself on the way home is that in my family it always happens to be that one of the cars ends up being an 'aeroplane'.

The reason, My dad's an Professor in Aerospace Engineering. And worked for the aerospace dept. in the univ we lived in.

Anyway our neighbours could hear our car from the distance.. hence called "aeroplane"

I will have that muffler checked on next service. It goes back to toyota dealer for that major 100K service.

 

[The Stigenator]

Note: found this happen when the headlights are on..

 

[gittyup]

You don't happen to live near an airport do you??

When headlights are on? How weird is that!

 

[SVTPower]

Check that and if it is coming from the front it might be the Exhaust Manifold.

Has the driveability changed at all with this new feature?

 

[The Stigenator]

I am going to gas up and take it up the local mountain.. be back in 20 minutes..


SVT: I do feel a slight lowering of power.. but I maybe wrong.
otherwise.. it feels fine.

 

[MrChicken]

Only when the lights are on? Check the alternator and the belts.
It fits, higher rpms=whine when the belt is spinning the alternator faster. Or when the load on the alternator is higher because of the lights. If so then cranking the blower up to high will probably do it too.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Might be an alternator(sp?) bearing going dead. Does it when its under load (headlights) and a certain RPM range. My wifes aunt said her car was making a noise like that and was wondering if I could come over and look at it. I figured it would survive till the weekend...WRONG..Died the next day

damn...beat by a chicken

 

[The Stigenator]

ok I just got back from a drive.
This is what I noticed.. no whine while idling or normal driving.
However it does whine when I go up a slope. I drove up Mountain Street near school its a nice long steep climb. I found it whine, so I turned off the lights and sure enough it disappeared. I turned it back on.. it did that again. I got on to the freeway.. took the 2 --> 134W exit and drove up 80 (on sunday I was doing 80) sure enough it started to whine again.. turn off the light it disappeared.

It something to do with power drain.
As for power loss.. none so far.. I burned out twice..

 

[pamchenko]

not to steal ur thunder, but my computer also sounds like an airplane taking off...oh wait it has 5 fans in it

 

[Nick Stone]

My bet is the alternator. I would --
1. check on price and availability before it goes out.
2. check voltages periodically at the battery; about 12.5 V engine off. 13.5 or higher with engine on.
3. monitor instrument panel lights and gages.
4. plan how you would change the alternator out on the road if necessary. BTW you can drive 100 miles in the daytime (no lights) on the battery alone.
5. carry the volt meter, tools, clean rags, light, and alternator belt if needed, that are necessary to change the alternator, with you in the trunk.

 

[TomC25]

The only time I have heard a noise like that is when you add some sort of car stereo component and it is not grounded properly and the whine noise comes out of the speakers.

Is this a possibility?

 

[iamwiz82]

sounds like electrical system problem. No ground is a possiblity. If there is a reputible auto shop near you, take it in. You dont wanna be stuck with no power.

 

[perry]

Slipping accessory drive belt or alternator telling you it's on its death bed.