Bad Noises

[zach9989]

There is a straining noise under the hood. Sounds like it is coming from somewhere to the right of the spark plugs (looking under the hood). It is a 1992 Eddie Bauer 4X4 4.0L. There is one sound that is very high pitched, it sounds like a whine. Another sound is like a super-rapid clicking from the same area. They both sound pretty bad. I need help fast. Only vehicle, nearest family in NY. I am a student, so a new vehicle is out of the question.

 

[Brain]

The rapid clicking is probably the PCV valve, and it is supposed to click. It is located in the top of the driver's side valve cover close to the back. If you pull it out and it stops clicking, you know you have found the source of that noise, but it should be clicking. If it only clicks when you are moving, then I would suspect it is the spedometer cable.

The whine on the driver's side could either be an air conditioner compressor going bad, or the power steering pump (which is kind of whiney anyways). Does the whine get louder when you turn the steering wheel? Check the power steering fluid level to make sure you don't run that pump empty (or you will be in for a costly replacement - more costly than adding fluid anyways).

 

[Mbrooks420]

Is the whine always there? If not, and goes away when you hit the gas it's the IAC.(idle ai control valve)

 

[zach9989]

It does go away when I hit the gas. How would I go about checking the IAC? I am only an amateur under the hood. I did replace the pulley on the power-steering pump. Advance ordered it and the piece that came in was right... but it just slid on the pump when it is supposed to be tight. Well, at that time I was desperate for mobility, so we installed a pulley to another vehicle that they had in the back that did fit. The wheel was a bit larger, so, after bypassing the noisy a/c compressor (bad clutch), I put a larger belt on there. I am not sure if that poses too many problems, I know the p/s pump turns a bit slower considering the size of the wheel. Someone suggested that that could be ther noise, but the noise, as I said, goes away when I press the accelerator. Another noise I am noticing is a clicking when driving uphill (usually) when it downshifts or right before it downshifts. It is not a patterned click, it varies and sounds pretty nasty. I suspect the transmission, it leaks. Sometimes, when I know for a fact that it is full, I can't hear the noise. I try to keep it full, but it leaks, and I am a student, so money IS an issue. Thank you.

 

[Mbrooks420]

I don't know of hopw to test the IAC. I'm sure it can be done with a VOM meter, but I'm not sure of the values. I'd say it's 95% likely its the IAC. They are a very common failure. The clicking has me stumped.

 

[TPLYNCH]

How well does the engine idle? Clicking could be a vacuum line or EGR lineleaking. Whine could be the IAC, or one of the pullys for accessory items (A/C, Power steering pump etc).

 

[zach9989]

Well, the A/C isn't in the line on the serpentine belt, I bypassed it. The pulley on the power-steering pump is possible. Altogether, it idles pretty well. It rarely dies; when it does, it is usually when it is real cold out or something. Someone told me that the whine sounds like it may have something to do with the intake, possible?

 

[Mbrooks420]

The IAC whine comes from the airbox.

 

[zach9989]

I'll have that checked. I don't know how much that will cost, so it might be a little while. Thanks.

 

[Mbrooks420]

it's under $50 at the dealer. There is one on e bay for $10

 

[zach9989]

Sounds good, thanks.

 

[zach9989]

The problem...
Well, a vacuum hose is missing, altogether missing. There was a small piece of rubber stopping the hole; therefore, it wasn't sucking in too much air. Well, that was the source of the noise. I was reaching around to find it and the piece of rubber came out (in the Advance parking lot). Well, the truck then sucked in too much air, bewcame very sluggish and would overheat, but when I put my finger over the hole, it would straighten out and run normally. So I took the little cap off my tire and put it on the hole, that worked as a quick fix to get it home. The hose that was missing is the one farthest back, the hardest one to get to, on that piece that protrudes from the main part of the engine, on the right side (looking under the hood). I don't know where that hose is, I don't know where that hose is supposed to go. But that seems to solve the noise and the sluggish idling.

 

[zach9989]

Ok... there isn't supposed to be a hose there, the cap that was there had deteriorated. Replacing the cap fixed the noise and the sluggishness. It only cost about a quarter. Thanks all for your help.