Not sure what this embarrasing noise is???

I have a noise sometimes after the car is warmed and driven I might drive into a parking lot and while in gear, idling (4sp Auto) there is a whinning, low squeeling noise, (almost sounds like a supercharger ) if I increase the rpm's it goes away, or if I put it into nutrual or park it will stop. It doesn't do it everytime. Nothing operates differently when it happens and I'm not using the steering everytime. Most of the time it is perfectly quiet. It seems to be coming from under the car in the general area of the tranny/engine. Also while stopped in gear the car has a vibration that makes my passenger side mirror vibrate like I have the bass turned up in my stereo, but there is no stereo around??? I guess I could tighten the mirror huh?

Any ideas of what my noise could be? Should I be alarmed by the vibration at stop lights?

Thanks Guys!
Eva

[ezysk]

Issue #1: Have you checked your trans fluid level.
Would not hurt to check the oil level while you are at it.

Issue #2: Sounds like a ruff idle. When the car is cool, make sure all the plug wires are on good. When is the last time you have changed the plugs and wires?
This definitely is not the only possible cause, but is a relatively cheep place to start.

[Orange Terror]

Issue #1: Have you checked your trans fluid level.
Would not hurt to check the oil level while you are at it.

Issue #2: Sounds like a ruff idle. When the car is cool, make sure all the plug wires are on good. When is the last time you have changed the plugs and wires?
This definitely is not the only possible cause, but is a relatively cheep place to start.

X2 Those would be the first things I would check as well.

[liv2ryde]

Trans fluid good, I am going out to check the plugs right now, wires look new. Thanks

[liv2ryde]

Okay, plus in nice condition. The whinning noise seemed worse tonight! It does it in Park too! Loud and coming from under the center of the car.

[MattODoom]

Coming from the center of the car.. hmm. Well my car had a terrible squeal but that was an accessory belt slipping. My car also shakes at idle... but its supposed to do that.

[liv2ryde]

Yeah, my 1st idea was a belt causing the obnoxious whinning. But I had the hood up started the engine, and in about 90 sec. it started to whine pretty loudly. The car was already warmed as I had just shut it down a few minutes before. The whinning lasted about 3-4 min. of course not long enough for me to run in the house and get the video camera. So I walked about the car and it was coming from the area of the rear of the transmission. The tranny fluid is slightly over full according to the dipstick. I am going to work on getting a sound clip of this noise. Thanks Guys!!

[iroc85blu]

if your belt is easy to remove can check all pulleys as they can whine at certain temps when starting to get worn out ie alternator, waterpump, tensioner etc. My moms blazer just had the same deal only sometimes it would squeel and was alternator pulley. Does your car have ac, or air injection into the exhaust?

[wezeles]

if its your belt an easy way to tell is just get a bottle of belt dressing and spray it on when is starts to whine it goes away almost right away with that... if its the rear of the trans that you think its comming from could just be a joint starting to go bad...

[liv2ryde]

Okay I have a clip of the noise. It does it after the car is warmed up, like if I run to the store, come out start it then it makes this humming, screaming kinda noise then it goes away when I accelerate. The clip was supposed to be just exhaust but I caught the noise. It is making the noise in the beginning then as soon as I accelerate it goes away in any gear. Also it loooks like I am burning oil, it that what it looks like to you? Is it bad do you think? Should I be thinking overhaul? Thanks guys!

[MattODoom]

I cant tell what color that smoke is, usually if you have bad valve stem seals it will give a big poof of blue smoke when you start the car. That smoke that comes when you hit the gas could just be a rich accelerator pump shot.

[Yoeasy69]

i would go for Rich Accel shot for the smoke... doesn't seem to be too thick, and only happens when you hit the fuel.

for the whineing i would have to say with the clue you have given us, i would go get your tranny flushed and filled. and a oil change.. put in some of the lucas products to help strengthen your motor and tranny and see if it takes care of it. cause if its comming from the middle to rear of the car i highly doubt it is belts or pulleys..

this may be a good place to start.

[liv2ryde]

I will do the tranny flush, I did do the oil. I put Royal Purple back in and it seems to be running strong, I am getting 25 mpg, that seems good too. Thanks

[liv2ryde]

tranny fluid and filter changed all looks good. So I had the car running while checking the fluid level and the noise started up and I followed it to the cat, there is a hose carrying warm air from the engine compartment into a metal pipe and dumping into the cat. The noise and a stream of hot air blow from the cat at that point. Maybe there is a clog? I unhooked the hose at the top and the noise stops! Do I need this hose hooked up? Do I need to look at fixing something? Can I remove the belt from the air pump and call it good? No emissions testing here.

[Orange Terror]

Is the hot air blowing from the cat a leak at the point of entry? If not I think you are safe to pull the air pump belt and at at that point I would pull the hose off from the pump to the metal line and plug the line. If it is leaking down at the cat I personally would take the belt off the air pump, rip the cat off, and straight pipe it. Now the problem may be that this could give you a warning light but I'm not sure if that year had any O2 sensors after the cat, I don't think so though.