My D has 107,000 km on it and there is a whining noise that increases with RPM. I did some preliminary checks and the belt looks okay but I can't pinpoint where the noise is coming from. I did find that the idler/tension pulley has some play in it when you twist it. Should there be any play there? Suggestions please.

 

Have you tested the alternator? Checked the power steering fluid?

On mine is what one of the idlers, don't remember which one. As soon as it was replaced with a new belt the other one started to go (need to do that when I do my front end work).

 

The alternator doesn't have any play and the steering fluid is good. The tension pulley has some play but I checked a new one out yesterday and it also has the same amount of play. Unfortunately you have to buy the whole tension assembly here and not just the pulley. I may have to take the belt off and check for play with it off. Another post I found was a guy put a long screwdriver on a javex bottle with the bottom off and that really amplifies the noise to determine the faulty/failing part.

 

I wasn't referring to play. My tensioner wasn't loose when it went, the bearings seized up. A whine doesn't have to be from play, it can be from old worn out bearings.

When mine seized it took the belt with it. The only symptom I had prior was a whine that I couldn't identify.

 

My boss who is an ex mechanic seemed to think it is a hydraulic noise. I put a bottle off power steering fluid with additives in but made no difference. I'm not sure what to do next. The noise only happens when the RMP goes up. I checked with a Stethoscope and it sounds like the pulley on the water pump is making the most noise, not sure if it is actually just the regular noise but it is a lot louder than the rest. I'm assuming that is the lower idler pulley, correct?

 

My 05 5.7 had a whine and click sound, I replaced both pullies, no help. Had ac refilled and noise went away.

 

I kind of wondered if it had something to do with the AC because I just had it in to get a charge shortly before the noise started.

 

I replaced the two idler pulleys, tension pulley and the belt. No more noise. The lower idler pulley was the culprit.

 

My friend used to have a 2005 Chrysler 300, and we were in the car one time and then we noticed a whining noise that wouldn't stop. It almost sounded like a supercharger his transmission ended up dying the next day.