HELP! High pitch noise coming from engine compartm

[Jonathan]

The car belongs to my mom. It’s a 2007 Highlander. The car has 48K miles and have always changed oil regularly, coolant level, transmission fluid, and any signs of leaks checked regularly.

Just a couple months ago the car started to make this high pitch noise. Thinking the exhaust headers may have been cracked I took off the heat shield and discovered it wasn’t. It’s a very high pitched noise, and the noise surfaces when the engine is fully warm and only when it’s idle or parked. The moment I accelerate the noise disappears but when I come to a stop the noise reappears.

Recent changes: I noticed the cabin and air filter were extremely dirty so I replaced both last week. Then I checked the fluids: Engine oil okay, transmission fluid okay, brake fluid okay, coolant level okay…power steering: NONE! O.o So I immediately drained and filled, and by that I mean the whole drain-suction/fill/turn engine and rotate steering wheel/drain-suction/fill/over and over…about five times till it was clear.

Never have I ever seen power steering reservoir empty on all the cars I’ve owned or know of. They’re usually just filthy dirty. So I thought there may be a leak but when I followed the P/S lines and looked under the car I didn’t see any leaks. Werid.

Anyhow, my initial assessment was that it may possibly be the water pump gone bad but the temp gauge needle is right where it has always been.

I took a vid and I’m really hoping you, Eric, can help me pinpoint the problem so I can fix this for my mom. I don’t have a compression test tool or anything. And if I did I wouldn’t know what to do with it. 🙂

Thank you in advance…I just recently came across your vids and have watched a good number of them. They are so very helpful. It’s so hard to find an honest mechanic in California hence why I rather fix the problem myself if I can.

Here’s the vid of the noise::

Topic

[Wayne]

Just a shot in the dark, but should only take a minute:
When warmed up, pull the fan fuse or relay, see if it goes away. I’m no uber-mechanic, but that sounds like bearings in a fan not just from the sound, but the timing of it.

The other thing to check would be the PS pump, since it, or something connected is obviously leaking, which makes it suspect to have an issue. Definitely sounds like bearings on something to me, be it a fan, pulley, or pump..

A rolled up newspaper if my fan guess is wrong would likely help you out. Roll up into an old school grandpa directional hearing-aid, then maneuver around the car with the hood up from one side to the other of the car and pin-point the part that’s making that noise.

[ridinred24]

You need to pinpoint where this noise is coming from. I would suggest to use a stethescope first. Move it around until you find the area where the noise is loudest.

If you think its coming from something being driven by one or “the” accesory drive belt then try removing them one at a time (if there is more than one)too see if it changes the noise or makes it go away. Since you say the P/S pump reservoir was empty then that may be a good place to start looking. Good luck!

[college man]

Put a rag over the outlet of the exhaust pipe and see if the noise
gets louder.also check your pcv

[EricTheCarGuy]

Thanks for the video, that makes things much easier. To me it sounds like something in the drive belt area. You might start by checking the power steering fluid level. If it’s low top it off and recheck. If that’s not it remove the drive belt and start the engine. If the noise goes away it’s one of the accessories. I would suspect the PS pump or alternator personally but removing the belt will help differentiate if it’s coming from the engine or one of the accessories. If you find it coming from the engine I’d check the timing belt and it’s tensioners as this could also be responsible for the noise.

Keep us posted on what you find.

[Author]

Replies