My 85 Z28 has been making this godawful whining sound for a couple weeks, and I can't seem to figure out where its coming from. I first thought it was a tranny problem, but since it has gotten louder, I've discovered that it increases and decreases with RPMs, whether its in gear or not (its an auto). My question to you guys, oh bowtie gurus, is what does a water pump sound like when its on its way out, and what other things might I check out. Any help, always appreiated. I want to figure it out before I wind up with a 3500 lb paperweight holding down my driveway. Thanks guys...Later

 

WD,

You may have a water pump bearing, power steering pump, A.I.R. pump, AC compressor, or alternator bearing failing. You can try to listemn to each accessory by using a long screwdriver as a stethoscope. Place the blade on the suspect component and the handle against your ear. A failing bearing will be fairly obvious that way. If you can't determine which if any accessor is at fault, you may have to isolate them one at a time.

To isolate those devices, remove the accessory belts and start the engine. You can safely operate it without belts on the water pump for a few minutes. If the noise is gone, it's one of your accessories. If the noise persists, you may have a problem in the timing chain, oil pump, or transmission.

Good luck.

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Later,
Vader
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"Make Me Bad"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

 

alternators do this alot when the bearings go bad
pop the hood and listen to the alternator.. i bet thats what it is. If it is, replace it ASAP

 

I had the same thing happen to me right before the alternator went out . It did'nt last too long like that before it went out. Is you voltage starting to go down thats the sign that you should be going out to get a new one.

 

I'll have to wait 'til tomorrow to check it out, but I had kind of ruled out the oil pump or alternator because all of the guages still read normal, as they always have. If it was the water pump, would it affect the temp. guage? Anyway, like I said, I'll check it out again tomorrow. Thanks for the tips, guys.

 

When the waterpump bearing is going out in the later stages water will be dripping out of the drip hole on the waterpump. The alternator bearing will seize up eventually and your belt will burn out and break. Your gauge readings will not change until it is to late in either case.

 

What about a noisy gear drive? I thought they were supposed to sound like a blower? Is the car all stock?

james

 

I'll bet on the alternator. Mine did the same thing last year and I had to replace it.

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350 TPI, 700R4(rebuilt), K&N's, MSD 6AL, Headers, Flowmaster, 160* stat, airfoil, MAF screens cut out. 13.88 @ 101.18 mph

 

I would also guess it is the alternator bearing(s). The condition of the bearing(s) on the alternator will have nothing to do with the electrical ouput (unless of course the bearings are causing a lower rotor speed). If you rotate the alternator rotor with the belt off, by hand, you should be able feel and possibly hear, the bad bearing(s).

 

Don't go ruling out the tranny completely either. A front pump on the way out can make a nice rpm dependet whine. Of course i don't think your tranny would live very long once this started, once my moms th400 started moaing, it was soon dead.
...ed

 

James-

Yes, the car is stock, though I don't know what tranny it has. No RPO stickers left anywhere. Can anyone tell me off the top of their head which one it is? It's an 85 Z28 with the LG4 305 and a 4sp auto. How would I check the gear drive? (forgive me if this is a dumb ?, I'm just getting into this car stuff)

Going on the overwhelming response, I'll look harder at the alternator, but it has been a busy day, and I haven't had a chance to go out put an ear to it. As soon as the quittin' bell rings, I'll be under the hood, both feet in the air!

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`85 Z28
Bosch Platinum +4s & a nice stereo
Otherwise stock.

Don't ever be: Found On Road Dead!

[This message has been edited by witchdr (edited September 12, 2000).]

 

If your car is stock you don't have a gear drive ( It takes the place of a timing chain or belt, but the F-bods didn't come with one ). When you turn the alternator try to see if you can feel any drag or hear any scratching or scuffing noises, that's my bet anyways. you have to take the belts off to check most of this stuff anyways, unless you have a friend that is a mechanic or something. Working on your own car is something you will have to learn to do anyways, AHHH the memories of learning to wrench on my first vehicle...the busted knuckles...the burnt hands...the dropped spark plugs that my buddy didn't tell me about, so naturally I didn't regap them... the memories...

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Alex
( 18 y/o crazy a$$hole from Morningside Maryland)

1985 Iroc Red with a sh!tty paint job that will be fixed soon
Full 3inch flowmaster exhaust, LT1 block, Dart heads, full length headers, MSD 6AL box, 8mm wires, Accel distibuter, Accel TPI system, J+E pistons, forged Rods, 1.6 to 1 roller rockers, Comp cams streetcam, 2800 TCI canverter, SLP stage four Prom, Weld on traction bars and subframe connectors, 3.73 auburn posi unit, and the list continues... Oh yeah a sony head unit and ten disc CD changer, infinity 6x9's in boxes, pioneers in stock locations and an 140 watt amp

 

I had the same problem, but mine was, well, the alternator.

Nice to see ya again guys

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89 IROC-Z 350 TPI

-Flowmaster Catback
-Performance Resource Chip
-Rebuilt 700R4 Tranny
With the goodies to go

-K&N Airfilters
-Ported Plenum
-2.77 Gears (not much to brag about but eh, its there)

 

The alternator is my bet as well. Mine has whined like a bitch since I bought it (100% new not rebuilt alternator, oh well) but hasn't failed yet. Going on borrowed time I guess...

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Ray87Z
-Vortec headed 350.
86 IROC w/ a cammed 305 TPI.
Formerly Ray86IROC.
www.inter-scape.com/Ray

 

i would agree that its the alternator allso, mine did the same . allso it could be engine noise or static comming through your speakers, some cars are bad for this and need a noise filter ,my bet alternator

 

yep.. alternator.. mine sounded like a supercharger from friday night till sunday mornin...

LOL

Steve

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88 Firebird Formula- deseased 2/9/99- 305 TPI, SLP 3 inch exhaust, SLP Intake runners, SLP cam, 3.45 BW disc brake posi, WS6, NOS, and all that good stuff, 13.~ sec 1/4 mile- hit by what else!?!? a FORD EXPLORER!!!!!!

86 Firebird, LG4, t-tops, slp 3 inch exhaust, catco cat, and a bunch of new/replaced stuff, open element, soon to come, 2 inch cowl hood, 3.42 posi disc rear from a 4th gen, and hopefully a 6 speed!
My Webpage- Battle of the birds, My own Thirdgen Page, still under construction, http://www.geocities.com/soares711/index.htm

 

Sorry to burst your knowledge bubbles, guys, but its the power steering pump. Ok contestants, now for round 2. I can pretty much tell from looking at it that this is one I probably don't want to tackle at home. My new questions are 1.) What price range/name brand should I be looking at for realistic reliability without killing the wallet, and, 2.) How much should I expect to have beaten out of me in labor at a garage? a dealer? Thanks a ton for all the responses, I really appreciate it. Keep 'em coming if you can.

 

ps huh? wierd.... never heasrd one whine like that except when low on fluid or if its a ford one...

LOL

Steve

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88 Firebird Formula- deseased 2/9/99- 305 TPI, SLP 3 inch exhaust, SLP Intake runners, SLP cam, 3.45 BW disc brake posi, WS6, NOS, and all that good stuff, 13.~ sec 1/4 mile- hit by what else!?!? a FORD EXPLORER!!!!!!

86 Firebird, LG4, t-tops, slp 3 inch exhaust, catco cat, and a bunch of new/replaced stuff, open element, soon to come, 2 inch cowl hood, 3.42 posi disc rear from a 4th gen, and hopefully a 6 speed!
My Webpage- Battle of the birds, My own Thirdgen Page, still under construction, http://www.geocities.com/soares711/index.htm

 

about changing the powersteering pump however, you might want to take a clser look. it isnt too bad IF you have some patience and the right tools. worst part is getting it on and off the block, there is a bolt on the back side of the pump that is almost impossible to tighten or move for that matter... doable but expect atleast a couple hours of labor and i dunno how much the pumps new go for...

Steve

 

Hey, whadda ya know. I got it right on the first try. (I made the Power Steering pump guess on CZ28.com message board)


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Zepher
'86 Pontiac Trans Am WS6, 5 Speed:
Edelbrock 1406 Carb, Edelbrock Performer RPM 7101 Intake Manifold.
Edelbrock Open Element Air Cleaner: Flowmaster Exhaust, 160* Thermostat,
Grant GT Steering Wheel, MSD HEI Coil, Taylor 8mm Wires, Recaro Seats,
Alpine CD+Changer,Rockford & Soundstream Amps, Premier TS-1040C Subs, Polk Audio highs/mids.

86 Trans Am & Girls

 

Yep, you were right on, man!! Thanks a lot! I must admit, I feel pretty stupid, though for not figuring it out the minute I heard it. There was virtually no ps when I bought the car (it would kick in every once in awhile, and still does), so I topped off the fluid, and naturally, it didn't fix it. (If it had, what would I be able to fix then, right? ) Anyway, I had the car torn apart in the garage for a week with a starter problem, and after fixing that, noticed a clear oil on the garage floor and a streak out to the driveway (couldn't tell where it had come from). Duh. You'd think I would've been able to figure it out then as I was standing in the very same spot I was when I put the fluid in. DOH! Anyway, thanks again, bud, maybe next time it starts yellin' at me for something I'll just e-mail you first! I'm out.