So yeah been having this issue with my 89 GTA that there is a howling type noise coming from the front of the engine. It only really is pretty loud when the engine is idling. At speed its gone and you can't hear it. Any ideas?

 

You might want to remove your serpentine belt and spin the alternator and idler pulley.

 

could my alternator or idler pulley be bad?

 

Of course. Other people's go bad, even mine; yours are probably just as susceptible.

And they could be making noise too.

Also spin the water pump, tensioner pulley, and AIR pump while you have the belt off.

 

Not the pulley but the bearings in the alternator.

 

Okay after I removed the belt and spun the pullies I found the tensioner was making some noise. I sprayed a little oil in the pulley while spinning it then cleaned off spillage and put the belt back on. The noise is now gone completely. I guess this means my tensioner pulley bearings are going bad?

 

sounds like you found the problem.
Delco/gm pn is 10055798.
http://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrBT...S2OoiaUfMl2lE-

delco pulley 15-20679
Iirc there was a design pulley change.

 

Thanks! I'll see if I can get one

 

see if you can find a delco sometimes ebay turns up stuff
The parts store stuff is mostly junk
Bought a dayco as it was at least made in Canada
Failed in 2 weeks. Bearing was made in China.

 

And once you tighten that bolt on your new pulley, give it a spin by hand to see if it moves freely and without scraping noises.
I got a pulley once and it didn't turn a bit once bolted on. Had to return it for a replacement.