703

Just picked up my car from having the following done
Car is a 06 automatic.

Harmonic balancer (ATI & ARP bolt)
Tie rods
High pressure power steering fluid line

Nice day out so I go for a drive, At first car was driving fine and then About 15min in I notice something wierd.
As I accelerate the oil pressure increases and there is also a whinning sound. Go up to the next gear and the oil pressure drops and the whine also stops. The whine starts ~2k rpm and the higher the rpm the louder it gets...

At idle the cars oil is reading ~28 and as I accelarate it keeps rising. I didn't want to push the car so I didn't go above 3-4krpm but the oil got as high as 55psi and I just figured it would keep going and wasn't sure what was going on.

It wasn't doing it before the install so I'm not sure if it has to do with that or something else just decided to go wrong because that just seems to be my luck right now.

BlindSpot

Given what you had done at the same time, I think it is just coincidental that you're hearing a whine and monitoring oil pressure which, by your account is normal. I would look at two more likely causes of the whine. There is air in the PS lines they didn't bleed out, or there is a misalignment in the serpentine belt travel or a possible bad bearing somewhere in the belt travel. If they didn't get the HB seated, that could cause a whine that changes with RPM. Or, any of the bearings along the belt path.

First, and easiest thing to do is look at the PS fluid level. Make sure it is up to where it should be (hot/cold). Then, with the CAP OFF engine running, idling, turn the steering wheel slowly LOCK to LOCK, back and forth three or four times. Recheck the fluid level. That should at least eliminate the PS.

703

Here's a video, not sure how great the audio quality is or if it'll help but figure it can't hurt.


bassman50

Your oil pressure looks great - - your readings are just about what I get with my 2007 C6. Start with the power steering as BlindSpot says - - I bet that might do the trick.

Steve

SouthBaySurfer

Oil pressure looks fine; not sure about the noise. Noticed your CEL is lit.

703

check engine light is p0121 Throttle/accelerator position sensor. Cleaned the throttle body and it's still on/off so I'll probably need a new throttle body in the future. Not sure if that would have anything to do with the whine.

Thanks for the input about the oil pressure,From the responses it seems like it's normal for it to rise/lower with rpms. I honestly never watched it that closely until I heard the whine and was unsure if they were connected. 


Update: Checked the PS fluid / followed directions of blindspot and everything seemed normal. At this point I'm just going to take it back to the shop.

Landru

What if whine's an air leak?
TB wasn't reattached securely?
Might explain a CEL.

G/L & let us know what shop finds, or doesn't.

CadVette

if your'e power steering is good then I would look at belt alignment next. They may have not pressed the harmonic balancer far enough on to the crank snout or maybe one of your idler pulley bearings or one of the belt accessories is going bad? Was new belts replaced at the same time? Time to find a way to isolate the problem. Stethoscope may help. Good luck.

703

***Update***

Got the car back on Monday (with a new throttle body) and the same whirling noise is there. I asked the mechanics if they looked into it and they said they think it's just the ATI balancer thats making the noise.

For some reason I have a hard time believing this... Anyone here have an ATI balancer installed and can confirm or deny this?

jkirk1

I had an ATI installed on mine and absolutely no noise.

irok

yes I have an ATI hb and they do not make any noise when installed properly.with car not running and wheels in the air with power steering cap removed turn steering wheel lightly 10 times lock to lock.check fluid level after and take car for test drive and monitor for next few days

BlindSpot

Yeah, I too cannot let go of the PS as the source. If they reassembled and accidentally started the motor without PS fluid, it could have permanently damaged the pump. Second, air in the steering rack could be the source. Third is the belt. If the belt had worn unevenly because of the old balancer, then reinstalled, or reinstalled reversed in direction.

If it is the old belt, I'd replace that and make sure the rack is bled. After ALL of those steps, next I'd be looking at the balancer install. Is the balancer seated correctly, and, silly as it sounds, the correct balancer.

And, already mentioned - bad brearing somewhere in the driven path of the belt. The idler and tensioner pulleys I've examined on many cars are notoriously under lubricated in manufacturing.

703

Looks likes it's going to go back to the shop then... Honestly I'm just so over it. Cars been there for 3 weeks and still not running right and costing a arm and a leg.

MH663

Sounds like its time to find a new shop if they can't diagnose the issue. Throwing parts at it until this issue is found is not the way to go.

HB is a common problem and considering the car is at least 11 years old...a tie rod is no issue either. I would suspect it has something to do with the replacement of the PS line? All cars have some issues and things will need replaced. You have an '06 with XXX, how many miles? Don't get frustrated, you will get the issue resolved. Search for a new shop that will find the issue before replacing parts. It might cost a few $$$ more to troubleshoot but that's better than spending $$$ for parts and then finding out it doesn't resolve the problem.

Go to the Northeast region and ask for recommendations for a good shop in your area...maybe someone local to you can help you find a good place to get it looked at?

703

Car has ~75k miles on it
The shop is a well known performance shop, and highly recommend but idk if I want to take it back. especially since they said it was due to the balancer making the noise but from the response here that's a ton of b.s.
My guess is something with the power steering line that was replaced. Before I took it in the first time it wasn't making the noise that it is now. It started after the harmonic & power steering line were replaced. All together they replaced tie rods/harmonic balancer/high pressure power steering line and throttle body.

I still have to get the car inspected so I might have my regular mechanic look at it and see if he can diagnose the issue. My question is if he finds out it's due to the power steering line install can I go back to the performance shop and get some type of reimbursement??

RoadkingC6

I had my balancer replaced a year ago with an ATI and no noises or whining ever, did they replace the timing cover seal also, they should have.

ruxvette

Throttle body, you say? With the engine running have you sprayed starting fluid around the TB to check for leaks?

MH663

My question is if he finds out it's due to the power steering line install can I go back to the performance shop and get some type of reimbursement??[/QUOTE]

I would take it back and have them fix it at their cost. If they are a reputable shop they should have no issue fixing.

You could take the serpentine belt off and see what happens. Might and might not help since you had two parts replaced that uses the belt. It would have helped with the TB thou. I suspect that when you remove belt the whining will stop and therefore it could not have been your TB. Not that I would have ever thought it was the issue to begin with.

If the whining stops, it has to be something that utilizes the serpentine belt and therefore more than likely one of the two parts recently replaced?

MH663

If the TB was leaking...wouldn't the car idle and run rough? Agree that spraying ether around the TB would find a leak.

Black LS2

Those funky problems can be frustrating. Here is an easy procedure: pop the serpentine belt off and see what makes noise.