need help, whining noise

didnt quite know what sub-category to put this in so...

first started thursday morning. i heard something out of the ordinary. a whining noise that kept up with the engine rpms. went through the motions and concidered it to be a water pump, pulleys, tensioner, etc... but the sound is strounger from inside the cabin, not too bad from the front of the car, you can hear it more at higher rpms, like at 3000rpm. asked my instructor to check it out real quick, he ruled out anything from the front of the engine (not water pump, tensioners, etc). i also noticed that you can hear it a bit more if you listen form under the car. my instructor said it might be the trans... checked all fluids and all seems to be okay... trans fluid doenst smell burnt or look discolored. he told me since we cant tell for sure what it could be, i have to let it take its course and wait for it to get louder, or for the next clue to come up... has anyone had this problem, or know of what it might be. i searched and most of your whining problems came back to be a water pump, tensioner, power steering pump/fluid, pulleys...

im planning on flushing the trans out one of these days, new filter/fluids... maybe itll resolve this problem...

a guy from another forum said it might also be my trans/torque converter...

Could it be your radio? (ground loop)

[QUOTE=NG-UCF20;47156]Could it be your radio? (ground loop)[/QUOTE]

yea, do you have any aftermarket audio equipment installed?

change out ur transmission fluid, your odds are it hasn't been changed in a long time. also, change out your differential fluid, that may help. does it sound like a power steering pump whine? make sure to check that fluid too  (uses dextron type III/IV trans fluid, just pick up an extra quart when you go to toyota to buy enough to change out your transmission, differential i think is gear oil?) Also, check and see if you are burning any fluid through the power steering pump, there is one hose that loops back into the valve cover, there is a way to bypass it.

after 3k it disappears right? if so, thats more likely your power steering pump/rack whining. it sounds louder from underneath, where the rack is. try turning your wheels lock to lock and see if it makes a difference in the noise (parked on level ground)

[QUOTE=Caoboy;47220]change out ur transmission fluid, your odds are it hasn't been changed in a long time. also, change out your differential fluid, that may help. does it sound like a power steering pump whine? make sure to check that fluid too  (uses dextron type III/IV trans fluid, just pick up an extra quart when you go to toyota to buy enough to change out your transmission, differential i think is gear oil?) Also, check and see if you are burning any fluid through the power steering pump, there is one hose that loops back into the valve cover, there is a way to bypass it.

after 3k it disappears right? if so, thats more likely your power steering pump/rack whining. it sounds louder from underneath, where the rack is. try turning your wheels lock to lock and see if it makes a difference in the noise (parked on level ground)[/QUOTE]

at 3k you hear it more... i asked my trans instrucktor to take a quick look at it, and he saids its the trans filter. trans filter is clogged, and its struggling to force fluid through, thus making a whining. so today at work im going to drain, and replace filter/fluid and hopefully (crossing fingers) is resolves my problem... its aboud due for a fluid/filter change anyways...

not the power steering, that was the first thing i checked fluids good, and new clamp on it so it dont drip onto the alternator... not the radio, all stock sounds... thanks for everyones help though, ill keep you guys updated..

what i did when i had my ls400, i just changed out the filter once, then realized it's just a mesh screen. you can just clean it out. also, when i changed the oil, i did a drain and fill on the transmission too. doesn't take as much money or fluid as a flush (like 7.8 quarts? whereas a drain/fill is 2.3) and keeps the fluid looking redish/clearish. it's a good habit, i learned it after the first time i found out i had a transmission plm ( car bucked/stalled at like a little less than half throttle, on trying to accelerate.) after researching it, i just tried a little drain/fill/screen change. worked wonders! saves gas, smoother shifts too!

fixed the problem... was the filter... drained, replaced filter/fluid... cherry.... so sounds, no leaks, no nothing... thanks for all the help guys.... will flush the whole trans system soon just for peace of mind...

are you sure you dont have a girl in the trunk? if you do, punch her in the mouth... that'll stop her whining real good.