Whining (sounds like power steering) varies with RPM

Strokersace · Jul 24, 2017

In the last month or so, I've noticed a whining sound in our 2010 that's getting steadily worse. Sounds like my power steering pump, however, I have good fluid and steering along with brakes seem fine. The whining only changes with the change of the RPM's. Park, Neutral, or in gear running down the road, it whines. Even swapped out the power steering pump with no change.

I'm stumped as to what it could be. It's definitely in the serpentine belt system. Is if there is something that could be whining that would sound like my steering pump?

Getting ready to go on a road trip pulling the horses and don't want anything to happen mid drive.

webb06 · Jul 24, 2017

Have you ran it without the belt on to verify it still whines?

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Strokersace · Jul 24, 2017

webb06 said:
Have you ran it without the belt on to verify it still whines?

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No I haven't. If I can get a chance, I'll try to wedge my hands down in there and pull the outter belt.

sootie · Jul 24, 2017

Could be the bearing going out in the alternator too. Can you hear it outside the truck or just inside? Are you sure it's not feedback being amplified thru the sound system?

strokeofgenius · Jul 24, 2017

Could also be your fuel cooler pump going out. It will make a similar whine as well, although shouldn't be varying with RPM. Unless you had a high variance in voltage. Listen for sound behind driver side wheel well toward front bumper.

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Strokersace · Jul 24, 2017

sootie said:
Could be the bearing going out in the alternator too. Can you hear it outside the truck or just inside? Are you sure it's not feedback being amplified thru the sound system?

Definitely outside as well. Not coming through the speakers.

strokeofgenius said:
Could also be your fuel cooler pump going out. It will make a similar whine as well, although shouldn't be varying with RPM. Unless you had a high variance in voltage. Listen for sound behind driver side wheel well toward front bumper.

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I experienced the fuel cooler pump last year when I didn't fill it properly and had air in the system after reinstalling. Different sound altogether.

In my searching, I found 1 or 2 threads from the same person describing the exact same issue. But no resolution was ever posted.

Strokersace · Jul 24, 2017

http://powerstrokearmy.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45419

This is the other thread I found.

Strokersace · Jul 24, 2017

Pulled main belt and absolutely no whine. So it's something up front. Checking pulleys now.

Strokersace · Jul 25, 2017

Checked all the pulleys and everything spun freely with the exception of the idler pulley to the lower right of the psp. Although not seized up, it didn't spin as free as I'd like it to be.

Swapped one off my spare motor, and no more whine at all!

I've never had a pulley whine like that before when it's going out, but either way it's fixed.

Only problem i had was I broke my darn phone in the process! So off to the store I go later today...