E36 front middle of engine bay gives off whine at low rpm

[Sieffy]

It has been happening ever since I replaced mechanical tensioner I don’t know if it’s related but it might have been there before I just couldn’t here it because of massive vacuum leak I had and really bad whining tensioner. But it’s not super loud but after 2500rpm ish it goes away and when driving I only really here it when stopping. I’ve narrowed it done to either bad alternator pulley as sound seems to come from that area. Another vacuum leak this is less likely since I’ve replaced a bunch of lines and checked intake boot. Last might be a bad fan clutch my car doesn’t over heat and my fan seems fine but who knows. I tried filling power steering with atf and drained old liquid didn’t do anything really.

[bluptgm3]

I think that your 323 has an idler pulley that could be bad also
Additionally, the air conditioning belt also has a tensioner pulley



Use the last seven characters of the vehicle identification number (see drivers ‘B’ pillar) in www.realoem.com, look in the engine diagrams, similar to images above for part numbers.

Get a mechanics stethoscope or looong screw driver (place your ear next to handle) and (safely) place on various components, alternator, water pump, idler, tensioner, power steering pump, to determine the bad component.

The power steering reservoir has a non-serviceable filter that probably needs to be replaced. Do so by replacing the reservoir with a ZF part.


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[Sieffy]

I think that your 323 has an idler pulley that could be bad also
Additionally, the air conditioning belt also has a tensioner pulley



Use the last seven characters of the vehicle identification number (see drivers ‘B’ pillar) in www.realoem.com, look in the engine diagrams, similar to images above for part numbers.

Get a mechanics stethoscope or looong screw driver and (safely) place on various components, alternator, water pump, idler, tensioner, power steering pump, to determine the bad component.

The power steering reservoir has a non-serviceable filter that probably needs to be replaced. Do so by replacing the reservoir with a ZF part.


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The guy replaced the whole power steering pump apparently so I’m hoping it’s not that. Also it’s hydraulic tensioner on ac and there is no idler pulley. It’s only a mechanical tensioner which I replaced 2 months ago.

[bluptgm3]

So this image.



Are the belts new, they can slip as they age.


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[Sieffy]

So this image.



Are the belts new, they can slip as they age.


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Yes brand new. It’s not smelly. I have an extra alternator and metal water pump and thermostat so I’m gonna replace that first and hope it works. I got the alternator of my friends m50

[Sieffy]

So this image.



Are the belts new, they can slip as they age.


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Welp checked belts replaced alternator and nothing thinking it could be fan belt or vacuum leak maybe it is power steering pump reservoir

[jamrobin]

I know it's unlikely, but an air bubble caught in the cooling system can make a groaning sound... especially at lower rpm (mechanical water pump means the water is moving slower at low rpm...

Worth giving it a burp... Free and easy.

[Sieffy]

I know it's unlikely, but an air bubble caught in the cooling system can make a groaning sound... especially at lower rpm (mechanical water pump means the water is moving slower at low rpm...

Worth giving it a burp... Free and easy.

Thanks for the tip I recently bled the coolant so I hope it’s not that and I’m going to be replacing pump and thermostat and radiator and hoses soon. Hopefully if I replace the clutch fan I can get it to stop making noise.

[bluptgm3]

Get a mechanics stethoscope or looong screw driver (place your ear next to handle) and (safely) place on various components, alternator, water pump, idler, tensioner, power steering pump, to determine the bad component.


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