What is this whistling sound?
 

Take a listen to the whistling noise coming from the engine compartment of my '09 3.8 Carrera. It's the high pitched noise that almost sound like crickets chirping (no jokes please ;)). It's very noticeable in person, in fact I could hear it inside the car and it really was noticeable when I pulled into my garage.

I noticed it for the first time today; I'm sure it wasn't there before. Although the noise is continuous in the video it doesn't begin until several seconds after the engine is started so I don't think it's a noisy pulley, idler wheel, or similar. The engine is fully warmed up; the car seems to run fine other than the noise. BTW, it sounds even louder if I listen from under the car instead of from the top.

I have an appointment to have it checked under warranty next week but was curious if any of you had thoughts on what it might be.

Edit: updated video in post 6

Must be getting older than I thought. I don't hear any whistling.

How many miles do you have? Not sure about the .2 but the WP on the .1 is located at the bottom of the engine towards the rear. Any sign of a leak/moisture under the engine - coolant? My 1st thought is perhaps the WP shaft is going out on you. Just a SWAG w/o being onsite.

A hi-freq hearing issue? :D I'm uploading another video where the noise is more obvious. Will post shortly......

Take the belt off and start the car, if the sound goes away, its a component driven by the belt. Check all pulleys manually for noise, looseness, roughness, especially the water pump, which tends to chirp when its going. Next, put the belt back on, start the car and listen to each component bearing (carefully) with a stethoscope. This should narrow it down.

Here's a vid where the noise (whistling, chirping, screeching?) is more obvious. The car has <10K miles on it (I know I should drive it more ;) ) and I've not heard this sound before today. No signs of leakage of any kind. When I started the engine this time it was a good 30-45 seconds before the noise began. I appreciate the suggestions for diagnosing the problem but since the car is under warranty I'll let the dealership remove belts, etc. But I do welcome any input as I'd like to have as much info as possible when I go in.

I had a similar sound and thought it was the idler pulley...took it in and sure enough that's what it was. The pulley and belt replaced under warranty.

The bottom pulley in your vid is the WP unit. If that is truly where the noise is originating from then I believe you may have a bad WP pulley or the WP itself is compromised.

It does sound like that, doesn't it.....The delay in having the noise appear steered me away from that idea at first but it might be temperature sensitve or not begin immediately for some other reason. Hopefully it's something that straightforward.

Not sure where exactly it originates from but it's definitely louder underneath the car. Headed back out to the garage......Thx

I had a similar sound when the bearing on a belt roller on my 06S failed.

Best of luck at the p-dealer. Doesn't sound like anything serious plus you're under warranty so that's always comforting. Let us know the outcome.

I had the same sort of sound originating from the bottom of the car in the vicinity of the water pump. Took it in to the dealership and guess what....had a new water pump replaced! Noise is now gone.

Thanks!

Mike, this is an excellent move on your part. Document on Rennlist that there is somethng wrong with your C2S so you can "justify" the 991 GT3 purchase to your wife! :evilgrin:

Seriously, I hope you get this sorted out correctly.

I can hear it on the second video, but have no idea what it is.