I can't figure this out...
2005 currently156k
Brand new alternator, water pump and valve covers...
I start the car (always letting it warm up before I drive) once it's on the first marker after "C "on the engine temperate gauge on the instrument cluster, a chirp ensues.
Sounds like a chirp much like a belt noise coming from the passenger side of the engine bay. Took it in, obviously they couldn't replicate the noise.
I always thought it was the alternator but now maybe it's coming from the cylinder head/valves? There was a time when the passenger valve cover was leaking and maybe some oil got into the alternator? The shop implied it could be a cold bearing noise? Alternator/Ac bearing?

Doing some research and people are saying having a bad heated seats module could drain the battery/alternator? I replaced the power seat relay behind the instrument cluster...it fixed the intermittent power seat adjustment problem but no seat heat works. I'm troubleshooting the cheap way! first I'm going to replace the power seat/hazard light cluster/module next. Overnight I pulled fuse 1 and 24 to see if that had any effect on the engine bay mystery noise.

Please help?

 

Take the belt off and spin each idler bearing by hand, feeling for any roughness and listening for bearing noise. Same with water pump and alternator.

I also know that if the port for the big breather hose on the driver side valve cover is clogged, the engine builds up internal pressure, which causes weird noises as the pressure comes out.
I thought I had a bad water pump.
You are all probably wondering how I diagnosed that. Simple, I caused it.
I thought that hose was unnecessary, so I removed it and capped off both ends. Don't do that !

 

LOL!


I too had a chirp. Pulled out a piece of water hose and followed the chirp to the alternator. Just to verify that was the problem I shot the front or the alternator with WD40. Yup, chirp gone! (for now)


Anyone know part number for the alternator bearing???

 

I'm replacing all my breather hoses, I know one part is on its way out.it's the weird joint where the valve cover breather hoses meet up and feed into the throttle body. It sounds like a cricket/kettle but when it's running temperature it kinda goes away but it's all I can hear...y'all understand.

 

When you mean front of the alternator you mean behind the pulley and belt like the coiled mess in the casing? I guess I should mention I had an exhaust leak for years (recently fixed) as well as new spark plugs so maybe the car is pumping out built up carbon? I hope it's not a had gasket or anything terrible!

 

Sprayed behind the pulley to hit the bearing.