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Car: 1999 Saab 9-3 S 5spd (T-5) 160K
Issue: I have a whirring sound (sounds like forward side of accessory drive belt) the increases in pitch and intensity substantially with rpm. I had a similar symptom before my idler pulley went (seized) at 110K. I installed a new idler pulley this weekend (and I have a serp belt on hand in case I shred or need to replace the current one) but my whirring noise did not go away. I took some solace that the idler I replaced did not feel the greatest (a good deal of slop in the bearing race) and it was cheap to replace.
Anyway, after I had replaced the idler, I had my wife rev the engine a bit while I listened, and it sounds like its coming from the front half of the accessory drive assembly (which means water pump or power steering pump if I figure correctly). About a month or two ago, my power steering was making a groaning noise when turning, so I added some fluid to the reservoir and the noise went away immediately. I have noticed that the fluid in the reservior has been dropping slightly and I have added small amounts of power steering fluid in the meantime (a couple of ounces every couple of weeks) to keep it up. I have not noticed a pool of power steering fluid anywhere, but the serp belt has a dirty, oily residue on it that I suspect is power steering fluid being distributed on the belt and caked with accumulated dirt.
Options: If it were just the small PS fluid loss that was the issue, I would just keep driving it and add the monthty supply of fluid to the reservoir and drive on (at 160K I am hoping just to nurse another 40K or so out of her before moving on). However, with the whirring/whining sound intensifying recently, I am afraid something is going to let loose, and I don't know which accessory drive unit it is. I can get a new PS pump for ~$125 instead of the usual $300+ (father in law works for parts distributor), but I don't want to replace it if it turns out to be a water pump or something else.
Any thoughts about what it could be or how to figure out before I start throwing more parts at it? Any suggestions about what others would do in my shoes?
Thanks
posted by 136.237.60...
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