99 Pontiac Grand Prix GT Whining Noise When Accelerating

**Pontiacidaho** · 01-19-2017

So I recently bought this car thru a private sale. Since the night I bought it, it's been making a weird whining noise when I accelerate. Almost sounds like a high pitched turbo noise but my engine isn't supercharged. Also feels like the car is pulling back when trying to accelerate almost like it's having a hard time accelerating. The RPM's seem to have something to do with it. Any ideas on what it could be?

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 01-19-2017

Have you checked the transmission fluid level?

**Pontiacidaho** · 01-19-2017

Yeah I filled it the day after I bought the car because I noticed the noise and wondered if that's what it was. Still makes the noise.

**Scottydoggs** · 01-19-2017

take the belts off fire it up see if the sound is gone. if it is gone, spin all your pulleys till you find one thats not smooth spinning.

if you think your feeling real drag on the engine the ac compressor might be locking up, we've seen them stop a engine 100% from turning. water pumps too.

**Pontiacidaho** · 01-19-2017

Okay. It slightly makes the noise when the car is in park and you rev the engine. But it's mostly when your driving and accelerate. It's almost like a winding noise. Like it when's down when you let off the gas.

**stocker** · 01-20-2017

Power steering is a common whine on these cars. Even with proper function and fluid level they can still make a mild whining noise that sound like a supercharger.

I'd second scotty's suggestion on taking off the belt and spinning/wiggling the pulleys by hand to see if one is noise, worn or has play.

I think most people will ask for more details about the resistance you are feeling before they can help more. I'd start with some really basic things though: make sure the e-brake isn't sticking and all the wheels spin freely when they are up off the ground, tire inflation seems obvious but you can feel that if they are low enough.

More details and we can try to help!

**Pontiacidaho** · 01-20-2017

Okay. Theres a light on that says Trac off. I push the Trac button and the light stays on. It's been on since I bought the car. Wondering if that has something to do with it?

**Pontiacidaho** · 01-20-2017

Also somewhat of a slight burning smell near the grille when I shut the car off. Can't tell what the smell is. Whether it's coolant or oil.

**Scottydoggs** · 01-20-2017

abs light on too? either way its abs related, only way to really figure out just the tc button is to scan it with a abs scanner.

and no, its not gonna whine, you just have no traction control. like the wheels will spin freely in the snow or wet roads.

**Pontiacidaho** · 01-21-2017

It almost sounds like it could be a power steering pump but it steers fine.

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 01-21-2017

Remove the belt and take it up the street and back.

You can run it for several minutes without the belt just to check stuff.

**Pontiacidaho** · 01-21-2017

okay if i remove the belt and do that, what do i need to check? what do i need to listen for?

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 01-21-2017

If the sound goes away, then you know where to look. Be it the power steering or a loud pulley.

If the noise is still there, then it's nothing driven off the engine belt and likely a transmission noise.

**Pontiacidaho** · 01-21-2017

oh ok

**Pontiacidaho** · 01-23-2017

My cousin who is a mechanic looked at it and said it sounds like the power steering pump. But it still steers fine. I'm wondering if it's maybe the pulley on the pump as well? Could I run the car without the ps pump for a short period of time to see if it makes the noise?

**Scottydoggs** · 01-23-2017

damn it listen and do what we told ya. or dont.

and no you cant drive a day with no power steering pump. unless you want to change the rack too. 2 minutes is fine tho for the test we told ya to do days ago.

and stop having people who just "look" at it and shut the hood, they are no help are they? pop the hood and put some time in. what you gonna do when you find the bad part? wait for it to be repaired via magic like now?

**JohnRider** · 01-23-2017

lmao Scotty, that brightened up my morning. Pontiacidaho, seriously though - do what they said. Maybe check your PS fluid level too, I didn't see where you mentioned that you've checked this. They do whine quite a bit, proper fluid level can help, but PS inherently has a mild whine when parking and tight turns and stuff.

**Fivefingerdeathpunch** · 01-23-2017

Why haven't you tried removing the belt yet?

Should we type this 20 more times?

**blueguy** · 01-24-2017

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