Chrysler Repair: engine noise, power steering pump, crank sensor

Question
i have a 1995 intrepid with a 3.3 liter engine, 240,000 kms. about 1 month ago the engine started to make a loud whining sound much like a power steering whine but is not coming from the power steering pump. the noise is coming from the front of the engine and gets louder as the rpm go up. i get no error codes. cam and crank sensor have both been replaced. new plugs about 5000 kms ago. transmission rebuilt about 5 months ago. could you possibly help me to figure out what might be wrong. thank you for any help.

scott mclean

Answer
Hi Scott,
I don't have a good visualization of the 3.3 but I'll assume that it is conventional in having things like a power steering pump, alternator, A/C compressor and waterpump in that region all being driven by belts. If you can't differentiate which of these units has a bad bearing you could try two things:
Take a piece of rubber hose and use it like a stethoscope to focus your hearing on each of those units to see which sounds the loudest when you hold the far end of the tube close to its bearing.
Loosen the drive belts one at a time and see if you can get a change in the sound as the result of allowing whatever is normally driven by the belt to be disconnected from the driving action of the belt.
That is about all I can suggest.
Roland