I hope some of you can help me figure this out.

Whenever I engage the clutch to put my 2001 Honda Accord Ex 2.3L Coupe 5MT into gear, I hear a hardcore whining and I notice the idle drops substantially. However, when it is in gear, the car sounds and drives fine. There is, however, a more subtle whining/clicking when it is left in neutral where it keeps a proper idle of 7-800 RPM.

This problem seems to be at its worst when I takeoff from stop to 1st gear, when the idle drops as the sound kicks in and lights dim as it sometimes loses power completely.


-Recently changed the master relay to one I got from a junkyard and had to change the middle pipe from the messed up winter we just had in the NY Metro
- I def need to replace/rebuild power steering pump as it is leaking
-There has been a slow leak from distributor's internal seal

Although, I know I got to get to these problems asap, what does my clutch have to do with my power steer pump / alternator / ac condenser and their belts?

 

Get a long stick, like a wooden broom stick, place one end against parts of the engine/transmssion while the engine is idleing and the other end against your ear.
This will allow you to pinpoint out where the noise is coming from.

If you have long single piece ratchet extension this can also be used. You just need a long hard object(metal/wood) to transfer the noise.

 

Engaging the clutch means your car is in gear however you're saying two different things are happening at that time.

If you mean when the clutch is disengaged you hear a whine that is likely the throwout bearing going bad as the throwout bearing is only working when you have the clutch pedal pressed in(clutch disengaged).