I searched the forum with no success.

Car is a 1997 civic DX mostly stock.

I have a whining noise coming from the engine bay. Sounds like it is coming from behind the driver's side headlight. At the moment, the car runs and drives fine.


The noise starts when when I cycle the key. So if i leave the key at the point right before start up where then fuel pump primes and the dash lights come on, the whine noise starts and remains until the key is turned off (all prior to starting the engine). To me it sounds like a worn out fuel pump, but the location is wrong.

The whining also occurs when the engine is running and does not change tone with increases of decreases in RPM.

Anyone have any ideas what the noise is coming from?

Search "1997 Civic whine" on youtube for a video of the noise.

 

If you have a video of your specific whine, post it here. Using a random sound clip off the internet is functionally useless. When you hear the whining noise, open the hood. Is the radiator fan spinning? What exactly does "mostly stock" mean?

 

mostly stock = CAI and full exhaust

The youtube video i referenced is my car making the noise. I recorded the video earlier today.

The radiator fan is not spinning. The noise happens whether the engine is warm or cold.

Thanks for the help!

 

i had this issue when i had replaced my battery / ignition coil.

it went away or i stopped noticing it, but i noticed it coming from my break booster / reservoir or even below that.

just wanted to shed some insight, because i thought it was fuel injectors as well... lemme know what you find!

 

Sorry I know this is an old thread, but my girl brought the car home tonight and had this same issue.
don't see it anywhere else.
I chased it for an hour and closest I could figure was it was coming from the A/C dryer under the power steering fluid reservoir.
Yet I couldn't figure how that would whine... especially when the vehicle isn't running.
Then I realized the windshield fluid reservoir is under that....and it has a pump.
Went back into the car and pushed the windshield fluid arm in....and it stopped.
She turned it on and apparently because it was empty, just left it on.
I was so preoccupied with fixing a failing power steering pump issue on a Sunday night, that I didn't consider more obvious problems.
So yeah... hope this helps the next person lol.
Check your windshield wipers arm first.