I have a 1999 4 cyl Honda Accord with a manual transmission. It has suddenly started to make a high pitched noise only when idling, the noise stops as soon as the engine gets more gas and the idle goes up. I thought that it was likely a vacuum leak but I haven't been to find one. If it is likely a vacuum leak what is the best was to find it or what else could be?

 

Sounds like a accessory belt..try spraying a little water on the belts while idling and see if it goes away..if not it can be your balance shaft tensioner

 

HI, thanks for the info. I should have been a little clearer. The noise is more of a high pitched whistle not the squeal that you generally get when a belt slips. In any event the water didn't do it but I haven't checked the balance shaft tensioner yet.

 

I would go to Harbor Freight and invest five bucks for the mechanic's stethoscope.

Good luck,
Sam

 

Thanks Sam.
I have a mechanics stethoscope. Everything sounds good when I place it on anything metal.

 

make a high quality video

 

Did you find out what it is? I have a 97 Accord and it makes a high pitch noise that is not a belt. it makes it only when the car is warm and at idle. if i give the car any gas and the rpm go up the noise goes away.

 

To start....I think I would walk through checking all fluids levels. Power steering, brake fluid, oil, transmission fluid. See if something goes away.

Then I would check all the belts for looseness and tighten to see if anything from that made a difference.

Then I would look over it slowly to see if there are any obvious hose cracks or disconnected lines.

 

Hi there,

The timing belt is new, tensioners are new, water pump is new, all other belts are fairly new.
The thing is I had a motor with 250k that blew a head gasket. So I bought Jdm motor and all was swapped over.. the mechanic is scratch ing his head going over everything and I'm just trying to lend a helping hand. The high pitch noise is definitely not any belt. It's not a screach more of a high pitch ring.

 

has it done this since the switch? I had an alternator make a noise when I first put it on that sorta sounded like that, but after adjusting the tightness of the belt it went away.

Can you take off the belts to see if it goes away, might give a sense of what is moving and not moving.

 

It started making this with the new motor. Everyone keeps saying the same... Maybe a belt is too tight. I will check and get back. If it fixes it I will leave a reply.

 

That's why I was thinking to just pull the belts for a minute to see if it's coming from that area or someplace else.

 

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This is what the noise is
https://photos.app.goo.gl/81CZTgauxW9m98oVA

 

What was the noise cause mine has the same noise and it’s extremely loud. The photo doesn’t exist anymore