I have a 97 Integra RS. For the last couple of weeks, I've been hearing this high pitched hissing sound randomly when the car is at idle.

I went to the Acura dealership, but they weren't able to pin point where the sound was coming from. First they thought the radiator fan motor was the cause. Then they thought it was the pump for the power steering.

They lifted the car twice to see any other parts, but were unable to find out. They say it is not the alternator, nor the intake, exhaust, cams...etc...

Has anyone else had this similar problem? This is driving my crazy

 

You don't have an Intake, do you?? Cuz if you did, that would sound like the explanation. If you are stock, you might want to check out your intake stuff to see if anything has malfunctioned...just a thought.

 

How about the A/C system? I remember having a hissing sound and found that one of my A/C lines was damaged.

 

Since you mentioned the intake, I'll add a question to this post...

When I get on the gas with just a little pressure and slightly accelerate, I hear a hiss from the intake.... Why is it doing this, and can i get it to stop? It doesn't bother me when i drive b/c the pedal is always either to the floor or the stereo is up so loud I can't hear it... but.... when i'm driving cautiously and slowly accelerating (girl or parents in car), it's very obvious and every asks what's wrong with my car.

Anyone else hear the hiss i'm talking about? I've got an AEM CAI if it matters, but it did it with my AEM Ram intake as well.

 

That's normal.

 

i dunno about you, but it sounds cool to me

 

The hissing sound from an aftermarket intake is normal, I heard it's because the intake is sucking up so much air, the hissing is due to resonance(?).

okay, back to my problem..

Its not the intake, my car is completely stock...nothing's been modified ever to my knowledge. The mechanic actually checked all the seals on the intake and re-tightened every thing.

The weird high pitched whistling sound comes and goes..its completely random. But it only happens when the car is at idle. And the sound comes on when the radiator fan turns itself on. But it turns out that all the parts in the radiator is working fine. So radiator is not the cause.

Whenever the engine gets hot, the fan turns itself on (its supposed to be like this), and then, thats when the high pitched whistling sound would randomly come...

As far as A/C lines....I don't think its the A/C line because the hissing sound comes and goes when A/C isn't turned on...

I'm gonna go insane!

ARGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

 

it must be the turbo or supercharger.

 

lol I wish.

Actually its my nos bottle leaking..ehehehe.....

ok back to reality,

 

Could it be a pinhole leak in the radiator?
How about a vacuum leak somewhere?

 

Exactly the same problem here..
too it to the dealer about a year and a half ago and they couldn't figure it out either!
I think it's go something to do with the cams else its got something to do with the throttle body. It is definitely air compression related cause I can hear it lowdest at idle/low rpms. I am getting my engine serviced for timmin gbelt etc, soon. If it goes away, i'll know it was something to do with the engine, else... the saga continues.
It IS anooying sometimes!