[JonathanRohr]

My firebird recently picked up a relatively unnatractive wheezing sound that varies in sync with changes in the throttle. I.E., if i step on the gas, it seems to get a bit louder, and die down when i let off the gas. I had recently driven through some water (tropical storm Fay dropped about 2 feet on my area.. which is about 7 feet above sea level.. so needless to say some flooding resulted.

my voltmeter in the car shows the charge of the battery being barely above 13, where in the past i would swear it was around 14. of course this **might** also be due to the fact that my battery just past the 4 year mark. the tension pulley also pulses up and down, as if it is being tugged by something else along the serpentine belt. i took a video but you really cant see much, so i wont bother posting it unless someone thinks it might be helpfull.

any ideas or tips? thanks guys!

 

[nicolet]

Could be a belt roar....an alternator bearing wearing out now...

Power steering pump overfilled...ie with water....

detached air intake???

 

[F14CRAZY]

IMO an exhaust leak can make a bit of a wheezing sound. Walk around and poke your head underneath the car with it idling. Clamped joints and exhaust pipe that has a shield welded to it commonly leak.

 

[JonathanRohr]

Could be a belt roar....an alternator bearing wearing out now...

Power steering pump overfilled...ie with water....

detached air intake???

I will check the levels in the power steering to see if they are low/high when I get home.. that was something I had to replace after i took a few too many, um, lets say "high speed U-turns"..

As far as it maybe being the alternator, the car does have 167,000 miles on it.. so that seems plausible. What can I look at on the alternator to determine if its the problem or not?

As far as the exhaust suggestion goes - I will definitely take a listen, I do have an aftermarket exhaust, but it was welded on and has been trouble free for the last 60,000 miles.

 

[eurohazard]

Have you checked your intake box/tract for water? Did you drive through deep water? Is that what you mean by "needless to say some flooding resulted"?