Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) High-pitch whine on moderate acceleration

[RNixon]

I've started hearing a high-pitched whine in my '99 Ram 2500 during moderate to heavy acceleration. Not sure if this could be normal, but I don't remember hearing it over the years.



Truck is a '99 Ram 24-valve with 160,000 miles.



This sounds like it could be coming from the turbocharger, but I really don't know what the sound of a failing turbo would be.



Would someone please point me in the right direction on this.

 

[LBARTLETT]

look for an air leak in the input going into the turbo & your air filtering system

 

[RNixon]

I'll check the inlet duct to the turbo. That rubber is pretty old. Definitely possible it could have a crack in it, or maybe I didn't get the clamps tight enough the last time I worked on it.

 

[Grizzly]

You don't say, but if it's an auto, well it may be a long shot.

 

[JLandry]

By chance did you recently replace the OEM air filter with one missing the foam pad glued to the paper pleats? The foam pad of OEM type filters dampens normal turbo whine and if missing you'll definitely hear the turbo.



Good luck,



John L.

 

[RNixon]

I checked the inlet air duct (big rubber hose) between the air filter housing and turbo. Took it off and examined inside and outside. No apparent cracks, splits or other breaks that I could detect.

Also looked at the rubber connector between the turbo and intercooler. I didn't remove that, but looked as closely as I could and didn't see any breaks in that either.

The air filter is one I got from Geno's Garage 2-3 months ago. I pulled it out and looked at it as well. It does _not_ have any foam pad on it. Looks pretty clean. Not much grime on it. The pleated paper filter material is exposed on the bottom (inlet air side). I don't even remember having an aid filter with a foam pad on it. Maybe I did have that, but wasn't paying that much attention to it.

If the whine I am hearing is a normal sound at high rpm / load, that's not a problem. I was concerned that the turbine bearings might be failing.

How long should one of the turbochargers last? Mine is 10 years old with 160,000 miles on it. Never been replaced.

 

[jhoughton]

I would look at the boots going from the turbo to the intake. Under acceleration you build boost and a hole or loose clamp will sound like a high pitch hiss or even a whistle. If you dont see anything obvious then try pressure testing it. The method has been posted on here before for what you need to accomplish this. If it is a loose clamp the boots have been known to push out from under the clamp. Trust me you don't go far once that happens and it smokes like a frieght train too. Mine blew off on a hill with a

10k load on a trailer going about 65 mph. ended up on the shoulder and all it would do is idle or slightly above with no power at all until the boot was back on.

 

[AMatsonIII]

Mine was doing the same thing. Ended up being the the clamps near the intercooler had loosened up. Tightened them up and solved the problem.

 

[CHill]

I had a similar problem with mine. Ended up being one of the small intake bolts back by the rear cylinder that had falled out.

 

[RNixon]

Sounds like next thing to do is check all the turbo-related bolts and pull off that rubber boot between the turbo outlet and intercooler. I looked at the boot, and couldn't see any problem with it, but couldn't see it all that well.

Has anyone had to replace a failed turbocharger? How long did it last?

 

[CHill]

I had to replace mine at about 170k miles. It had a really hard life as a service vehicle though.

 

[SUrich]

I repl;aced mine at about 195,000 miles. Do you have any exhuast leaks. Sometimes a blown gskt on the exh manifold on turbo mounting gkt can make this noise under high rpm and load. One way to check your turbo is to pull off the intake to the turbo and see if any of the fins are contacing the compressor housing. If they are the turbo needs replaced or it will soon fail causing oil and debris entering you charge air cooler and then going into your engine. When my turbo started to fail it would make a chirping noise at deceleration. Also check the outlet boots (Charge air cooler boots) those will cause a high pitched noise and a loss in power. Check the inside also for any signs of oil in them, if so your turbo seals are leaking oil and the turbo will need to be replaced. Also check to make sure all of your intake manifold bolts are there and tight, if one of those are leaking it could cause the same noise. Good Luck.

 

[THoltz]

I to had a strange sound which sounded like an air leak and a noticeable loss of power. It was a dirty filter. I had always used the cleaning fluid that AFE provided. I cleaned it thoroughly with simple green and warm water in my deep sink until the rinse water ran clean and the rushing air sound stopped.

 

[Ron Bissett]

I to had a strange sound which sounded like an air leak and a noticeable loss of power. It was a dirty filter. I had always used the cleaning fluid that AFE provided. I cleaned it thoroughly with simple green and warm water in my deep sink until the rinse water ran clean and the rushing air sound stopped.

If after checking all air leaks and still hear it You might move one hose from the heater to the block one pluge foward . This might do it. Did for me . Ron Bissett

 

[rivercat]

if after checking all air leaks and still hear it you might move one hose from the heater to the block one pluge foward . this might do it. Did for me . Ron bissett

not sure what you mean? Can you explain

 

[V Baker]

Might be this TSB 09-04-99

 

[Ron Bissett]

not sure what you mean? Can you explain

There is a hose that comes from the fire wall and goes into the block through one of several pluged holes moving the hose one hole foward can as in my case stoped the noise that sounded like a second motor when going up gear . Remove plug foward retape and use in the hole that the hose comes from tape fitting going in to the block just as is done with the plug. It will not hurt to try it . worked for me back in 99 still O. K Ron bissett hope this helps.

 

[RNixon]

Problem solved. There were two loose bolts on the intake manifold where I removed the oem fuel filter housing during install of a FASS fuel system. The bolts were too long and bottomed out before sealing down the manifold top. Two small spacers allowed the bolts to tighten correctly and now the sound is gone.

 

[icman95]

Glad you found it. I have the same problem sometimes when mashing the pedal. Funny, seems to only happen when my wife is riding in the truck with me... . :-laf

 

[JustinParks]

do u have gauges? my buddies 01 had a whine an it was from the hose that runs from the gauge 2 the intake. it had a small hole