Sounds like a bearing going bad...

... The question is which one?

Hi ya'll - As the cold weather settles in, I notice the sound from the right side of the car, the section where the serpentine belt runs on, has gotten annoyingly louder. I can't figure out which pulley is the culprit so I WD40 all of them. The sound goes away for a while... a few days at most, but then returns. It is more noticeable when I hit the gas pedal, I replaced the water pump a year or two ago...

... Any ideas?

Well, if WD40 silences the pulleys for a couple of days, why not do them one at a time. Would only take a week or so.

Well, if WD40 silences the pulleys for a couple of days, why not do them one at a time. Would only take a week or so.

Great advice, quit doing them all. Won't take a week though, will only take 5 minutes. Just do them one at a time until it goes away. My bet is on the upper belt idler though...The one the idles the belt between alternator and power steering pump. Been there. More than once. I'm a mechanic, so seen several...

I realize my mistake in WD40'ing all the pulleys (duh on my part), I work that and see how it goes.

thnx

It seems that adding steering fluid to its reservoir quiets the thing down... I heard that a "steering fluid flush" can cure it.

Update - took it to a shop and did a power steering fluid pump/clean. Sound gone.

Perfect. You know, I spent so much $$ on my 99 LS during the first 100,000 km (60,000 miles), then after that it settled right down. It's a real pleasure to drive around. Only two things I have to live with:
1. engine light on
2. takes quite a bit of cranking to get it started.