First off my car runs great, so i know it cant be a real problem. Nevertheless this scares me a bit. For the last fiew months I have noticed a slight ring comming from my engine somewhere. Its like a high pitched ring that only exists betwene 3-4 RPMs. Ive checked the engine bay, nothing is loose. The only Thing I can think is mabie an exhaust leak? I dont know. Anyone have any recomendations?

 

Take it to a mechanic.

Fox

 

I would the only problem is...well mechanics rate slightly above stock brokers but below car salesmen on the grand o scale of scumbags. I cant trust em. So in the event that I must go to one I like to know exactly whats wrong.

 

That's like saying you won't go the doctor until you know why your coughing up blood.

As for your problem though, how about some more details. What do you have modded to your car? When did you start hearing it? Did you put something on your car before you started hearing the noise? Is it at a standstill when the noise occurs or when you are driving? Describe anyother noise you hear in you cabin. Can the noise be heard with the windows down?

And I love the first line of your post, "First off my car runs great, so i know it cant be a real problem."

Fox

 

Alternator, Alternator bearing Do you have RR pulley? Belt tension maybe My alternator is a little noisy (it squeels a little) because I put pulley on myself and I had the belt too loose followed by an adjustment and having it too tight. What other mods do you have? how long have you noticed the sound? What was the last thing you changed on your car? Just trying to help

 

You may have tried this before, but just in case you haven't.

Have a buddy sit in your driver seat
Pop the hood
Get your friend to rev up to 3-4 k, or even higher since there isn't any load applied
Listen

If you've already tried that, then I I had a buddy of mine who had a ring/bell sound but his was coming with bass. Turned out the bolt olding the spare tire in the trunk was loose and was vibrating against the spare. If you have an aftermarket exhaust that generate sounds at certain frequency that might be the cause of your problem as well. I do not know your situation well enough, but sometimes a sound seems to be coming from 1 place, but really comes from somewhere else.

So I would suggest you investigate the engine bay, but also investigate other areas.

 

I have the same thing, had it for the entire time I've had the car, had lots of people listen to it and the two conclusions were:
1) Don't worry about it
2) Harmless noise generated by the valves

One of my friends who has worked on cars quite a bit had a car that made almost the exact same noise but a little bit lower RPM range and it was a V6.

 

Yah i have intake, strutbar, testpipe, and catback (greddy). I havent modded **** for oh 2 years. Nevertheless this noise. Its a ringing, only when i am driving from 3-4. Only on the way up, i can hear it with the windows closed and open. The sounds been there for months. Mabie i will try and record it so you guys can listen.

Yah but the doctor doesnt tell you you need a new liver unless you truely do. Ive had too many bad experences with mechanics. Has anyone seen that artical where some writers from some magazine, i think it was motortrend, unscrewed the valve cap on a perfectly good running motor and went to several mechanics to ask what was wrong with their car. Most of the mechanics said a bunch of bull****. I remember that, plus the stelership screwed me on my last car.

 

bump.

 

Exhaust rattle.

Could be heat sheilds that are loose. Or the exhaust itself.
.

 

Does this sound happen in that RPM range only when you are driving or can you put it in neutral and rev up to that range and still hear it? If you can hear it in neutral then have a friend help you out and hold it at that range while you look under the hood and check it out. If it happens in neutral it should be pretty easy to find the general area the sound is comming from. My experiences with my car and my friends was it was comming from the engine. If you take a board and put it up against the top or sides then put your ear up against it you could hear it even better.

 

Only when i am driving, meaning the car is in gear etc.



Now that sounds feezable. How can I check it tho?

 

Get under the car, by the downpipe. Look and see if above your catalytic converter the metal shield is loose. Wiggle it with your hand.

 

disconnect your radar detector if you have one.
mine has a wine to it when accelerating, either hard or taking it easy.

 

could it be an electrical sound.. i have a similar issue.. in a certain rpm area, i have a beeeep.. only when accelerating.. hmmm, started for me after i repainted my valve cover.