I have a very annoying noise coming from my car. It only makes this noise noticeably at about 2,200 and 2,600 rpm. No matter what gear, even in neutral. I thought it was maybe something with the heating and AC, but with it off it still makes the noise. I would describe it as a higher pitched whine. Could it be a belt or AC compressor?

I also might add that ever since I got the car in August, I can hear a similar noise coming from around the back seat area. I've heard this is a fuel pump going bad but it makes no sense as to why I'd hear it very quietly in the engine bay at idle.

It's a 97 2.8 quattro 5 speed

 

bump...

 

Try getting getting out of the car and going around it to try and find where the noise could be coming from. Once you have a general area you can start marking things off the check list. If you need the car to be idling between 2200 and 2600 rpm then ask a buddy to sit in the car and raise the rpms while you search for the sound. Oh and it would help if the car isn't echoing its sounds off walls or anything like that

 

Well, it appears to be the pulley on the power steering pump. It wobbles back and forth more than it should. But I'm thinking low power steering fluid might also have something to do with it. It's gotten worse since the temperatures dropped. Any thoughts?

 

I don't think a pulley should wobble at all. I'd look into replacing it.

 

Yeah I plan on replacing it very soon. And the whine I'm hearing is low power steering fluid I'm pretty sure, cause it goes away once the car is warmed up and does it all the time at night. Sound right to you guys?

 

if you think its low power steering fluid, why dont you just check and add some if necessary? btw if you were low on power steering you would only get a whining noise when turning the steering wheel and rpms would have nothing to do with it.

 

Your power steering fluid reservoir should be on the driver side of the car right behind the headlight. just check the fluid level first and go from there

 

Well, the noise is coming from around the power steering pump/pulley. And it goes away once the car is warmed up all the way, and it also does it at night all the time regardless of engine temperature. I have heard these are symptoms of low power steering fluid, which I know I am low on. I'm just making sure this isn't something more major.

 

why dont you just buy some power steering fluid and fill her up?