I have an '03 996 - bought it used @ 19k miles, now at 40k.

Recently, the engine developed what I'd describe as a "whirring" noise from the right side of the engine when seated in the driver's seat.

At stoplights and in the garage it is making me crazy.

When running the AC it gets louder, but it doesn't go away completely when the AC is off.

Any suggestions on what this might be? I took it in for an oil change and the dealer said it was nothing abnormal, but I know my car - that noise is new over the past few weeks and wasn't there before.

I'm actually considering selling her I love her to death but I've had a lot of repair costs lately and it is detracting from the fun of the car. Par for the course once you're out of warranty I guess...

 

Sounds like it could possibly be an serpentine belt idler pulley getting noisy, and the added load of the A/C could change the pitch/volume of the noise.

 

Well, that doesn't sound too expensive. Maybe I will get a second opinion from another dealer.

Thanks for the input!

 

Does the sound go away when the car is warmed up to normal operating temp.?

 

No it does not - it's always there.