Have 29k miles on the car and she has developed a "power steering" type whine from the engine bay. It's variable with engine speed and appears to be coming from driver side area. Dealer is trying to diagnose but don't seem to have heard this before. Anyone else had a similar experience. There is no indication of performance issues but inside and outside the noise is very noticeable . Have stock turbos.
Thanks

 

My alternator got replaced after the dealer replaced everything else connected to the belt (incl the belt).

I argued that it was the alternator from day 1, but they just dont care.

I heard my whine at idle, and used wd40 to track down the source. Spray on a suspected area and see if it changes the noise.

 

check your idler or tesioner pulley.

 

check power steering fluid

 

Sorry to go off topic, but Mark where is School Bus from your signature or do you call School Bus 16 Golf R now?!

 

Does the whine increase with steering input at standstill?

If so check your PS fluid as mentioned, top off then look for the leak ...

 

+1
Had this issue with my 993TT, sound from the right end of the car, the lines "banjos" were not torqued enough and were leaking.

+1 as well TTBRN

 

Thanks guys, yes power steering fluid level fine.....my thought was alternator bearing....currently they say they hear the sound all over the engine.....it is in sync with throttle input and clearly audible inside the car....ill keep you posted.

 

They have determined it's a belt pulley. Ordered one in should be done tomorrow.

 

Problem solved.Pully replaced and all is good.

 

did you record the sound by any chance? It's sometimes hard to know what is normal and what is not. Now that it is cold here the secondary air pump kicks in on cold startup and the hissing noise was louder than I remembered. or maybe the same, but I presume it is normal, lol. when I turn the steering wheel all the way on either side when parked you can hear a tiny whine from the back which I also presume is normal. there is more transmission whine now that I have Numeric gearshift cables, sometimes it is loud sometimes not. I was debating buying the pulley and belt kit but I don't think I have any noise that is speed related. maybe I should just get my mechanic to take a look at the pulleys next time car is in the shop, lol.