If I had to check my crystal ball, I would guess at an alternator bearing beginning to fail. This is where I would look first.

If it's a mechanical whining sound and not transmitting through the radio, it's probably this.

If through the radio, could be an electrical issue like a failing resistor spark plug or a liberal on that radio station. I would first try and change the station to some smooth or bumpy jazz to see if it corrects it.

More than likely is that you got water in the alternator bearing and it's beginning to crap the bed.

 

Agree alternator is likely... it's not just the belt making a noise with a coating of crud is it?

 

https://youtu.be/jlqCs79yV90


video of the whine I hear ? Hopefully its normal …..

 

Turn the radio up 'til it gets worse. Hard to tell where its coming from. Alternator bearing or idler pulley bearing.

I'd drive it until it talks to you more.

 

can you run the engine without the belt to see if it is still present ?

 

I wouldn't bother. If you remove the belt you stop all the accessories and pulleys the engine is driving. Your noise is from the belt (usually sounds different than your sound) or a rotating accessory or pulley. It's not bad, but will most likely get louder and easier to pin point.
Having one belt driving everything is tough because you can't eliminate some components. They're all driven off the one serp belt.
You can try a little belt dressing spray to eliminate the possibility of the belt producing the noise. Thats all it's good for in my experience. Does squat to dress a belt.

 

My money says its an idler pulley, and I would know as I have replaced 2 sets of them. It may sound like the alternator but I would bet that it is the idler pulley right next to the alternator. That one seems to be the first to fail. I would start there. Idler pulleys are cheap and easy to replace. I can switch all of them out in about 10 minutes.

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2010,fj+cruiser,4.0l+v6,1445186,belt+drive,idler+pulley,6956

 

ive heard some people have trouble with timing chain guides ? have any of you ever heard of this ? I didn't think fj's had that issue ?

 

ive heard some people have trouble with timing chain guides ? have any of you ever heard of this ? I didn't think fj's had that issue ?

HIGH PITCH WHINNING 2022: My 2010 fj trail team had the high pistachio (great with acceleration. After Maita Toyota hade my engine in 2700 parts sitting on the bay floor. The conclusion was the timing chain. That was a while ago (a decade). But, now it is doing the exact same thing.

 

It's a pulley.

The pulley's aren't sealed units... you can get sealed units from Napa I believe or Rock Auto.

My money is on the Idler Pulley as well.


Or.....

 

Get a Mechanics Stethascope and you can isolate which pulley while the engine is running.

Be careful with that though, lol. Don't stick it where you shouldn't!! :rofl:

 

Replace the belt, if that fixes it, then it was the belt.
If not, look to the idler pulleys.

Belts need to be replaced periodically and get noisy when they're on their way out. Belts are much cheaper than the damage a broken belt does inside your engine bay, and the inconvenience caused.
I had the supercharger whine - I changed my belt while the car was being serviced, and it went away.

 

I think I isolated the noise to a pulley one the passenger side. (lower puller) . I used an aluminum kids baseball bat hahaha small end on the nut of the pulley and big end up to my ear . I could hear a little rattle like bearings moving around.

I will post back with the outcome .


Thanks

Thomas

 

I'd still go with the new belt first anyway - if you don't know how long the current belt has been on, you should be changing it.
While the belt is off you can spin the pulleys to feel / listen for bad bearings.

 

Absolutely going to change belt and while I’m doing that , spin all the pulleys and listen to each.

 

Thanks for posting this. I have a 2007 with 123k miles and that same thing started on mine a month or so ago. I appreciate the info here and now I know what to look for.

 

Every FJ I have driven does this, 3 total. Now that Ive upgraded the exhaust and intake I don't hear it anymore. It's a truck...

 

That's cool if you dont mind destroying half your engine bay for the sake of a $25 fan belt and half an hour. Each to their own.

 

alright so update ……….


I took the belt off . While off, I started the engine to see if the noise was still present and it was . Then I unplugged the alternator with belt off and started the truck just to see if the alternator was playing any part in the whine but the whine was still present. I changed the belt put everything back together but the same whine is still present . The whine happens in PARK , DRIVE, REVERSE …. It is very faint while idealing and you probably wouldn't even notice If you were riding in it. As soon as you hit the gas in idle the pitch rises with the rpms. It absolutely sounds like a super charger.


I don't know what a transmission pump whine sounds like , but I posted the video to youtube and that's what someone was suggesting .

Im new to FJs but do they have any issues with timing chain guides? coming from an Xterra they were notorious for the whine from the guides and it sounds the same...

any suggestions ?

 

I listened to your video linked in first post. I put on my headphones and cranked up the volume. I dont hear any whine. Sounds like my FJ motor from day one. But, maybe you are hearing something that doesnt pick up well on video.

 

I have the same whine issue with my 2010 fj. I did all the same things you did except taking power off the alternator to see if the sound still exists. I may do that tonight if it’s easy enough. When I took the belt off and started it it sounds like it’s coming from the area where the alternator is located. I actually had to replace my battery yesterday and in the process tested my alternator. It starts at 14v but then drops to 13.6 and when I turn lights on and a few other things it drops to 13.2. I’ve read that it should be 14 or high 13s when running. The problem started last year on a cold day and I believe I had cleaned the throttle body the day before. I have always suspected the alternator or throttle body. I’m sure it’s probably due for a new alternator but I would be bummed to replace it and still have the whine noise. I’d also be interested in the solution you find. What other parts in the front of the engine not connected to the belt could possibly make this noise?

 

I noticed the same “whine” you are talking about. I just figured my alternator was going because I was around 100k miles. From observing other FJ’s they all seem to “whine” just like mine and yours. I listened to 4Runner’s as well and they have the same “whine” as the FJ’s. I don’t think it is abnormal because of the sounds coming from other FJ’s and 4Runner’s. I’ll be interested if there is actually a problem associated with this. Just my 2 cents!

 

Is it related to this video? >

I hear something only once every few weeks that I think is the alternator or a pulley, but it only happens soon after start up. I think that in my case it's due to a load on the alternator.

 

Well my 2013 TTSE with 61k miles started " Whining " this week ............. I guess I'll be parting it out soon :frown

 

:rofl:

For a $40 pulley.....

 

If I'm not mistaken the water pump is located in the same vicinity. You may want to check it out. I thought mine was going out because mine had a whine and seepage from the weep hole but after replacing still had the whine. Mine ended up being the alternator.

 

Wow!!! my 2010 trail team (Sandstorm tan) had the exact same problem. I have cut and pasted this post because it would have been exactly my same words.

HIGH PITCH WHINNING 2022: My 2010 fj trail team had the high pistachio (great with acceleration. After Maita Toyota hade my engine in 2700 parts sitting on the bay floor. The conclusion was the timing chain. That was a while ago (a decade). But, now it is doing the exact same thing.

 

Oh, mine was also about 10 years ago. And guess where, Maita. And bizarre 2700 parts on their bay floor.
Crazy!
Don

 

I think almost any Fj Cruiser has it. Mine personally has had it since bought date in 2013 and I thought it was a super charger... 100% natural and something normal.