I am not very knowledgeable about the mechanical aspect of cars.

My Monte Carlo makes a whining noise when I accelerate. It does it when I am driving and when I am in Park or Neutral and step on the pedal. Is this normal?

It has just over 87,000 miles. I purchased it from CarMax 5 months ago and am the third owner. CarFax info was good.

Thanks.

 

Check your power steering fluid, both visually, and by throwing it in nuetral, hold rpms around 2k and crank the wheel lock to lock, if it whines as you turn the wheel its the power steering.

The pumps on these cars are noisy, and even more so if the power steering fluid is low.

The power steering fluid reservoir is on the back of the engine block on the left side below a couple lines. do the fluid check cold, as things back there get hot.

 

X2....on checking power steering fluid.

There is a chance you need a new PS pump.

 

Power Steering pump is a good area to check (as stated above, I would check the fluid level first and as stated, if you're low, rocking the wheel from side to side, it will groan).... I agree that is probably the most likely problem area.

It might also be worth checking the altenator. Sometimes it's a scraping sound, sometimes it's a whining sound. Best/easiest check I know of, witht the car OFF, move the tensioner pulley so you can slide the belt off the altenator. Try rocking the altenator pulley by hand (if it has play in it, sounds like the culprit). Also, try spinning it by hand. You won't spin it as fast as the engine can spin it, BUT if it's making your noise, you'll hear a noise even at the low speed hand spin.

What I doubt it is (and why):
I would doubt the water pump (my experience with those going bad on cars is if they make a noise, it's more of a rattle, otherwise, they just leak).
A/C Compressor noises I've heard are typically a scraping noise.

 

Thanks guys. Actually I just had the Power Steering Pump replaced along with the Steering Rack and Left Front Axle Shaft.
The invoice states that they also flushed the system of debris and that because of the position of the pump, the system cannot be purged of air, it will have to come out on its own. This could take a few times of driving and sitting.

Apparantly purchasing the 36 month extended warranty was a good idea as it covered everything including the rental car. Balance due = 0.
I will do as has been suggested on my next day off on Sunday.