I have a 94 850 (non turbo) with 312K that started whining in October. It has gotten progressively worse. My brother is a Volvo technician and he suggested we use a stethoscope to investigate. We initially agreed that it was the Power Steering pump, so I got one from the wreckers for fifty bucks and we replaced it. No change. We then replaced the tensioner pulley (again, post stethoscope analysis) with no change. I have the alternator and the idler pulley left to replace, but this is getting a little much and I thought I would check here before I replace any more parts. Is this a comon problem with the 850's? Is there another place that I should be checking (cam belt pulley?) or does anybody have advice on another way to troubleshoot this problem.

Any help would be appreciated.

Mike

 

Possible one in the timing belt area.

Remove the serpentine belt and start the car and see of the noise is still there. If it is still there it is in the timing pulleys.

If it is gone then it is one of the others.

 

I agree, pull the serp belt first to eliminate it or its rollers. If not, most likely the timing belt roller(s)

 

I have a 2002 S60 Turbo with 150k on it. makes the same high pitched whine during accel and decel. Pulled the front cover off used a steth but could not isolated the noise either. I dont have the tools available currently to investigate further. Wondering if you ever found an answer to the exact problem

 

I have an 86 850 GLT with same noise problem. Replaced serp belt and both pulleys & alternator. Noise was still there with serp belt removed so did new timing belt along with idler and tensioner pulleys. Still have the noise. Any suggestions?

 

I had a whining noise that started almost non noticeable back in December. A couple of weeks ago it got really annoying to the point it was a noticeable noise while driving. Sounded like PWR steering pump going bad but not like a low fluid noise but more of a higher pitch.

-Took the serpentine belt off it wasn't there

-swapped out PWR steering pump with a brand new pump and new reservoir and new fluid...noise still there

-finally after reading an old thread on another site, I changed out the alternator with a quality rebuilt unit.

NOISE GONE !!!!!

Read my thread I had a while ago on this:

https://volvoforums.com/forum/volvo-...se-850s-70946/

 

do you have a system in the car at all?

 

Didn't see H2O pump on your list..?