Yesterday I was on my way to work and I noticed a whining/squeeling noise coming from the passenger side of the motor. (94 z28 lt1) I was doing around 65 then noticed I was having problems accelerating, eventually my camaro was losing power and wouldn't go faster than around 50 mph. I pulled over, noticed a burning rubber smell coming through the vents. Popped the hood, looked around, no smoke, no hoses touching anything, no belts loose/broke, everything looked fine. I started it up, backed up to the next exit, still noticed a squeel/whining while accelerating only, it took about 2 minutes to get up to 65 mph (it wouldn't accelerate fast), then I got up to around 75 mph, it stayed there just fine. Soon as I got back into town, it was accelerating fine, but the whining/squeel was still there. I've ruled out and belts and hoses, and it isn't the alternator, but it sounds like its coming from behind the alternator, or beneath it.

Recap.

It's not the belts, it's not the alternator. It's coming from the passenger side of the motor. It's only squeeling/whining when I accelerate. I think it caused problems accelerating and my motor to start losing power on my way to work last night. I'm all out of ideas... Any help would be amazing.. Thanks everyone.

 

And the whining/squeel just recently started. The temperature outside has been around 20 degrees and below lately. (Illinois)

 

Are you sure it's not coming through the speakers in the car?

 

AC compressor.

 

I had a few people say the ac compressor but my compressor went out mid summer. We were thinking the converter under the passenger seat could be clogged?

 

Clogged cat would be the first thing to check, if you are sure you ruled out the belt and accessories driven by the belt, and the gear driven water pump.

 

I haven't checked the water pump but I haven't had any problems overheating or any noticeable coolant leaks. I'll definitely give that a check though. I'm going to take it in to a shop and have them check the converter for any clogs. We just think it's the converter because the whining noise sounds like its coming from the area behind the alternator which makes me think that pressure is coming back up and escaping through somewhere (possibly an o2 sensor or something) and causing the whining noise and the motor to run rough.

 

Alright I cut off the old cat today and welded the new one on and I gotta say it's running like when I bought it. The whining noise is gone and it's accelerating amazing and has that nice crackle in the exhaust again. I tested the converter with a heat gun yesterday and the pre-cat temp was 430 degrees and post cat was 330 degrees. I was hoping that was the cause but regardless I knew the cat wasn't working properly so I figured what the hell it needs replace anyway. But I lucked out. Everythings all good, thanks for your help everyone!