After taking my car for a nice drive... not too long.. maybe 10-15 just go my friends house, I park it and keep the engine on, and lift up my hood.

Right before the radiator turns on, I hear a whirling noise... it sounds like a fan or something turning but I can tell by the sound is kinda struggling just a little bit..

dammit, it's so hard to describe...
when I try to put my ear near the sound, it looks like it's coming from this thingy shaped like a circle with a whole bunch of copper looking wires?? it's right next to the manifold....

anyways.. does anyone know what this whirling sound is?? I can tell it's not supposed to sound like this b/c the sound comes on and off as if its struggling to turn..

 

okay, i got a link for an engine pic.. i'll try to point it out to you guys exactly where I'm hearing this noise.

click here

ignore all the other arrows as they are irrelevant to my problem.

Right where the red arrow is, look right above the line of the red arrow. You will see that circular metal thingy with a whole bunch of lines running inside of it..

for some reason, it sounds like it's coming from there..

hope this helped.

 

thats your power steering man..

 

"circular metal thingy with a whole bunch copper looking wires of lines running inside of it....."



It's just really funny how you say it. Well that circula thingy you said is your Alternator. And that whirling noise, or u could say squeling noise are your drive belts.
The Drive Belts are connected to your Air Pump, Alternator and Power Steering Pulley. Just check for any wear or tears.

 

Ah, I guess I was looking to the immediate right of it which would be ps pump. Dont worry about it guy.. At the most you might need to replace the belt.