Every now and then I hear this "wheezing" rhythmic sound coming from the engine compartment. The rhythm matches the RPMs. It sounds like a pully needing a lube job. And it's loud!

The funny thing is the noise doesn't happen all the time. Often the car wheezes when it's moist outside, say after a rainfall. Today it is dry and sunny and the engine was purring like a kitten. This past weekend I hosed down the engine compartment and it wheezed big-time afterwards for a few days.

I haven't stuck my face in the engine compartment to try and localize the sound, but it seems to be coming from the front of the engine where all the belts are. Naturally the noise vanishes whenever I take the car in for servicing.

It has been doing this for years, but I haven't noticed any change in engine performance.

Could it be the power steering pump? Alternator? Air conditioner compressor? They all are original. What about the timing belt mechanism? The belt is up-to-date.

The engine is a B230F.

Thanks much!
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Mike F - 1984 244 DL - 220,000 miles - with Euro headlights and lots of gauges

I bet your belts are glazed or not tight enough. The bushing suggestion is a good second bet. Misaligned belt pulleys, especially the power steering pump, is the third possibility.

Replacement belts don't cost much. I change mine every 3 years or so.
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-- Bruce / '82 244 (315k miles!), '86 745, '87 760Ti, '94 854

Thanks for the advice. Maybe the moist air makes the belts squeal because they are slightly too loose.

315,000 miles?! Wow. What's your rust status? My car's rust is to the point where I'm considering replacing whole body panels instead of going the POR-15 route.
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Mike F - 1984 244 DL - 220,000 miles - with Euro headlights and lots of gauges

Check the little rubber bushings that are on the mounts for alternator,powersteering and on later models, the a/c. They may be making
the pulleys angled so it makes noise when wet.

Dave 82 242ti

I would get all belts wet than remove one belt start engine. If sound is herd replace belt,take another one off till sound goes away. If after this sound is still there than its not belts it sounds as a belt is loose my a/c belt is loose and does same thing as belt heats up from friction it expands and than grips the pully and sound goes away. DONT put oil on belts to cheack as oil will ruine the belts in time. You can use water in a old dish soap bottel start engine and put alittle water on a belt (1) at a time till the belt sounds as this is easyer than the remove way. Cheack all belts for tightness and good shape hope this helps VOLVO ON

this word means a few things one to get larger wich some people would think the belt would get longer what i mean is to expand (plump out)like a hotdog wich would grip the pully and stop sliping lol