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