2.2 nearing 190K... overall it runs fine. However, for a while i've noticed a sound i don't recall hearing before and i finally came up with a comparison of the type of sound. It isn't very loud - can't have the radio on and helps if you have the window down and driving alongside a wall, but if you listen close, you can hear it with the windows up. Starting at 2500rpm, i hear what i would say is similar to a cicada or junebug's sound, maybe higher pitched though. I have no other symptoms - no hesitation, no loss of power, no wild rpm fluctuations or anything. Could this be the timing chain getting old and tired or ? As i am writing this, the other sound that comes to mind is the iconic sound of an old VW beetle's aircooled engine - but that's waaaaay louder, like an 11 to my engine's 1.

 

If it is only when moving the wheel hubs. If it is even when not rolling the exhaust flex pipe.

 

Or if not moving the serpentine belt, it’s tensioner or the harmonic balancer

 

duh - i didn't think to check while it's parked and rev it... i will do that today and see... if it doesn't do it then you guys are suggesting 1.serp belt 2. tensioner and/or 3.harmonic balancer? correct?

 

If the car is in park yes. Plus flex pipe

 

crap - so it doesn't make the sound while in Park and you bring the rpms up... so I am looking at the serpentine belt - cheap and easy - or tensioner or harmonic balancer which both are around 50-60... i found video on how to do a tensioner replacement but is the harmonic balancer replacement hard or simple? it's certainly accessable.

 

No, read post #2 again.

 

Wheel hubs/bearings.

 

Pebbles in the hubcaps...
CV joints...

 

if it is the wheel hubs/bearings, wouldn't the sound be there all the time while driving? would the frequency change at different speeds? in my original post I explain that it only starts making the sound once you hit 2500rpm or higher while accelerating, but once you are at speed regardless of rpm, the sound is no longer there.