Getting a noise around the timeing belt area of my 88 civic that sounds like a whine. closer to the sound a turbo charger makes when accelerating.

When in Park or Neutral does the noise change if you rev the engine? Whining noise generally come from a worn bearing so there will be a few things to check.
First check the serpentine belt. A loose or worn belt will cause noise. Carefully watch the belt with the engine at idle. Does it run smoothly or 'bounce' as it spins? Bouncing could suggest the spring in the belt tensioner is worn and has started to go slack.
Stand in front of the vehicle with the hood open and carefully listen to the engine. Sometimes you can hear if it is on one side of the engine or the other.
The most likely causes of the whine will be...
Power steering pump, A/C pump, Water pump, alternator pulley, belt tensioner and it's pulley or an idler pulley.
Parts like the alternator have more than one bearing in them so that could be another area to check. If the serpentine belt is off you can spin each pulley by hand. Listen and feel for a gritty growl as it spins. Bearings in good condition are usually smooth and quite.
Try this YouTube video. **NOTE** Be VERY CAREFUL if you try the tests in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRHj9_pwx7o

remove the belt and start the engine ..IF THE NOISE disappear it might be idler bearings that driven by belt but if the noise still there check the pcv valve..

Belt may be slipping. Try some belt dressing.

You could remove the serpentine belt and see if the noise continues, then check each component one at a time.
You describe a slipping belt because the alternator pulls hard for the first few seconds after you start the engine.

The lost acceleration is of major concern. Maybe you have lost your water pump. It would work great for a few miles when you start out and then gradually heat up and loose performance. The fluid would eventually boil over? Maybe a bearing on the camshaft is expressing it's discontent and causing extra load for the engine to overcome. Try to determine where the noise is coming from.
The serpentine belt connects the alternator, water pump, power steering, front timing pulley, fan, and front timing pulley. All these components generate a parasitic load on your engine. If the engine has to work harder because of increased load it could be any of these components. I'd definitely check the water pump listening for noise while running. Look for obvious things related to the belt and its' components.
Check the serpentine belt for wear. May indicate pulley misalignment or wear. There exists two idler pulleys that have small bearings that wear out and squealing noises. Check those for wobble with the tension off the belt. They are pretty cheap so replace them if any concern at all.
Power steering pumps cavitate and make a high pitch gear whining sound if fluids are low or gears warn of. Check the fluid and top off to the correct level.
Best wishes,
TF

Hi, i think the Civic has a timing belt, So the noise could be coming from the belt itself or the tensioner pully assembly or any idler roller that the belt may go round.
Also if the waterpump is driven by the timing belt (which i think it is )it could be noisy
I hope this is of some help to you
John ( South Wales UK )

Does the pitch change and/or go away when the transmission changes gears?

no it would not be the timing belt making a rattling noise it couldn possible be you heat shield around your break rotor it could be someting having to do with ur suspenion like a spring maybe what kind of rattling noise? or a regular heat shield but loose in that particular area

The serpentine belt is the most common cause for whining sound when accelerating, try to understand if noise is coming from serpentine belt.

Also check power steering belt under steering column, and also the rotor and chain, thei do not make whining noise , but can make noise when accelerating.

The belt is first suspect.

COULD BE LOW ON POWER STEERING FLUID IF IT'S A BUZZ NOISE AND WORSE WHEN YOU TURN WHEEL.
OR, COULD BE IDLER PULLEY FOR BELTS. COMMON CONCERN.

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