Whine and Grease on the firewall

[Salsa Guy]

Over that week or so the car as a whine. At first thought it was just the SC but has gotten worse. Tonight while trying to isolate it (coming from passenger side) of the motor, I found what looks like grease on the firewall and on the inner CV boot. I really don't thing it was oil because of the smell. It looks like it came off a pulley on the lower part of the engine. I burned my self twice on the mainfold trying to get a sample of it. Also noticed a little "coolant" smell, waiting for it to cool off a bit and then jack it up and take a look undeneath. Does this sound like a water pump crapping out? What other pulley/bearings will sling on the lower firewall side of the engine?

[Serj22]

IS the grease green? Did you see if either of the cv boots were torn or slid off?

[star_deceiver]

Time for new drive axles! It's easier and more cost effective to replace the whole thing instead of just the boot itself!

[Salsa Guy]

The grease is black from what I can tell and thought it was a boot.But the inner CV boot seems fine, no cracks or splits. Unless it's coming from where it's clamped to the axle but from what I felt and can see there's no issue there.Is there a bearing on the back side of the power steering pump? I figured it is packed with grease and the seal crapped out. That would explain both the grease and the noise. But I'm not discounting the CV boot is leaking but what's with the whine noise unless it's just the SC and a figment of my mind.The power steering level looks good and the grease seems to be in places where the CV couldn't sling it into around the PS pump. Oh BTW the noise happens when the car is stopped or moving and increases in pitch with engine speed. It sounds like a trip to my local trusted mechanic to be sure.

[silverbullet]

Good luck.

[Salsa Guy]

Well I drove it to work the noise is gone but now I'm sure the inner CV is bad

[Salsa Guy]

Well the boots are all good. The grease is breaking down and seeping out around the clamps on both sides (it worse on the right side). I guess the hard weather we had over the past year 110+ to -20. May try to shoot some more grease in the boots and see what happens. If it comes back out then I'll change the axles, if it stays in it should be good for a while. Just need to keep an eye on it. Suppose a looky at the rears will be in order.