Well, it took me long enough to get an appointment at my dealer WITH a loaner car, but it finally happened today. As this group helped me diagnose, the idler pulley was the culprit of my whining noise. It's a good thing I told them ahead of time to order the part, or I would have had to make two appointments.
I also had my 30,000 mile service done, albeit at about 38,000 miles. The
30,000 mile service at this dealer normally costs ~$600 because they run the severe duty maintenance schedule for "all cars here in NJ". Obviously a scam. So I listed each thing I wanted done and that was all they charged me for. Cost me ~$200 with tax. I am going to flush the coolant myself and the tranny fluid doesn't really need changing until about 60K according to my manual. I don't do ANY of the sever duty driving, so I am following the "normal" maintenance schedule.Thanks again to the group for the help on the pulley. Now I have to schedule my wife's Entourage for exactly the same pulley (on her 3.8L V6).
Eric