an engine whine/grind problem

[nino]

as you know i aint no mechanic so i will do my best to try and describe this. when driving at lower rpms my car feels like its grinding something in the motor. when you begin to accelerate you can feel this "grinding" in the steereing wheel and in the gas pedal. then at high speeds it goes away. but when you begin to slow down and let off the gas you can still feel this "grinding" somewhere in the motor. when you are just taking off it sounds like a whine in the engine.
it feels to me like a pull string toy - everything moves but it has that small friction when you pull the string. the car accelerates fine, but it feels like there is friction somewhere. anybody have any ideas?

[mcjoslyn]

Are you sure the grinding feeling is coming from the engine? What you're describing sounds more like a wheel bearing than something in the engine. Does the sound or feeling change any when you turn? When you apply the brakes?

[nino]

because i have no AC i cant hear anything when driving at higher speeds and i pretty much dont feel anything either. but at high speeds with the windows down, you cant even hear the radio with all the wind noise.
it is real noticable when at a stop and then accelerating. it has a whine that is loud enough to hear in the car itself. my friend said he flet it more in turns, but i really feel it from accelerations.

[Magnus]

maybe its alt or PS whine?

Could also be detonation. That woulld sound more like bolts in a tin can.