I have a 2011 Hyundai Santa Fe Limited V6 AWD. In the last week I started noticing a whining noise from the engine. It gets louder at higher RPM. Doesn't matter if the A/C is on or not. The only thing I can compare the sound to is the sound of the power steering on my 1980 Ford Grenada when there was no power steering fluid (but in this case it has nothing to do with turning the steering wheel).

The sound appears to be coming from the belt side, front bottom wheel - below the alternator (wheel = spinning thing coming out of the engine with a belt turning it). What is that?

Appointments at the dealer are booked out into next week so I figure if I can identify the noise I might have an idea of how serious it is before I can get to the dealer.