Whining/Howling Noise at Specific Speed
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Whining/Howling Noise at Specific Speed
Hey guys, new to Club Lexus. Have an 2003 RX with 253k on it. I'm currently dealing with a mystery of a noise, thus my need for this forum, as I'm generally savvy enough to fix stuff on my own time. The noise is a whining/howling sound in which increases in pitch with speed, and decreases in pitch with coasting. It happens between 48-52 MPH and again, happens upon accelerating and deceleration. It is a noise only at that speed, so it's not a matter of RPM. Here's the tricky part. I noticed this noise last year in the cold of these MN winters and assumed it was my roof rack catching a weird wind draft or something. Once spring/summer came, the noise went away and never came back once. However, fall came around this year and as the temperatures dropped, the sound came back again. No louder, no quieter, just the same as the previous year. Here's the trickier part. The sound goes away after a long drive (5 hours was the drive I noticed it stopped happening), but still happens once the car is "warmed up" within 15-20 minutes.
The transmission was rebuilt at 187k, so I've ruled that out. Would love any other thoughts you pro's have!
The transmission was rebuilt at 187k, so I've ruled that out. Would love any other thoughts you pro's have!
#2
Lexus Test Driver
Well, it looks like you've considered the roof rack, which would have been my first suggestion. Just for curiosity's sake, maybe mark where the two roof racks are on the track, then move them somewhere completely different (or take them off?) and see if the noise disappears or changes. I would also try sometime when the speed is just right and you're hearing the noise, shift into neutral and hear if the noise abates. I don't suppose it would be wise to shift back into drive at speed, so maybe just brake to a stop in neutral. My money's on the roof racks. Air has a different density at different temps, so maybe the temperature change is enough to change the sound.
#4
Could be wind noise that happens when a door or window gasket is cold and stiff.
That would explain why it doesn't happen in warm weather.
That would explain why it doesn't happen in warm weather.
#5
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I replaced the rears back in August, not because of that sound but because of the obvious wheel bearing sound it was making in the back. The whining noise I'm dealing with now is coming from the front, but it's a completely different noise than the noise I heard with the rear bearings. Would those bearings sound the same when close to replacing?
#6
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, it looks like you've considered the roof rack, which would have been my first suggestion. Just for curiosity's sake, maybe mark where the two roof racks are on the track, then move them somewhere completely different (or take them off?) and see if the noise disappears or changes. I would also try sometime when the speed is just right and you're hearing the noise, shift into neutral and hear if the noise abates. I don't suppose it would be wise to shift back into drive at speed, so maybe just brake to a stop in neutral. My money's on the roof racks. Air has a different density at different temps, so maybe the temperature change is enough to change the sound.
#7
Lexus Test Driver
I'm certainly no expert, but after ruling those out I'm inclined to suspect a wheel bearing or axle. Shoot -- I was hoping the roof rack would be the culprit. To test maxSteel's suggestion, could you have a passenger unlatch one door at a time as you drive, hoping the wind noise wouldn't drown out the noise you already have?
Trending Topics
#8
Moderator
Are you sure it's not the transfer case making noise at those speeds? Assuming it's AWD, that is.. My RX would whine when it was cold outside (below 20 F) and would continue to do it well after the vehicle was warmed up, but eventually would stop on a long drive. If the temps got closer to 32, then it wouldn't make any noise at all.
The following users liked this post:
tiguy99 (02-11-17)
#11
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Are you sure it's not the transfer case making noise at those speeds? Assuming it's AWD, that is.. My RX would whine when it was cold outside (below 20 F) and would continue to do it well after the vehicle was warmed up, but eventually would stop on a long drive. If the temps got closer to 32, then it wouldn't make any noise at all.
#12
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm certainly no expert, but after ruling those out I'm inclined to suspect a wheel bearing or axle. Shoot -- I was hoping the roof rack would be the culprit. To test maxSteel's suggestion, could you have a passenger unlatch one door at a time as you drive, hoping the wind noise wouldn't drown out the noise you already have?
#13
Lexus Test Driver
It's certainly inexpensive and fairly easy to change the transfer case and differential fluids, and it wouldn't hurt anything to change them. Any chance that would reduce the noise? I didn't ask if you'd checked the levels.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post