Whirring/humming from front, driver's side
#1
Driver
Thread Starter
Whirring/humming from front, driver's side
Hey Everyone:
Did a search and couldn't find exactly what I'm experiencing. Whenever the car starts hitting 60km/hr+ I notice this whirring noise that seems to be coming from directly in front of the driver's seat, from under the hood. The faster I go, louder it seems to get. To me it sounds like a motor.
The noise is there even if I'm not accelerating. So if I hit 100km/hr and then take my foot off the pedal, the whirring noise is still there while coasting. It's very possible the noise is there at slower speeds but I don't start noticing until about 60km.
The noise is NOT there if I just rev the engine while parked.
I noticed this a few weeks back when I did a 5000Km road trip. Any ideas?
Did a search and couldn't find exactly what I'm experiencing. Whenever the car starts hitting 60km/hr+ I notice this whirring noise that seems to be coming from directly in front of the driver's seat, from under the hood. The faster I go, louder it seems to get. To me it sounds like a motor.
The noise is there even if I'm not accelerating. So if I hit 100km/hr and then take my foot off the pedal, the whirring noise is still there while coasting. It's very possible the noise is there at slower speeds but I don't start noticing until about 60km.
The noise is NOT there if I just rev the engine while parked.
I noticed this a few weeks back when I did a 5000Km road trip. Any ideas?
#3
Driver
Thread Starter
Wheel bearing maybe? While you're driving, turn the wheel left and right. Like this.. What Does a Bad Wheel Bearing Sound Like? - YouTube
If it is the wheel bearing, is that a complicated job? How much would a shop charge to change it? Also, is it safe to continue driving it another 6 days until I bring the car in for an oil change? Or is this hard to say?
Last edited by hvargas; 08-25-16 at 06:31 PM.
#4
Depends. Are you doing it? Have tools and time? Or doing half and half like you removing knuckle and taking to shop ($25-40) to press hub/bearing?
I took mine knuckles from Honda out to shop before when I did not have bearing tool kit and time. After that I bought the kit (about $70). I also did several DIYs write-ups (honda, toyota) on it and did the work myself on 2 cars (= 4 front bearings, 1 car 2 rear bearings also). Also improved the process.
Check this out from another member here and decide. It is a DIY so it serves as a good reference of the work and tools involved...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...tallation.html
As for doing immediate or wait... depends on how bad it sounds. Of course sooner is better than later. At least you can plan it out. Good luck.
I took mine knuckles from Honda out to shop before when I did not have bearing tool kit and time. After that I bought the kit (about $70). I also did several DIYs write-ups (honda, toyota) on it and did the work myself on 2 cars (= 4 front bearings, 1 car 2 rear bearings also). Also improved the process.
Check this out from another member here and decide. It is a DIY so it serves as a good reference of the work and tools involved...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...tallation.html
As for doing immediate or wait... depends on how bad it sounds. Of course sooner is better than later. At least you can plan it out. Good luck.
Last edited by surgeon0; 08-25-16 at 08:25 PM.
#5
Lexus Test Driver
iTrader: (1)
Before you go replacing parts, make sure it is the wheel bearing. To find out drive the speed that you hear the noise, then gentle turn the wheel if the noise goes away then theres a high chance it could be wheel bearing. If the noise or pitch of the noise doesnt change then the wheel bearing are good. Another thing to look for can be the tire. You might have a worn or chopped tire, run your hand across the tread if its lumpy then you have a problem in your suspension
#6
Could be something like a plastic bag wrapped around a suspension component of stuck in one of the underbody panels. That could make a noise like what you describe, and would become louder with increasing speed but independent of acceleration.
#7
Driver
Thread Starter
I'll probably bring it into my mechanic next Wednesday or so - wouldn't be comfortable doing something like this.
Hmmm thanks for the suggestions. I'll definitely try them out and check them out to try and narrow it down.
Hmmm thanks for the suggestions. I'll definitely try them out and check them out to try and narrow it down.
Depends. Are you doing it? Have tools and time? Or doing half and half like you removing knuckle and taking to shop ($25-40) to press hub/bearing?
I took mine knuckles from Honda out to shop before when I did not have bearing tool kit and time. After that I bought the kit (about $70). I also did several DIYs write-ups (honda, toyota) on it and did the work myself on 2 cars (= 4 front bearings, 1 car 2 rear bearings also). Also improved the process.
Check this out from another member here and decide. It is a DIY so it serves as a good reference of the work and tools involved...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...tallation.html
As for doing immediate or wait... depends on how bad it sounds. Of course sooner is better than later. At least you can plan it out. Good luck.
I took mine knuckles from Honda out to shop before when I did not have bearing tool kit and time. After that I bought the kit (about $70). I also did several DIYs write-ups (honda, toyota) on it and did the work myself on 2 cars (= 4 front bearings, 1 car 2 rear bearings also). Also improved the process.
Check this out from another member here and decide. It is a DIY so it serves as a good reference of the work and tools involved...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/es-...tallation.html
As for doing immediate or wait... depends on how bad it sounds. Of course sooner is better than later. At least you can plan it out. Good luck.
Before you go replacing parts, make sure it is the wheel bearing. To find out drive the speed that you hear the noise, then gentle turn the wheel if the noise goes away then theres a high chance it could be wheel bearing. If the noise or pitch of the noise doesnt change then the wheel bearing are good. Another thing to look for can be the tire. You might have a worn or chopped tire, run your hand across the tread if its lumpy then you have a problem in your suspension
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#13
Driver
Thread Starter
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#14
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