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I've noticed a problem since driving the car this weekend, i'm in uni so dont drive it much anymore:(, so couldnt tell you exactly how this came about

the sound picks up about 20mph and gets louder as you drive faster. I've tried changing gears, putting it in neutral, and this changes nothing with the sound, so i'm guessing its NOT something to do with gearbox exhaust or clutch. Basically the only thing that affects the pitch of it is the speed i'm going.

The sound itself is kinda strange, it doesnt sound horrible or anything like that, it just sounds too loud to be normal. When my dad first told me it was making this noise he said he thought the exhaust was on its way out, but the revs dont alter the sound in anyway so i'm thinking its not that, altough it does kinda sound like its coming from the back, but its hard to say, could it be a fan?

sorry for the essay, but if anyone could shed any light on this it would be great!

Sounds like a wheel bearing, however if the car has been sitting the for a while could be the brakes. Are the discs looking OK all round with a smooth silver surface etc ?

Dangerous Dave wrote:Sounds like a wheel bearing, however if the car has been sitting the for a while could be the brakes. Are the discs looking OK all round with a smooth silver surface etc ?

I've jsut been for a drive and it seems to be coming from the rear right hand side, so wheel bearing was my exact thought too, the cars been dirven every few days so its not the brakes, and plus ther look and perform fine.

Are wheel bearings expensive to replace?

could be alternator whine, caused by a bad earth on the engine bay, iirc the earth is near the temp sender, failing that, the alternator might be on its way out, but depends on what type of noise it is, kinda hard to suss it out from a description, needs to be heard really LOL

check for nasty things in your tyres?! anything's possible

mine is making the very same noise, i suspect it's a wheel bearing, gonna get it checked out tomorrow, will let you know what they say

Think mine might have the same problem - it seems much worse if I've been sitting in traffic for a while?!?!?! my garage said I had a small play in one of the rear bearings - so will get it replaced and see if that cures the noise

metalblue wrote:Think mine might have the same problem - it seems much worse if I've been sitting in traffic for a while?!?!?! my garage said I had a small play in one of the rear bearings - so will get it replaced and see if that cures the noise

nothing affects mine apart from the speed I'm going, it's always ther no matter what kind of driving or what kind of weather, It's definately coming from the rear right so i'm going to get the wheel bearing checked out, does anyone know how much these are to replace?

thanks,

I think its a pretty cheap fix, doesn't take long to do and the actual part doesn't cost much.