HELP! I've got a 04 x-type that is making a loud gear sound. The faster you go, the louder it gets!
It sounds like It's comming from the front drive system. The sound seem to stop when you take a hard left!
I bought the car for my wife about 5 mo. ago and the sound started not long after. At first it wasn't loud but it
has grown over time to be a real howler! Any one have an idea? thanks.

 

How about a drive by video w/ sound and upload it to a free photobucket account for us to see and hear. Sounds are soooooo very difficult to diagnose by describing w/ words.

 

Often tire noise is mistaken for gear whine. Check your tires for 'feathering'. Listen carefully when driving from one road surface to a different one. Pump up the tires to 35 psi, and see if the noise changes.

If you still suspect it is the gears, get under the car and check each rotating joint for any signs of looseness or freeplay.

gordo

 

Search the forum for Prop Shaft threads and see if the sound/cold conditions make sense to you

 

Not to ask the silly question, but how are you CV joints holding up? Those can be known to howl at speed and would change in intensity when making a turn. Granted, I would also be looking at the front wheel bearings. Don't recall the exact setup of our Jags, but from experience with my truck, you can get a howl when driving straight and gets louder at speed and during a turn can make the noise remain or go away (depending on direction of the turn). Do you feel a slight vibration in the steering wheel as the noise gets louder? In your case, because the noise goes away as you turn left, if it is the bearing in the front, your most likely culprit is the left side (noise goes away due to being unloaded during the turn).

 

I'll be checking out the cv's, wheel bearings,propshaft, and tc oil this weekend. Thanks to all for the info. I'll post any results.
Mabe could help someone else.[sm=chattypair.gif]

 

Well I did the tc fluid this weekend,and the fluid was S**T. Only got about 6 oz out. I installed a valve in the drain plug so I can change it again tomorrow after about 140 miles. I took some photos of the process, I'll post them after the job is done.
I still have the growling noise but it's not from the tc, mabe wheel bearings? I'll know more tomorrow.

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I uploaded some photos of the tc fluid change. #1&#2 show a fluid pump I used to fill the tc,worked real slick!
#3 & #4 shows the 45 brass fitting and valve I used. I had to grind the square edges off so the 45 would thread in.

 

2xlooser - who are you? Many of us have talked for so loooooooooong about changing TC fluid on the "sealed for death" unit in our X's. And you just go and do it? You are a hero my friend, IF you first did a lot of research about how much should be in there, how much to refill AND what fluid to use. So, what did you use for refill?

PS Did the sound get worse as the weather got colder. ie under 40F? Prop shaft center bearing...is the likely culprit. I know, I said it before...

 

I couldn't have done it without this fourm and all the good people in it. As for the mechanical
part of it, It's really not that hard at all. It's the info that you need. It's pretty tight around the
plug area, so I ground the edges off of the brass 45 and it turned in no problem. If you want
to make the job easy, pick up the fluid pump like I did. You can flush the tc with the pump, it
draws and pumps, so you force the fluid in and suck it out. The clear tube lets you see when
it's clean. It's about $25 bucks and worth every penny.
Sadly, I still have the growling noise, but it's not the tc!
Next the wheel bearings! Then mabe the prop shaft,but I don't think thats it.

ps: Mobil 1 75w 140,550 cc,and Bar's Main Seal Repair and Conditioner,about 5 to 1 mix.

 

Just to share some info if anyone wants to know. the growling sound is still there, even after changing the tc fluid, and greasing the prop shaft center bearing. So I moved to the wheel bearings and cv shafts, the bearings are fine, but the cv shaft (passenger side) has about 3/16" virtical movement at the inside joint. Anyone think this could cause the vibration and growling sound?
Please let me know what you think. thanks to all. eric-2xlooser

PS: where can I get cheap cv shafts?