hi guys

my xj6 seems to be developing a mechanical whinning noise when i goes up to about 80km/h (50mph) but there is no noise under 50km/h (30mph), its only noticable on freeway driving when u holding constant throttle

would it be a wheel bearing problem or pulley tensioner problem? (i have read similar diagnostics for both)

any help would be greatly appreciated .. Thanks!!

 

A whining noise could well be a bearing somewhere on the way out. Have you listened under the hood at all ? Wheel bearings tend to drone in my experience rather than whine.

 

Analyzing noises on the net is very chancy, but in my noise repertoire, whining is tires, growling is differential, howling is wheel bearings, knocking is U-joints, thumping is tire flat spots or belt damage, clicking is valves or VVT, whistling is vacuum leak, flapping is bad muffler or exhaust leak, hissing is leaking cooling system, squealing is belt-driven something, snapping is spark short to ground, squeaking is worn out brake pads, dry ball joint or anti roll bar bushing, screaming is Metallica turned up too loud.

 

Now I am going to put that list of noises and causes in my tool box

 

i am not unfamilar with cars .. i cannot consider myself an expert .. but i definitly have some mechanical senses .... after a few tests ... i have ruled out tyre noises
i tried swiching off air cond while the whinning sound happen (tensioner?) ... but no help
the sound doesnt get better or worse with cornering (wheel bearing?)
and i tried putting it in neutral while coasting and the soumd remains (gearbox?)
any ideas?
thx for ur help!

 

also,there is no noise wheni rev the car stationary ... so only happen at speed

 

If it was a belt tensioner, aircon pulley or other bearing attached to the motor, you would hear the sound when the car is stationary and you take it up to the 1,800 - 2,100 rpm range to simulate highway speeds. It sounds as if it must be in the driveline or the wheel bearings. Jack up the car where the tires are off of the ground and see if the tires wobble any when you grab the sides of the tires and push/pull opposite sides. Move the tires from side to side and top to bottom. If those are all tight, it is most likely not a wheel bearing. You are in a process of elimination, but you will find it.

 

wheel seems tight on all direction ... no free play watsoever ...

 

Sure its not the wife in the passenger seat?

 

i think it might be a worn over drive or 4 th gear bushing

 

the wife's whinning sounds a bit different to that .... it sound more like roaring ... whaha

 

worn overdrive should go away if i have the car coasting and in neutral?

 

I had two noisy tyres on a Rover 75, (Chinese Wanlis). Finally took it to a garage in Germany in 2008, only for them to find it was the tyres. Noise was a high-pitched drone, (maybe whine ?). I had thought a wheel bearing was on the way out. Garage showed me the tread with very unusual wear pattern which had caused a lumpy surface to develep over the whole of the tread which was causing the noise. I eve ntually swapped them out even though they were not illegal just to stop the noise. I had fitted them originally due to lack of cash to buy decent tyres.

 

i actually had some tyre guys had a look .. they claim there is no problem with the tyre .. but thanks for the tip .... i will check again ..... but i did hear normal tyre noise present at all speed then hear the whinning noise at over 80km/h

 

I've had this same problem for over a year and it's been getting worse, so I took my 2005 VDP with 77,000 miles to a local mechanic that I've worked with for over 20 years. He found a failing main bearing on the propeller shaft, and I'm having it replaced and the shaft rebuilt, including the end U joints. Hope this solves my problem and I've post an update when the work is completed.

 

Whining on mine was the rear diff