I'm really having a bad month with my 2001 XK8!

First the electrical gremlins as described in my "Electrical Issues" post earlier, now I'm having a whirring/whining noise in 1st and 2nd gear. It happens only as the engine revs in 1st and 2nd and sounds almost like a R supercharger. It's not an unpleasant noise, but I'm concerned I might be about to suffer some serious malfunction. This is my first auto box, having owned several manuals, and I'm suspecting it may be gearbox-related.

Any thoughts are really appreciated. Have to admit, I'm starting to get pretty demoralised with this car. After about 18 months ownership, the cost-benefit ratio is swinging in the wrong direction, and I don't even drive it as a daily runner!

Jonathan

 

Hard to diagnose a 'whirring' noise Jonathan, any chance you can record some audio/video of the symptom? It would definitely help.

Is it only when cold, or consistent throughout a driving cycle?

chin up, I hope it gets better for you.

 

I suggest getting the gearbox fluid level checked if it's really only noisy in 1st & 2nd gears. You could have a leak in the system and driving like that could casue problems.

 

No, it occurs when warm and cold and is most notable at higher revs. I appreciate it's difficult to comment on a noise you haven't heard so I will attempt to record an mpeg over the next few days so you can here it. It is a constant high-pitched whirr or whine, very like the supercharger noise on the XKR, or the noise a washing machine makes when it's going on spin cycle. It seems to only be occurring in 1st and 2nd, but it seems to be getting more audible.

 

Turn off the radio...still there? (Just trying to eliminate any alternator interference)

 

If I'm not mistaken the sound he is hearing sounds very mechanical. like two well oiled gears at high rpm. As he said, not unlike a twin screw supercharger from inside the car at high Rpm (less the sucking sound. I have the same noise.

 

Correct, it's mechanical rather than electrical. It's odd that there aren't any threads on this before now.

 

have you ever had an a-drum failure yet? Trying not to jinx ya.

 

Sigh, this is precisely why I just ignore it and say a prayer to the car gods when I hear it...

 

Time for a change of avatar squirrel! You're not broken anymore... (unless you want to jinx yourself)

Didn't you change the fluid and filter in the tranny?

 

I added fluid just to se if it would work. It did. It has been working fantastically for over 400 miles now !!!

I figured I would save the full flush, fill and filter for the day i decide to do the A- Drum....which by the sound of it, isn't too far off....

As for the avatar....I'm thinking if I change it it will be a bigger Jynx. As soon as I pull the broken out it will break and I'll have to put it right back!

 

LOL, I can't make up my mind if that's just brilliant logic applied, or just the opposite.