A little help pleae... Whirring - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

BrightExplorer · 07-20-2011, 06:30 AM

Hey everyone,

I'm fairly new to the forums...
I was curious if anyone could help me.

When I push the clutch in, and shift into gear, I start to hear a whirring/humming and it continues in every gear I shift into...
When I lay off the throttle the sound completely goes away and when I get back on it, it comes back instantly.

Also, my 5th gear whistles like air is coming through my drivers side, and I know thats probably an issue with my final drive...

Is anyone sure of the problem? And is it an expensive fix?

Thanks!

***TrailDust*** · 07-20-2011, 11:27 AM

Have you checked your transmission fluid level?

BrightExplorer · 07-20-2011, 11:38 AM

Its stupid of me not to have... I will do so as soon as I get out to my car...
I just bought this car about a week ago, and the guy who owned it before me had it "Checked out"

So I assumed that it was good. I know I know, never assume.

***TrailDust*** · 07-20-2011, 11:45 AM

No problem. Yep, start with the simplest solution first, and then go from there. Let us know if the fluid is low, if it's not and it's okay then we can diagnose from there.

BrightExplorer · 07-20-2011, 11:54 AM

Will do, I'll go check when I get out of work, at 3:30... And log back into the forums when I get home, to post my findings.

BrightExplorer · 07-21-2011, 06:38 AM

Update:

I noticed on my way home from work... that the issue doesn't just happen when my car is in gear...
It happens when I depress the throttle about 10-15%. (IE if I'm maintaining speed) If I accelerate and push the throttle down past about 10-15% the sound goes away, if I let off, the sound goes away.

I tried this in neutral as well, while I was at a stoplight. I geared into neutral, and pushed the accelerator to about 10% and the same sound showed up. A whirring, almost as if you're running your finger around the lip of a wine glass.

And my Transmission fluid is fine.

***TrailDust*** · 07-21-2011, 05:17 PM

Hmm, based on what you're describing it's not anything I'm familiar with. That's a new one, and maybe someone else has some insight for you...sorry.

hill8570 · 07-21-2011, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrightExplorer

Update:

I noticed on my way home from work... that the issue doesn't just happen when my car is in gear...
It happens when I depress the throttle about 10-15%. (IE if I'm maintaining speed) If I accelerate and push the throttle down past about 10-15% the sound goes away, if I let off, the sound goes away.

I tried this in neutral as well, while I was at a stoplight. I geared into neutral, and pushed the accelerator to about 10% and the same sound showed up. A whirring, almost as if you're running your finger around the lip of a wine glass.

OK, if you can reproduce in neutral, then put it in neutral, set the parking brake, get under the hood and find out more-or-less where it is coming from while you tweak on the throttle (the big circular thing connected to the cable where the air intake attaches to the engine). A mechanics stethoscope, dowel rod, or even a rolled up newspaper can help narrow down where the noise is coming from.

BrightExplorer · 07-22-2011, 08:06 AM

No worries Traildust... I appreciate the effort regardless...

Hill, those are good suggestions, I'll get on that this weekend if I get time.

Hajoca · 07-22-2011, 10:17 AM

Have you looked at the Power Steering Fluid pump?? it will whine as well if the fluid is low or foaming.

BrightExplorer · 07-22-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hajoca

Have you looked at the Power Steering Fluid pump?? it will whine as well if the fluid is low or foaming.

What would cause the PSF to foam?

I haven't checked that, I will check that as well, will that cause the whine to start even if I'm going completely straight?

I haven't noticed anything directly related to turning the wheel. Unless the power steering relates to more than just making the wheel easy to turn...

Damnit Jim, I'm a noob... not a mechanic! lol

But it does sound very similar to the whine/groan of power steering...

Hajoca · 07-22-2011, 01:37 PM

Fluid level, so at that particular speed, the pump is sucking in air because reservoir is too low.

Air can also be sucked in from a crack or leak in the return circuit.

Bad fluid - antifoaming agents are spent, or water got in the system - dry it out with dry (99%) isopropyl alcohol.

I forget but it is worth considering, the pump always pressurizes the fluid even when you do not steer.

Hajoca · 07-22-2011, 01:37 PM

Fluid level, so at that particular speed, the pump is sucking in air because reservoir is too low.

Air can also be sucked in from a crack or leak in the return circuit.

Bad fluid - antifoaming agents are spent, or water got in the system - dry it out with dry (99%) isopropyl alcohol.

I forget but it is worth considering, the pump always pressurizes the fluid even when you do not steer.