Strange whistle/whine - new car - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

general101 · 06-24-2009, 04:22 PM

Hello all,

I bought a new corolla 2009, automatic transmission (Not Robotic!)
From the first day, when shifting from first to second gear the car makes an unnatural noise, like a whistle or a whine.
(during shifting and sometimes a little bit before).
It only happenes in the transition from first to second. It does not depend on the RPM at the moment.
When the engine is cold, in the morning, the sound is still there, but weaker, when the engine warms up,
the sound keeps appearing for the rest of the day. (I live in a country with a hot climate)

I have been told, 2009 model has the same transmission just as previous models, is it true? or there have been some changes in it?

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon with his car?
If you have, do you know of any solution for that?

Is it just my car? or it's something common?
Are there other common problems related with this model?

Thank you

gizzer777 · 06-24-2009, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by general101

Hello all,

I bought a new corolla 2009, automatic transmission (Not Robotic!)
From the first day, when shifting from first to second gear the car makes an unnatural noise, like a whistle or a whine.
(during shifting and sometimes a little bit before).
It only happenes in the transition from first to second. It does not depend on the RPM at the moment.
When the engine is cold, in the morning, the sound is still there, but weaker, when the engine warms up,
the sound keeps appearing for the rest of the day. (I live in a country with a hot climate)

I have been told, 2009 model has the same transmission just as previous models, is it true? or there have been some changes in it?

Has anyone else experienced this phenomenon with his car?
If you have, do you know of any solution for that?

Is it just my car? or it's something common?
Are there other common problems related with this model?

Thank you

Haven't heard about that one, but I would take it back to the dealer ASAP...could obviously be a tranny issue! Use the search function in the forum for other issues, There are not too many and I have had my 2009 a year now. a few I have heard about are possible oil consumption issue and a short engine rattle when 1st starting up. Also some units (just a few reports) cd/radio player dies with some kind of cryptic code on the display. people also complain about a "looseness" in the power steering. The 2009 Corolla has electric Power Steering and some hate it, while some get used to the difference in less than a week...some never notice it at all.

Good Luck and plz keep us posted!

LeanBurn · 06-24-2009, 06:35 PM

+1 for taking it in As soon as possible. Make sure they ride with you so they can hear it and make sure they document it. It will come in handy if there is warranty work that needs to be done.

I don't recall this issue coming up on this forum. Please keep us posted on your findings and results

ZenithTheTV · 06-25-2009, 03:14 AM

Does it "whistle" when you depress the gas pedal? Not speed or RPM dependent. As long as you depress the pedal you hear a slight whistle like a blow off type sound?

Cause if it is, I've noticed it for the past year and it doesn't sound like its abnormal, to me it sounds like that's what it should be doing. Ive noticed it with every other 09+ Corolla, XRS and non-XRS and I've driven way more than it to be a random occurrence.

RC1 · 06-25-2009, 09:37 AM

Yup my XRS does the same thing, sounds natural. I think what's happening is that the computer is modulating the throttle slightly right before and after a shift. When I shift up a gear, i hear that little whine right as I tip back into the throttle, but as I said, it doesn't concern me.

LeanBurn · 06-25-2009, 09:50 AM

Looks like an XRS thing. My 1.8L is silent.

general101 · 06-26-2009, 08:27 AM

Thanks for all the replies,

The whistle has no connection to pressing or depressing the gas pedal.
It whistles before and during shift from 1st to 2nd no matter what I do.
(and it whistles only in this shift! other shifts are silent)

Secondly, what is XRS? what does it mean?

Thank you!

general101 · 06-26-2009, 08:43 AM

Is the transmission in the corolla 2009 the exact same transmission system in previous models? (such as 2007,2006 which were without this phenomenon)

RC1 · 06-26-2009, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by general101

Thanks for all the replies,

The whistle has no connection to pressing or depressing the gas pedal.
It whistles before and during shift from 1st to 2nd no matter what I do.
(and it whistles only in this shift! other shifts are silent)

Secondly, what is XRS? what does it mean?

Thank you!

It may have no connection to you pressing the accelerator, but what I was suggesting is that since the computer takes control of shifts and throttle, it may be modulating the throttle slightly prior to a shift, and you may hear the slight whistle at that time. Even my 92 Camry computer has some control at shift time!

Crobledo4116 · 06-27-2009, 02:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by general101

Thanks for all the replies,

The whistle has no connection to pressing or depressing the gas pedal.
It whistles before and during shift from 1st to 2nd no matter what I do.
(and it whistles only in this shift! other shifts are silent)

Secondly, what is XRS? what does it mean?

Thank you!

XRS is one type of Corolla model, but basically XRS means= 2.4L engine