Subaru - Outback :: 2005 - High Pitched Whine When Car Is Cold And Around 20 Mph
Jan 4, 2013
About 2 months ago, I noticed a high pitched whine on my 2005 Subaru Outback. It honestly sounds like a siren and is very noticeable. It occurs more often when the car is cold (1st thing in the morning) and around 20 mph. It sounds like it is coming from the rear of my car. It occurs whether or not I am pressing on the gas pedal. Once I get above about 30-40 mph, I don't notice it anymore (don't know if this is because other engine noises are drowning it out or what). It does not change or get worse when I turn. It seems to subside once my car is warm. Other people have heard it and some describe it like an airplane taking off.
I took it to the Subaru dealership and they said it was my alternator. Lo and behold a few hundred dollars later, it was still making the noise. A few days later, my CAM sensor went bad and I was back in the shop. Of course, I tried to get my car to make the noise for the mechanic, but it wouldn't cooperate. They didn't see anything wrong, but it is still making the noise. I have taken it to the dealership and they couldn't get it to make the noise. My rear wheel bearings were going bad and so I replaced those - under warranty, but it still makes the noise. I keep up with all my oil changes, services, etc. I just had the fluids checked and the power steering fluid is normal. The power steering pump has also been checked and it is normal. What this might be?
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Need to determine the cause of a strange high-pitched squealing noise coming from the engine compartment of my 2008 Subaru Outback 2.5l automatic. The squeal happens only when the temperature is cold (below 32 degrees) AND I hit a bump. It happens more often the colder it is outside. The noise is definitely coming from the front of the car and seems like the passenger side but I can't be sure. It happens with the blower fan/AC both on and off so I don't think it is caused by that. It happens when the car is cold or driven for a while and warmed up.
It occurs at both high & low speeds. I checked all my fluids under the hood and everything is filled as it should be. There are no lights (check engine or ABS) on. Recommend any troubleshooting that I can try? I have not taken it to a mechanic yet as they might have a hard time reproducing the noise since it has to be below freezing and hit a decent bump. I attach a video that I took while driving last week on a 16 degree day and heard the squeal when I hit a bump. I had been driving for about 30 min when it occurred. I have more videos of the noise if needed.
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I posted a related video in the fuel pump thread here where the high whine noise is apparent several seconds after a cold start. Now from inside the cabin, looking at the revs, the "sewing-machine-like" whine disappears above 1200 rpm.
High-pitch noise below 1200 rpm - YouTube
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I have a 2005 Dodge Durango, 5.2 liter hemi engine, 135,000 miles. For the last three months the car has emitted a high-pitched whine when the engine starts, while the transmission shifts through the gears, and while the car is at speed. The tone remains the same as the car runs, but it seems liked to the engine revs as the transmission shifts. A very reputable mechanic has tried to find the source without success. He's run all the diagnostics, and used a stethoscope. He checked the alternator and the power steering pump and replaced two belt pulleys, but the whine is still there. He so far has not been able to locate the source. He says he's heard the same noise on a couple of other Dodges or Jeeps with the same engine. I'd like to know what's causing this whine and how to fix it.
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Yesterday, I noticed a rattling sound coming from the entire car a 2002 subaru outback 2.5l 4 cylander (it seems a bit louder on the passenger side but it literally can be heard throughout the car). I was on the expressway and got off and stopped at a red light when the check engine light came on and started to flash and the rpm's dropped rapidly and the needle began to bounce up and down. I pulled into a gas station to check it out more and popped the hood to find that when the car is rattling it is also shaking and rocking the engine of the car from side to side slightly.
When I'm idling the rpm's drop and the car feels like it is going to stall out. Then, as I accelerate, the rpm's barely go above 2000 and jump up quickly between 3000 & 4000. It sounds like a metal on metal rattle with a very slight high pitched whistle and you can hear a fan kick on and the engine try to keep the rpm's up every couple of seconds when the car is stopped. I had the timing belts replaced 2 years ago and it sounds very similar to how it did when they needed to be changed, however, the engine never felt like it was going to stall until yesterday.
When idling the noise gets louder and when accelerating it can still be heard but barely. Also, the rattling has caused the entire car to vibrate all of the time. I noticed yesterday that the oil was low and topped it off, but I don't think that would cause such a hige issue so quickly. When I go uphill, i have a good amount of power but every 30 second or so the car shifts and the rpm's jump lurching the car forward because of the surge of power. Also, when I hit the brakes, my rpm's jump slightly to about halfway above the 1 but the engine does not accelerate.
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I have a 2005 Subaru Outback XT with turbo. I have had a strange problem the last two winters and have stumped two mechanics, so far.
At this time of year, it is necessary to warm my car up for a few minutes in the morning. Last winter, when I warmed my car up, I would smell gasoline outside of the car and in the cab. It only happened when it is about 25 degrees or less outside. After about 10-15 minutes, once the car was warm, the smell would go away. I figured smelling gasoline was bad news, so, I took it to my mechanic who said he found a loose clamp in the engine. He tightened it and it fixed the problem. I didn't have any other issues that winter or through the next year.
But, this winter, the problem is back. I have moved, so, I took the car to a new mechanic (recommended by friends) and told him the issue. He said that he found a loose clamp between the engine and the turbo and tightened it. He said other than that, he can't think of anything. Well, that worked for a few days. But, now, the problem is back and with a vengeance. The smell is a bit different. Still like gasoline, but kind of like exhaust, too. And it is strong. I have to open the windows for a few minutes to air the car out before I can drive it. I took it back to the mechanic, but he is stumped and not sure what to do next.
I think my next step is to take it to a Subaru dealer, but with a 10 year old car, I'm hesitant to go that route. Though, I love my car and want it to last AND be safe to drive. What is going on?
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2005 Subaru Outback Wagon just had 60,000 mi service, O-ring replaced. running fineran out of gas on HWY. CHP arrived 2 min before AAA and insisted on pushing me to next exit, at least 5 mi. Per copper's instructions, automatic transmission in neutral, brakes off. Now there is a steady new high-pitch to the background engine noise that doesn't change with speed. What happened and do I need to take it to the shop?
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Had my first drive with the windows down for a long time and noticed a new medium to high pitched whine, stays relative to engine speed. Not the turbo, its much louder than that, i searched about the water pump issues and no one seemed to mention any associated noise, just coolant on the driveway. Waterpump? Alternator?
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The vehicle is a 2005 Touareg 4.2 v8 with 81k miles. I purchased from a dealership and have been having nothing but problems from the day I purchased it. (2 months ago) the day after I purchased it check engine light came on, headlight range light, air bag light, and now this noise I have owned about 15 vag cars and also own vagcom no codes pertaining to this noise... Above 10-15mph there is an intermittent whine (high pitched) for the most part the noise is there most of the time.
It does not stop when in neutral not effected when the air is off or on, does not change if you down shift, no change if the wheels are turned. I broke down and took it to a very trustworthy Audi shop in the area and you guessed it the entire way there no noise... The tech drove it no noise so I had them flush and fill the trans as it was due for it anyways. They informed me that it was dirty and I figured that it may have taken care of it. Well after a 20 minute drive home the noise started again! I took a short video....
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I recently noticed that my Golf R was making a strange high pitched whine and it seemed like there was no boost. I took my car to the dealer, and it turns out that part of the CAI broke off (a mounting component) and made its way into the turbo, effectively destroying it.
My dealer was initially intending to cover the turbo under warranty (prior to investigation), but now that it is clear that a failure in the CAI caused the issue, they cannot (obviously) cover it under VW warranty. Unitronic CAI failure led to turbo failure.
The serviced manager did some research prior to getting back with me, and was somewhat puzzled since the Unitronic CAI displayed on their website looked slightly different from mine in that the component that failed was not there. The service manager called Unitronic and learned that the failed component was a known issue (it had apparently failed before), and thus they modified the design - hence the picture of the revised version did not match the older version that was installed on my Golf R. The Unitronic rep offered to replace the CAI - but did not mention anything about the failed turbo (when he spoke to the service manager).
I found the following thread which illustrates that this was a known issue: [URL] .... I just wish I had found out about this before it failed.
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My car has 155k miles and I haven't had any previous issues with it. I noticed probably 30k miles ago the beginning of a whine sound when the car accelerates. The noise has been getting louder (it's really not that loud) but I am wondering what this could be. I want to avoid anything happening to the car and want to find out what the problem is so I can fix it.
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My 2009 Camry with 72k on it has started to make an intermittent high pitched whine from the rear of the car. It's only noticeable while accelerating or maintaining speed.
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Just had 4 new rotors put on my '08 LWB after 70k miles. A few days later, I noticed a very high pitched whine that occurs occasionally at speed. When I brake, it stops, and it restarts a few minutes later. It almost sounds like what you detect during a hearing test, only louder. And before you ask, passengers can hear it too.
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Car was in the garage. Had been off for hours. Husband noticed a high pitched whine coming from the rear of the car. Louder underneath. I opened the trunk and took out everything in the cargo net (thought something had gotten stuck in it, a gadget of some kind). Nothing there. I went to unhook the net and pull up the mat etc. and the noise stopped (coincidence I'm sure). I couldn't find anything. It didn't sound like it was coming from the wing at all (had trouble with wing being stuck down when I first got it).
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This has begun in the last few weeks on my '02 SF (which only has a couple of months left until it is retired )....
If I'm going anywhere between about 90-110 KM, I'll hear an odd high pitched whine. It sounds almost like microphone feedback, and I'm having a really hard time trying to find out where the sound is coming from. It is very subtle and comes and goes.
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I noticed when I first start of my 2006 Azera at night or even during the day and make the first turn of of my driveway or out of the parking lot at work there is a high pitched whining sound. Sounds like it maybe coming from under the car maybe from the back. I thought at first it maybe a belt (power steering) under the hood but it sounds like it coming from the back side of the car. It only does it one time mostly when its cold outside. What can it be?
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When I apply my brakes I hear a high pitched whine. I thought the pads needed replaced, but upon checking them there appears to be plenty of pad left. What else could this noise be? It's only when I apply the brake that I hear this, I suspect it may be something with the brake line but am not experienced enough to be sure.
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I have about 1000 miles on my 350 F Sport AWD, whining noise. When I am driving with any pressure on the gas epedal, I hear a high-pitched whine in the cabin. If I take pressure off the gas pedal, the sound stops. It comes back as soon as I touch the gas pedal. The sound seems to be coming from the rear of the car, and it happens whether the audio is on or off.
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I get a very annoying high pitched electronic whine on an AM radio station that I like. It occurs all the time. Its like a grounding problem. It is so bad I can't listen to the station in my 2009 LS. Only one station, AM 810, has the issue. I don't have ML. Just a regular radio. No other radio issues.
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I'm going to take my 2012 Camry SE in for service sometime in November and experienced a high-pitched whine (very low volume) in the front end of their car. This sound seems to be coming from the front passenger side of the car and has surfaced only within the last month or so, between 70-75 MPH. Above and below that speed range I hear nothing. This car has low mileage; after almost two years, it has only about 12,500 miles on it.
I'm wondering whether it's a trans-axle whine, but it is of such low volume I don't think it would be easy for a tech to diagnose. Also, other than the D1T recall, are there any other TSBs that I should be aware of, and any recent Entune updates that need to be applied? And, whether Toyota has a remedy for D1T yet?
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I have the Bridgestone Turanza EL400 radials on my car and now at 8000 miles I have started hearing a noise that is hard to describe. It sounds like a singing, or medium to high pitched whine (no, it's not the transmission sound others have reported). It occurs anytime I'm above 20 MPH. I can put the car in neutral at 55 and coast and it's still there, so it's not the engine (which is idling while I'm coasting). I can't detect any noise from the engine at all at idle or at speed. I took a dealership technician on a ride and he thinks it sounds like tire noise. I have heard some complaints on one of the tire sites about this brand being noisy after a few thousand miles.
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