Drivetrain whine?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Drivetrain whine?
My '05 Z51 MN6 with a 3.9 diff just passed 10,000 miles and it has suddenly started to whine. Not a loud whine, but loud enough to be annoying at highway speeds. Here's what I know so far:
- Starts at 30mph
- Increases in pitch/frequency as speed increases (not relative to engine RPM)
- Happens in every gear
- It only occurs when drivetrain is loaded, no whine when coasting or free revving
- Sound doesn't change if I engage the brakes lightly while accelerating
- A quick tire and brake inspection didn't reveal anything concerning
This being an early '05 I believe my warranty is gone and it's unlikely that I'd be covered with my mods. I've searched the threads concerning drivetrain whine so I have gotten some info, but no one seems to have my exact issue.
I'm probably going to start by looking into changing the diff and transmission fluids.
Anyone have and ideas or suggestions?
- Starts at 30mph
- Increases in pitch/frequency as speed increases (not relative to engine RPM)
- Happens in every gear
- It only occurs when drivetrain is loaded, no whine when coasting or free revving
- Sound doesn't change if I engage the brakes lightly while accelerating
- A quick tire and brake inspection didn't reveal anything concerning
This being an early '05 I believe my warranty is gone and it's unlikely that I'd be covered with my mods. I've searched the threads concerning drivetrain whine so I have gotten some info, but no one seems to have my exact issue.
I'm probably going to start by looking into changing the diff and transmission fluids.
Anyone have and ideas or suggestions?
Pro
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 673
Likes: 0
On my 07 (now gone) the whine started at about 5,000 miles. Z51,MN6 no mods and not raced. I had the exact same symptoms,whine in every gear only when drivetrain was loaded, increase in pitch with speed, and brakes had no affect on the noise. After 3 different trips and almost 2 weeks total in the shop the dealer still couldn't pin down the problem. At first they thought it was the pilot bearing but it checked out OK. Then the exact quote was "my tech is at a loss". They ended up pulling the tranny out and replacing 3rd (and reverse) gears,EVERY bearing,trans fluid pump, and some other things. The fluid was burnt and they couldn't say for sure what the problem was. I just traded it at 10,150 miles and the whine hadn't returned yet but I would not want to have the problem without a warranty. Hope this helps. Good luck.
I think member (iridelow) just had his tranny totally replaced for the same problem.
I think member (iridelow) just had his tranny totally replaced for the same problem.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,218
Likes: 3
You sure it's not the alternator?
I bought an 05 with 7500 miles. At 10k it started whining... techs looked at it, I listened, we found out it was the alternator. They tried some stuff but it didn't really go away. Currently at 70k miles and the alternator still whines a bit but never had any issues with the alternator...
I bought an 05 with 7500 miles. At 10k it started whining... techs looked at it, I listened, we found out it was the alternator. They tried some stuff but it didn't really go away. Currently at 70k miles and the alternator still whines a bit but never had any issues with the alternator...
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
I just spent some time checking underneath the car and there is nothing out of the ordinary with the diff or trans. I see where I can replace the fluids in either easily enough.
Took it for another short freeway drive and it seems that the sound actually starts at 40mph+ and didn't start to become noticable until oil temps got above 150 degrees. At about 40-60mph just the slightest touch of the accelerator causes it.
Checked my warranty and saw that it expired 2/8/08, not that I think the dealership would look kindly on the mods.
Anyone solve minor whine by replacing spent trans fluid?
Took it for another short freeway drive and it seems that the sound actually starts at 40mph+ and didn't start to become noticable until oil temps got above 150 degrees. At about 40-60mph just the slightest touch of the accelerator causes it.
Checked my warranty and saw that it expired 2/8/08, not that I think the dealership would look kindly on the mods.
Anyone solve minor whine by replacing spent trans fluid?
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 38,314
Likes: 35
I just spent some time checking underneath the car and there is nothing out of the ordinary with the diff or trans. I see where I can replace the fluids in either easily enough.
Took it for another short freeway drive and it seems that the sound actually starts at 40mph+ and didn't start to become noticable until oil temps got above 150 degrees. At about 40-60mph just the slightest touch of the accelerator causes it.
Checked my warranty and saw that it expired 2/8/08, not that I think the dealership would look kindly on the mods.
Anyone solve minor whine by replacing spent trans fluid?
Took it for another short freeway drive and it seems that the sound actually starts at 40mph+ and didn't start to become noticable until oil temps got above 150 degrees. At about 40-60mph just the slightest touch of the accelerator causes it.
Checked my warranty and saw that it expired 2/8/08, not that I think the dealership would look kindly on the mods.
Anyone solve minor whine by replacing spent trans fluid?
If its the rear end, look for the whine to get worse. It usually doesn't get better.
Gear whine is load based, and can change tone or volume based on how you modulate the throttle.
If you get off the gas, it will become less noticible. Get on the gas and it comes back.
The usual solution is to replace the ring and pinion.
Last edited by '06 Quicksilver Z06; Feb 28, 2008 at 11:50 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Just put in some Royal Purple brand products in both the trans and the diff (Syncromax and Max Gear respectively) I saw a half dozen or so tiny copper specs in the diff oil when it came out, but nothing major. Took it out for some figure 8's and then on the freeway. Still have the noise, but maybe to a lesser extent..? I'm somewhat disappointed that it didn't immediately help but I'm hoping that letting the new fluid sink in for a week or two does.
On my drive I noticed that under very light throttle it's the loudest and when undergoing normal light acceleration I can hardly notice it. 60mph is the worst speed, but once I get to 70mph it almost completely goes away.
On my drive I noticed that under very light throttle it's the loudest and when undergoing normal light acceleration I can hardly notice it. 60mph is the worst speed, but once I get to 70mph it almost completely goes away.
Last edited by gath47; Mar 13, 2008 at 04:47 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 170
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth TX
My '05 Z51 MN6 with a 3.9 diff just passed 10,000 miles and it has suddenly started to whine. Not a loud whine, but loud enough to be annoying at highway speeds. Here's what I know so far:
- Starts at 30mph
- Increases in pitch/frequency as speed increases (not relative to engine RPM)
- Happens in every gear
- It only occurs when drivetrain is loaded, no whine when coasting or free revving
- Sound doesn't change if I engage the brakes lightly while accelerating
- A quick tire and brake inspection didn't reveal anything concerning
This being an early '05 I believe my warranty is gone and it's unlikely that I'd be covered with my mods. I've searched the threads concerning drivetrain whine so I have gotten some info, but no one seems to have my exact issue.
I'm probably going to start by looking into changing the diff and transmission fluids.
Anyone have and ideas or suggestions?
- Starts at 30mph
- Increases in pitch/frequency as speed increases (not relative to engine RPM)
- Happens in every gear
- It only occurs when drivetrain is loaded, no whine when coasting or free revving
- Sound doesn't change if I engage the brakes lightly while accelerating
- A quick tire and brake inspection didn't reveal anything concerning
This being an early '05 I believe my warranty is gone and it's unlikely that I'd be covered with my mods. I've searched the threads concerning drivetrain whine so I have gotten some info, but no one seems to have my exact issue.
I'm probably going to start by looking into changing the diff and transmission fluids.
Anyone have and ideas or suggestions?
Mine is a 2005 as well so I need to check when my warranty is out... (i'm not the orginal owner)
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