whining noise above 100kmh - Gear Box issue?

[joec]

Hi guys,

I'm driving a Corolla Hatch ZRE152 Automatic. During my drive especially on highway, when my speedometer is above 100kmh i start to hear some whining noise coming from the mid-underneath my car. When my foot released the accelerator peddle, the noise immediately gone.

I tried brought to a toyota workshop to do transmission oil change. But the noise still persist and i do like to note the gear work perfectly fine. So i am wondering if this is normal.

Looking for some good feedback from you guys..THANKS

Edited August 27, 2009 by joec

[Evo7]

Hi guys,

I'm driving a Corolla Hatch ZRE152 Automatic. During my drive especially on highway, when my speedometer is above 100kmh i start to hear some whining noise coming from the mid-underneath my car. When my foot released the accelerator peddle, the noise immediately gone.

I tried brought to a toyota workshop to do transmission oil change. But the noise still persist and i do like to note the gear work perfectly fine. So i am wondering if this is normal.

Looking for some good feedback from you guys..THANKS

I had a mate who had the same issue, get a Toyota specific person to come for a ride in your car, it 'should' be a gearbox warranty issue.

Evo

[95CelicaSX]

Yeh

That sounds like a gearbox issue. You should have it looked at by a mechanic or warranty if you still have it

Does the vibrations from the noise pass through to the Gear knob?

Take a quick look under the hood and under engine bay and look for any small leaks along the transmission and diff

Grab a LED torch if you have one, if not you can pick 1 up for $10

[joec]

I left it on the same spot over the weekend, no leak apparently.

So any guys out there has the same issue? I was wondering of it just all corolla is like that.

When you speed up to 100kmh you start having some whining/spinning noise which come from the gear box.

Put some notice on it when you drive in the highway.

[scoobysteve]

hi,

I've got exactly the same thing happening with my 07 Auto Corolla (current shape). I get the noise when i hit between 50-60km/h and if i sit on that speed, it whines. However, if i go above and sit on 80km/h i get no noise. However, when i hit 100km/h and sit on that, then the whine happens again.

It only happens when my foot is on the pedal, the minute i take my foot off to slow down, no noise - the second i tap the accelarator pedal, it whines.

I've taken it to Toyota for a check and the mechanic there said that there is nothing wrong and that noise is normal. He reckons that the head guy in Toyota says that the noise is normal and nothing needs to be done. I've asked for a letter from this bloke in Toyota HQ indicating that this noise is normal and will not result in g/box failure in the future (from this noise of course). I'm yet to receive it.

I dont believe them cause i reckon its a bigger than normal job and they dont want to do it - the mechanic didnt seem helpful, just basically stayed away so he wouldnt get asked questions. My brother had sh*t fight with subaru when his impreza had a bad g/box. it took 6mths for them to finally do it after the Subaru Head tech in Subaru HQ intervened. The local subaru mechanic and the local subaru service manager had given my brother two different stories on what had caused the problem - and the service manager was a real ***** about it too.

I've taken the car to another mechanic for 2nd opinion and the he reckons it is the diff. This mechanic put the car on a hoist and put a stethiscope onto the g/box and diff and listened to both while the car was in drive. He reckons that the noise was much louder in the diff than in the g/box.

Anyhow, if you have had any updates on your issue, can you please let me know as i'm desperate to find out what i can do... this noise is annoying as it does it at 60km/h (your normal local street speed limit) and 100km/h (your highway speed limit).

thanks.

[joec]

I see, quite a lot of information there.

For your information, i got mine check in Anthony Smith in Coburg. The so called repair consultant has inform me the same thing that its normal. Later which i manage to obtain some advise to have a transmission oil change.

There is some issue here too as i was quoted between $200-$300 for a transmission oil change which they say they will change the filter pan, oil, etc and labor. Where else the other one only quoted me $60-$100 for transmission oil change. Do note that both quote are from different Toyota dealer.

Of course i opt for the cheaper one which i suspect they just do transmission oil change only when i find out later the noise still persisting.

But i gotten this advise too that to completely change your transmission oil you should at least do them twice as a normal change will only drain 40% of the transmission oil since there is still fluid trap in the transmission.

So my point is try get Trans Oil changed first completely. My car warranty just expired as i just done 67K on my car. If yours is still under warranty i would be much appreciate it if you can take further with Toyota on this matter and keep me update.

Note:- Mine only whines on/exceed 100KMh. Btw whats Diff means?

Edited September 11, 2009 by joec

[scoobysteve]

The diff is the differentials on your car....

We've managed to ask the actual mechanic about what he done and basically it was nothing.. he drove it, heard the noise and said that was normal... did not even put it on the hoist.

he suggested we take it to their main toyota service shop so the guys there can check it out further.. will be doing that next week.

will keep you updated.

[123R-Prozak]

The diff is the differentials on your car....

We've managed to ask the actual mechanic about what he done and basically it was nothing.. he drove it, heard the noise and said that was normal... did not even put it on the hoist.

he suggested we take it to their main toyota service shop so the guys there can check it out further.. will be doing that next week.

will keep you updated.

what a lazy technician, i would of tried and done it under warranty, i luv doing work under warranty cause it means work

[WAdriver]

I have same noise on my 2007 auto Corolla - whirring and whining noise at 60k. Have been complaining about it every service for last two years, but the Toyota service centre claimed they couldn't hear a noise!

Decided to change to a new service centre - found one which is a specialist Toyota transmission centre. First time at the new one they suggested a test drive with an experienced technician - and he identified the noise immediately as diff whine. Thats the good news. Bad news is that they say there's a lot of Corollas of that vintage and younger with it, they've re-built quite a few transmissions and sometimes it fixes it, sometimes it doesn't, and sometimes it comes out sounding worse!

The service centre suggested I just learn to live with it, as it doesn't mean the transmission is going to wear out any sooner or anything. Whether that is right or not isn't really the point - well ok it is an important point. But, there's also the fact that car companies go to an awful lot of effort these days sound proofing a vehicle, so an annoying high pitched whine can't be seen as 'normal' like it would have 20 years ago. Then there's the effect it will have on the resale value of my 'investment' - is a potential buyer going to believe it's nothing to worry about?

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to take it any further, but the warranty runs out in a few months, so I'm going to have to decide soon. If what I've heard here, and from others, is true - that Toyota knows about this problem and has made a high level decision not to fix it en masse, then I'm disappointed. I know every big company has to decide where it draws the line between customer satisfaction and profit, but I expected more from Toyota!

[123R-Prozak]

id keep going around places and find a place till they do something!

if its not normal then dont just 'live with it' u didnt buy a car to make that noise

also a car is no investment, as soon as u take it out of the car yard it drops in price, even if u drive it out and go around the block and take it to their used car department, u will get way less !!

[scoobysteve]

Hi,

I ended taking my car back to the main toyota service centre. I took one of the techs on a drive and pointed it out for him. He responded with "it sounds like a diff whine" before i even elaborated on how i took the car to another mechanic and that the 2nd mechanic favoured a diff prob...

He said he'll order in a few components for the diff so we'll see.

[joec]

Well how did it go? Do share what sort of parts which are required for the repair and ask ho wmuch will thi scost of the car is out of warranty.

Keep posting mate!

[thegourou20]

I have had a similar "whining" noise with my car from time to time lately. I have not been able to tell exactly when it comes on yet. :-l The difference from you guys is that it will pop up during the first few seconds when I take my foot off my accelerator. I cannot feel any gears grinding or anything but that noise does make you worry if there is something wrong. I have a service due next week so I will get my mechanic to look into it and let you guys know the outcome. I will also try and record the noise on my phone if it ever pops up again so that everyone will know what kind of noise I am referring to.

Has anyone been experiencing the same issue?

I would really appreciate your help.

[scoobysteve]

Hi,

I totally forgot to ask.. i just picked up the car and left (because it was under warranty). I havent heard the noise since which is great...

I assumed it was in the diff as that is what the mechanic said to me initially.

I'm so so sorry...(trust me i've been kicking myself).