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Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
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Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
Thanks in advance for reading/helping.
This will be long so I'll get straight to it. My '03 E85 3.0i has a high frequency "whine" sound that presents around 1600-2000rpm (detailed testing info below). I do not exaggerate when I say that it drives me absolutely insane and I will sell the car if I can't find and fix the problem. It's been there since I bought it (9 months ago) and it's the type of high frequency sound that aging people stop being able to hear as the frequency range of sound that their ears can hear begins to narrow.
To put it another way, it sounds exactly like "coil whine" from a computer component under load/stress. Another way to describe it would be the high frequency "static noise" from a speaker that's turned on to full volume but isn't playing any music. Hopefully you now have an idea of the type of sound I'm talking about.
Some observations:
1. Only seems to happen during throttle/acceleration. ie, going from 1600rpm up to 2000rpm. Doesn't happen on the way down (no throttle, 2000rpm down to 1600rpm)
2. Only occurs when car is in gear (no sound when revving in neutral at standstill or moving at 70km/h)
3. Occurs in all gears (including reverse)
4. Very, very slow/light throttle from 1600rpm up to 2000rpm results in the sound being very faint/unnoticeable. In contrast, heavy/full throttle in the same rev range results in the sound being most obvious. This implies the sound "intensity" is related to engine load
5. The sound appears to be coming from the front of the car. This was determined by the fact that the sound is easier to hear when the foam pieces (both) are removed from the sound generator, and harder to hear when the foam is in place. (For the uninformed, the "sound generator" pipes the engine sound into the cabin through a tube. This tube has 2 foam pieces, one at each end of the tube, to dampen the engine noise)
Things I've tried to fix it:
1. The local mechanic thought it was the water pump. He replaced the pump and thermostat but, notably, not the belt or tensioner bearing.
2. I checked the air intake boot and all associated tubing for cracks. A very, very small crack was found and plugged
Details about the car:
1. 85000km
2. Automatic
3. M54B30 engine
This will be long so I'll get straight to it. My '03 E85 3.0i has a high frequency "whine" sound that presents around 1600-2000rpm (detailed testing info below). I do not exaggerate when I say that it drives me absolutely insane and I will sell the car if I can't find and fix the problem. It's been there since I bought it (9 months ago) and it's the type of high frequency sound that aging people stop being able to hear as the frequency range of sound that their ears can hear begins to narrow.
To put it another way, it sounds exactly like "coil whine" from a computer component under load/stress. Another way to describe it would be the high frequency "static noise" from a speaker that's turned on to full volume but isn't playing any music. Hopefully you now have an idea of the type of sound I'm talking about.
Some observations:
1. Only seems to happen during throttle/acceleration. ie, going from 1600rpm up to 2000rpm. Doesn't happen on the way down (no throttle, 2000rpm down to 1600rpm)
2. Only occurs when car is in gear (no sound when revving in neutral at standstill or moving at 70km/h)
3. Occurs in all gears (including reverse)
4. Very, very slow/light throttle from 1600rpm up to 2000rpm results in the sound being very faint/unnoticeable. In contrast, heavy/full throttle in the same rev range results in the sound being most obvious. This implies the sound "intensity" is related to engine load
5. The sound appears to be coming from the front of the car. This was determined by the fact that the sound is easier to hear when the foam pieces (both) are removed from the sound generator, and harder to hear when the foam is in place. (For the uninformed, the "sound generator" pipes the engine sound into the cabin through a tube. This tube has 2 foam pieces, one at each end of the tube, to dampen the engine noise)
Things I've tried to fix it:
1. The local mechanic thought it was the water pump. He replaced the pump and thermostat but, notably, not the belt or tensioner bearing.
2. I checked the air intake boot and all associated tubing for cracks. A very, very small crack was found and plugged
Details about the car:
1. 85000km
2. Automatic
3. M54B30 engine
- patriot66
- Lifer
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- Location: Mawdesley, Lancashire
Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
Sounds like an air leak to me. I've had several and eventually replaced all the CCV and several gaskets etc to cure it
Sterling Grey '03 2.5i SE / Infinitas Supercharger / S.M.G / Hardtop / Gloss Black 162s / Bilstein B4s / 3.0i Brakes / DLV De-Cat & Silencer / Rebuilt VANOS / Sonar 2Xcite Lights / Carbon & Alcantara Trim / M-Sport Seats / ...& Side Covers !
- road warrior
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2287
- Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 2:12 pm
- Location: Burton On trent
Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
I had a whine in my car for while, but she went shopping so it's OK now
If you ever think I'm off my rocker.. Just put me back in it and walk away... It's the kindest thing
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.
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- Member
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- Joined: Wed Jul 26, 2017 12:32 pm
- Location: Newbury, Berks UK
Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
Leaking swirl flaps in the inlet manifold?
08 Z4 3.0si Sport Coupe in Montego Blue
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- Newbie
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Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
Cooling Fan can whine.
Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
road warrior wrote: ↑Wed Nov 21, 2018 9:43 am.I had a whine in my car for while, but she went shopping so it's OK now
Linked issues?
- Phoenixboy
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2117
- Joined: Fri Nov 11, 2016 9:07 pm
- Location: english riviera
Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
greg81 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2019 7:33 pmroad warrior wrote: ↑Wed Nov 21, 2018 9:43 am.I had a whine in my car for while, but she went shopping so it's OK nowLinked issues?
E89 s drive 30i manual/gone
space grey
Carbon interior trim
19" Veeman FS 25`s
cruise control
m sport seats
stubby
led halo bulbs
z4 forum sticker, for added power.
OEM wind deflector
Gone, E85 Ruby Black.
space grey
Carbon interior trim
19" Veeman FS 25`s
cruise control
m sport seats
stubby
led halo bulbs
z4 forum sticker, for added power.
OEM wind deflector
Gone, E85 Ruby Black.
- road warrior
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2287
- Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 2:12 pm
- Location: Burton On trent
Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
are you saying my wife has leaky flaps ? if so, i aint gonna be the one to tell her....greg81 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2019 7:33 pmroad warrior wrote: ↑Wed Nov 21, 2018 9:43 am.I had a whine in my car for while, but she went shopping so it's OK now
Linked issues?
Last edited by road warrior on Wed Apr 24, 2019 7:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
If you ever think I'm off my rocker.. Just put me back in it and walk away... It's the kindest thing
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.
My wife says I never listen - or something like that.
gone but not forgotton -Mean Steve - made a sound like a bear with his nuts in a trap.
Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
Not at all.road warrior wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2019 7:39 pmare you saying my wife has leaky flaps ?greg81 wrote: ↑Wed Apr 24, 2019 7:33 pmroad warrior wrote: ↑Wed Nov 21, 2018 9:43 am.I had a whine in my car for while, but she went shopping so it's OK now
Linked issues?
- ph001
- Lifer
- Posts: 3870
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 5:53 pm
- Location: N. Yorkshire.
Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
You would have to suspect a bearing or something on the auxiliary serpentine belt so the first thing I would do is remove that (or at least take the tension off it by locking the auto-tensioner so that it doesn't spin). If that makes no difference, might sound weird, but try replacing the oil filter. Seen some very strange noises come from there in the past when the o-ring degrades on the filter element.
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- Member
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Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
I hate resurrect a post but this literally exactly what I'm struggling with! Only difference being mine is manual with 92k miles...
Any thoughts on what it could be?!
Any thoughts on what it could be?!
Current E82 125i M Sport
SOLD 04 Sterling Grey E85 3.0i Manual.
SOLD 04 Sterling Grey E85 3.0i Manual.
- ph001
- Lifer
- Posts: 3870
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 5:53 pm
- Location: N. Yorkshire.
Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
Does it sound like this?...
https://youtu.be/0SK23DgAq2A
https://youtu.be/0SK23DgAq2A
- BumpyZ4
- Member
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- Joined: Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:05 pm
- Location: New Orleans, LA USA
Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
Believe it or not it is the engine oil filter. Replace your oil filter with a Mann filter and the noise will go away.
2003 E85 3.0i Sterling Gray
KLR 650
Diva Roadster (Kit Car)
KLR 650
Diva Roadster (Kit Car)
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- Member
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Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
Not even a little bit! I also just changed the filter about 2 weeks ago.
Noise was there before this too. Thanks though.
Current E82 125i M Sport
SOLD 04 Sterling Grey E85 3.0i Manual.
SOLD 04 Sterling Grey E85 3.0i Manual.
- ph001
- Lifer
- Posts: 3870
- Joined: Mon Oct 31, 2016 5:53 pm
- Location: N. Yorkshire.
Help me diagnose the cause of this high pitch whine
Can you record it on your phone and put it on YouTube?