2003 1.8 T WHIRRING NOISE

[mo1976]

Just bought AUDI A4 03 PLATE 1.8T,6 SPEED,190 BHP which has developed this whirring noise which gets louder when speed is increased. The sound appears to be coming from below passenger side seat and when clutch is down and gearbox is dis-engaged the sound is still present.I've been told it could be the gearbox whine and not the wheel bearing which i suspected!!! So far i've done the service (oil/filters/plugs/coolant),had the cam/alternator belt changed,new tyres fitted.Yesterday i had gearbox oil checked and level was ok.What next???
​I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ANY ADVICE FROM FORUM COMMUNITY

 

[cjsuk]

I would think wheel bearing, unless a wheel is catching somewhere due to dodgy springs/shocks, drive shaft bearings? Does the tone change when not in gear etc or is it literally a speed dependant noise?

 

[Artimus]

if it's still noisy at stand-still it sounds like it'll be the Gearbox final drive. If it only happens when moving it's probably a bearing somewhere.

 

[mo1976]

if it's still noisy at stand-still it sounds like it'll be the Gearbox final drive. If it only happens when moving it's probably a bearing somewhere.

There is no noise at stand-still at all, whirring noise only starts to appear when speed goes over 30mph and starts to get louder as speed is increased.i'll eliminate wheel bearings first,thanks!!

 

[mo1976]

I would think wheel bearing, unless a wheel is catching somewhere due to dodgy springs/shocks, drive shaft bearings? Does the tone change when not in gear etc or is it literally a speed dependant noise?

No the tone don't change in gear or neutral above 30mph roughly and is speed dependant ! I drove the car today on motorway and run a little test by dis-engaging the gearbox and turning engine off just to eliminate engine noise.The same whirring sound was still there.Also there wasn't any wheel play when I had it checked by mechanic the other day. Wouldn't drive shaft bearings produce more of a knocking sound?

 

[mo1976]

I would think wheel bearing, unless a wheel is catching somewhere due to dodgy springs/shocks, drive shaft bearings? Does the tone change when not in gear etc or is it literally a speed dependant noise?

<br><br>

No the tone don't change in gear or neutral above 30mph roughly and is speed dependant ! I drove the car today on motorway and &nbsp;run a little test by dis-engaging the gearbox and turning engine off just to eliminate engine noise.The same whirring sound was still there.Also there wasn't any wheel play when I had it checked by mechanic the other day.&nbsp;Wouldn't drive shaft bearings produce more of a knocking sound?

 

[simon.m]

stupid as this may sound have a look at the Tyre i had a whining sound and thought it was a bearing put the wheel on the back and the sound is now coming from the back not the front any more just a though

 

[mo1976]

I went for an easy fix straight away and replaced the old tyres which were on last legs as soon as the noise started.Now running on Continentals super contact 3 (245x45x17)

 

[cjsuk]

True tyres can make a racket too

 

[simon.m]

worth a shot ;-)

 

[murran]

does the noise change if you swerve left to right and back again ie, loading the bearings up in different ways? if its a wheel bearing 9 times out of ten you can get the noise to change (louder or note change) when turning one way or the other.
if the noise is constant its more likely to be in the gearbox.

we had a fwd b6 130tdi in a couple of weeks ago.suspect wheel bearing, turned out the diff bearings were shot, there was actual side to side movement in the drive flanges!

 

[mo1976]

Just a feedback guys,had a wheel bearings checked out by different vw/audi specialist garage and everything was fine.It was pointed out that actual noise is bearings failing inside the gearbox which according to them is very unusual for petrol engine.I was quoted 900 pounds for re-build by gearbox specialist and after few phone calls managed to find a decent second hand gearbox locally (in a very good condition) with 6 months warranty for 450 cash.Fitting is going to be done this week,so i guess i'll feedback again.Thank you all for your response,cheerio