Transmission Or Tyre Noise. ?

Mercuryalan · August 24, 2015

I apologise in advance if as a noob I'm on the wrong forum.

My 2003 IS 200 has been perfect over the last two years but has now started whining at any speed over 20mph and in any gear. The tyres 215 45 17 are budget (Autoguard SDA802) from new when I bought the car and have done 20,000 ish miles. They are all showing wear on the inner side but have good tread over the rest of their surface. The noise sounds like transmission whine that gets higher in pitch the faster I drive. I'm about to replace the tyres (Hankook EVO2) to try and eliminate them from the problem. Drastic possibly but an upcoming MOT may have meant they needed changing anyway.

If these new tyres sort it great if not could it be the transmission having low oil ?

Thanks

Womble72 · August 25, 2015

Hi, it could be a tyre, had similar n it turned out to be an egg shaped tyre, if not, get the fluids checked, I've had 2 previous IS's, both with full main dealer history, BUT both had never had gearbox fluid changes, 2nd one had to have 2 changes within 3months to flush out between the plates (auto) if memory serves me correctly, it's at the back of the bulkhead, should be red in colour. (Gearbox). Think diff is harder to check,

Hope this helps,

Paul

Connoisseur · August 25, 2015

17" at 20k miles could very well be a culprit; as the tread wears down it means under load there is more full tyre on the surface. Had the same issue recently. rear tyres were very noisy with a whine and droan but had more tread on them than the fronts. so put new tyres onto the rear and moved rears to the front. Result - yes much quieter, but, same noise now comes from the front!

So putting new tyres onto the front tomorrow; am confident that the car will be quiet as a mouse (fingers crossed ;) ).

Mercuryalan · August 27, 2015

Hi once again,

Thanks for your reply's. My tyres were changed yesterday and the tracking checked. The tracking was out slightly and corrected and now my IS 200 Sport Cross is running, as you said it would Michael, as quiet as a mouse. A lot of reply's to similar noises from these model cars were ended by a 'just turn the radio up and ignore it'. In some cases of course you have to just shrug and do that due to the cost of possible repair or complete frustration in not being able to find the source of the noise. If only the MPG was better but it's a straight six for goodness sake so ....shrug with a big smile. Thanks again.

Connoisseur · August 27, 2015

Good stuff! I hope your straight six makes up for the low mpg; the V8 in mine also doesn't make for good mpg but the V8 benefits far outway that :)

I too swopped my front tyres for new yesterday and like you all is now whisper quiet. I'm taking the car through France to Southern Spain next week, can't wait!

Mercuryalan · August 27, 2015

Have a good one. I'm off to rainier climes myself next week....Northumberland.

royoftherovers · August 27, 2015

Good stuff! I hope your straight six makes up for the low mpg; the V8 in mine also doesn't make for good mpg but the V8 benefits far outway that :)

I too swopped my front tyres for new yesterday and like you all is now whisper quiet. I'm taking the car through France to Southern Spain next week, can't wait!

And I`m off through France to Sunny Southern Spain too on 4 Septermber via Eurotunnel, migrants and French Unions permitting !

I will be in the Merc Estate though , which one will you be in Michael, the SC or the GS?

Regards

John

Connoisseur · August 27, 2015

Hi John,

Would love to do it in the GS, maybe next year. Am taking the SC so we can do roof down as much as possible, though no boot space so travelling v. light :) Going via ferry to Dunkerque to avoid Calais, then Reims, Dijon, Lyon, Clermont Ferrand, across the border then Barcelona, Valencia and ending up at Murcia for 5 days sunning ourselves. Back via Zaragoza, Biarritz, La Rochelle and Bayeux before getting ferry home from Caen.

Will be going via the Millau Viaduct Bridge; comes highly recommended.

Will keep my eye out for a UK Merc. Enjoy!

royoftherovers · August 27, 2015

Hi John,

Would love to do it in the GS, maybe next year. Am taking the SC so we can do roof down as much as possible, though no boot space so travelling v. light :) Going via ferry to Dunkerque to avoid Calais, then Reims, Dijon, Lyon, Clermont Ferrand, across the border then Barcelona, Valencia and ending up at Murcia for 5 days sunning ourselves. Back via Zaragoza, Biarritz, La Rochelle and Bayeux before getting ferry home from Caen.

Will be going via the Millau Viaduct Bridge; comes highly recommended.

Will keep my eye out for a UK Merc. Enjoy!

My GS doesn`t have the carrying capacity of the Merc Estate Michael, plus the French and Spanish are not as careful with other people`s cars as we would like them to be, hence the Merc!

I`m going to Andalucia via the Tunnel, Rouen, Bordeaux and Madrid until the middle of November, so we are unlikey to spot each other.

Have done your route several times (both ways) and 5 visits to the magnificent Millau structure. If you can visit the Eiffel structure North of Millau and just off the A75...... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garabit_viaduct...it is magnificent too.

Have a great time.

Regards

John

Connoisseur · August 28, 2015

Thanks for that John, Eiffel's viaduct now on the itinerary. Have a good trip yourself.

Mike

Spacewagon52 · August 28, 2015

Would love to do either road trip in my Lexus! I am very envious! Take care and enjoy.

Connoisseur · August 28, 2015

Would love to do either road trip in my Lexus! I am very envious! Take care and enjoy.

Thank you, Like me the SC is now 'middle aged' and a long trip abroad (first one for the car) is just what we both need. The car has been serviced within an inch of its life so will keep fingers crossed and touch the wooden trim as required ;) Lexus Dealers rather rare in Europe; only one I've seen on my travels was in central Paris!

M

Spacewagon52 · August 28, 2015

When you get back post some photos of the SC in beautiful surroundings!

Connoisseur · August 28, 2015

Will do..........

Connoisseur · August 28, 2015

Have a good one. I'm off to rainier climes myself next week....Northumberland.

Get and post some pics of your car around Kielder? - the scenery up there is breathtaking. Have a good trip yourself.

andyk134 · September 18, 2015

Enjoy your trips guys. I am having my IS200 turbo'd in a couple of weeks so will be looking for a good trip to go on to really enjoy it. Not sure where but need some good weather too!