Help diagnosing a weird noise

[Gruntfuggly]

I wonder if anyone can help me diagnose a weird sound. It's basically a high pitched screeching/whistling sound, not particularly loud, but noticeable with the passenger window open:

- seems to be coming from the passenger side - I can barely hear it with the drivers window or sunroof open

- stops when idling

- starts again once up to about 30mph

- starts high pitch and comes down to a constant pitch - not relate to engine speed or vehicle speed

- not noticeable until the engine has warmed up

Any ideas would be welcome...

 

Thanks in advance!

[BachelorDays]

Rule out any transmission issues for a start. Fluid level and condition. Any slipping in the transmission?

[Gruntfuggly]

No slipping - is it easy to check the fluid level?

[BachelorDays]

There r the basics.. engine should be hot (good half an hour run at least) and still running (transmission in Park) when u take the reading. Normally takes two or three readings to confirm the fluid level. Brown fluid (chocolate milk brown) or darker is not good. If it smells burnt that's even worse. A smooth texture with some red colour still showing is fine.

[Malc]

19 hours ago, Gruntfuggly said:

not particularly loud, but noticeable with the passenger window open:

On my Ls400 I used to get an irritating wind noise at certain speeds and locations ( with windows closed though )  ........  put it down to the windscreen badly fitting coz when I had a new screen ( it cracked and had to be replaced ) that noise vanished  ........  just a thought

Malc

[bullhorn]

I had a similar sound on my is200 but coming from the drivers side.

The problem was a dry inner wheel bearing seal.

Remove the wheel, caliper and the caliper mounting bracket plus the disc then squirt some light oil or r40 into the gap at the rear of the hub-to try and lubricate the seal.

Assemble and go for a test run to see if the sound is still there.

Mine was quiet for a couple of days and then came back.

I had a new wheel bearing and seals fitted - all ok now.

Hope that might help.

 

 

[Gruntfuggly]

Thanks for the suggestions - I'll check out the bearing seal...

[gdh300]

I'm a bit late to this post but I had what might be a similar sound on my IS300. Again, you couldn't hear it from isnside the car but it was bl**dy annoying when driving with the window down! Changing pads and ensuring all the anti squeal shims and clips were present didn't seem to make a difference. However, I did find that the disc shields would often get bent and end-up in very light contact with the disc. Usually this would be after driving heavy rain when you get those powerful jets up inside the wheel arch. It doesn't help of course at the age they were, both had heavy corrosion (in fact one just fell asprt when the wheel was taken off!). Not saying this is what you have, but worth a look.