Want to know what a tcase whine sounds like? Video Inside.
Want to know what a tcase whine sounds like? Video Inside.
I've been frequenting this forum for a few years now. I've seen countless threads about blown transfer cases and many peoples futile attempts at describing the noise they are having. At one point that made me paranoid because everytime I thought I heard an unusual noise It would lead me to believe the transfer case was going. Until it finally happened to me, I never knew exactly what a transfer case whine sounded like. With the cellphone cameras and sound recorders being ubiquitous these days, I dont understand why people just don't post a soundclip or a video clip of the noise their having instead of trying to describe it in the way he or she thinks it sounds like. I heard things like "tornado siren" or "whining" being thrown across many posts. I did a search on youtube for a tornado siren and I don't believe mine sounds anything like it. The worse part is I knew exactly when it happened. I was going about 20-25 mph in the middle lane of a three lane road and had to slow down to get to the left lane to make a turn. As I was turning onto the left lane I was braking and at the same time hit a patch of uneven road causing the ABS to go on. At that point I thought something was wrong because going so slow and almost coming to a dead stop the ABS does not come on. I might have had wheel hop for a split second or one of the wheels might have been in the air causing the ABS to go off. A few days later, I heard the "whining" sounds of a tcase that is starting to let go. At first it would only happen above 60mph, then it would happen at different speeds and I would hear the gear wind down as I slowed down to a stop. At times the whine was so loud that I would even feel the gas pedal vibrating everytime I hit the gas. The whine would only happen when I would be on the gas and stop when I let go so I didn't think it was the tcase. I had it diagnosed by my mechanic with a mechanics stethescope. At first it was a bit hard to find the source of the sound, he was moving to the front and back of the car. Then he pinpointed the issue and it was the tcase. After the inspection, he advised me to get a new tcase because it probably cannot be rebuilt. I called shep who answered the phone the first time I called and when I described to him the symptoms , he advised me of how many evo tcs he has in his shop that were not able to be fixed because they were beyond repair and suggested I get a new one also agreeing with what my mechanic said but he would check it out for me if I wanted to send it in. My mechanic would have to open up a bay for me while it was being inspected and it is a very busy shop so he was doing me a favor since I knew him for so many years. Since I've been driving it so many weeks with the whine I decided to just get a new stage 2 tcase with LSD. I must have been on the phone ten mins and made the purchase. The quickest 3 grand I've ever spent in that short amount of time. That being said I had a very positive experience with shep and was already emailed a pre tracking number for fedex and it should be shipped out next week. He gave me the email confirmation the same day I called which I think was excellent service. Without further delay, here are the three sound clips from my cellphone camera with the sounds of a tcase thats starting to go. Funny thing is they day I decided to take the videos, the tcase is quieter then it has been for the past few days but you can still hear the noise. For the record I do change my tcase fluids about every third oil change and well as the tranny and rear diff. I have about 45K miles on the car right now.
http://www.mediafire.com/?1fgfhh21mzf
http://www.mediafire.com/?1fgfhh21mzf
Last edited by rcheung; Mar 31, 2007 at 07:43 AM.
I also want to add I ONLY use diaqueen in the tcase and rear diff. In the tranny I use BG syncroshift but from what i've been reading on these forums, I think I'll be changing to redline MT90 very soon.
Wow sounds like you're driving either an f1 racecar or on of those WWII airplanes IMO. Thanks for the vid bud. Best way to describe it is that it sounds like a really loud whine coming from the TC that gets louder as you accelerate faster.
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I dunno what Tornado sirens you listened to but it sounds just like all the ones I've ever heard...
Sad thing is that every video I've ever listened to/watched where someone has a "TC" whine sound different. Your's is the first that has sounded like mine when it went.
BTW you should be changing the TC and diff every 3-6k miles, not every 9k, unless you're doing oil changes more often.
Sad thing is that every video I've ever listened to/watched where someone has a "TC" whine sound different. Your's is the first that has sounded like mine when it went.
BTW you should be changing the TC and diff every 3-6k miles, not every 9k, unless you're doing oil changes more often.
Quicktime and Real Player work for me.
What do you mean clicking noises. When you accel hard is makes like a lite knocking kinda noise? I always thought it was the DP rattleing down there.
Originally Posted by Dinothegreat
Heck, mine already sounds like that and I only have 4000 miles on it.... The ACD makes some really funny clicking noises, too.
And like I said, they all sound different... This is a good example of what it usually sounds like but the best thing to do is if you hear a whine, get your tc and diff fluid changed and check for metal pieces.
