Hi guys,

I noticed recently that my car has a slight whine when accelerating and deaccelerating, it is mostly noticable at around 3 - 4K RPM before the exhaust drowns it out (I asume).

I bought the car with about 62k miles and neglected changing drive train oils till about 72k miles (Stupidely, even though I didn't know when they had last been changed - except for the AYC clutch bath which was done around the time I bought the car).

The other day I changed my drive train fluids (except for the AYC clutch bath - still looking for SPIII fluid) thinking that might make the whine dissapear however it hasn't done anything.

For the record, the rear diff oil was a nice colour, there were no metal shavings on the drain bolt. Basically the fluid looked new.

The transfer case oil was also a nice colour however I suspect that 550ml of fluid didn't come out, more like 300 - 400ml.

The gearbox oil was dirty but still a little yellow.

There have been a few dumps and launches done to the car since I got it, I feel bad for neglegcting changing drive train oils as I think that this whine only started recently (Although I'm not 100% as I may have not noticed it earlier due to lack of experience with the Evo).

The whine sounds like the car is going in reverse, however it is very mild and nobody notices it until I point it out, it happens on deacceleration and acceleration and sounds like a car reversing. I have a feeling that the noise increases in pitch sometimes, and I suspect that it's coming from the transfer case (although I'm not 100%). It's most noticable in 1st and 2nd gear.

Thanks, sorry about the long post.

Edit: More info that I forgot to mention:

In addition to all this stuff, when the car is idle with the clutch out I also have a clutch chatter/input shaft noise. I asume it's input shaft noise since I'm running an OEM clutch. Could it be that the input shaft noise is making this whining sound as the car revs?

Also, when cruising in 5th (and less noticably in 4th) at low revs - around 2.5k RPM, I hear a sound which sounds kind of similar to the input shaft/clutch chatter noise. Almost sounds like there is something lose in the gearbox however the noise is so mild it is hard to notice, it could even be tyre/road noise but I'm not sure. The stuff I'm describing is so mild but it's catching my attention because I noticed it all recently, could this be transfer case related too?

 

I also have a whine coming from my rear end. I only notice when holding constant speed and it drones out during deceleration or acceleration. I really wouldn't worry about it until it gets considerably louder, a little whine seems to be common. Ive got a twin disk clutch and have a lot of chatter with the clutch out at idle. I also wouldnt worry about that. T case rebuild is inevitable around this milage if you plan on putting down power, but dont worry about it until that time comes.

Theres a lot of moving parts that make a lot of noises..until you get something thats very noticeable and disruptive I wouldn't loose any sleep. Relax and Enjoy your car!!

 

My car does the same thing, small whine heard in pretty much every gear at low RPM nothing to loud though never gets louder at higher speeds. If your fluid came out without any metallic shine or shavings everything should be good with the tcase. What Ive learned from owning two evo's and searching millions of posts is that these cars have very noisy drivetrains and its just something you have to get used to or itll eventually drive you crazy trying to track down every noise. As long as the noise doesn't sound like a siren at higher speeds no need to worry. Just turn the music up and enjoy the car.

 

Thanks dudes!

 

if it's a constant whine at certain speeds, it may be fuel pump whine if it's coming from the rear.

not that I'm an expert, but some experts advised me a few years ago on my 03 evo.

if it gets louder then it's the t-case, most likely.

other than that, the transmissions on these cars are louder than almost any car and some noise is normal.

these cars also go through "moods" and drive differently from day to day. have an evo buddy near you demo the car to see if they can tell you more.

 

Definetely not the fuel pump.

Seems like it's most audiable when I downshift from 3rd to 2nd under intense engine breaking.

Does that narrow it down a bit? Could it be the syncrhos?

 

I think I'm hearing the same thing you're talking about. Has kind of an
electronic type hum right?

*I never do any "intense engine breaking" but it happens when I do a slight engine brake.

 

Best bet post a video, your noise could be normal drivetrain noise, could be a wheel bearing starting to roar.......could be numerous things.

Video will help rule out possibilities and start to give answers or if your just paranoid of a part going bad.haha

For the record on the highway I hear some slight drivetrain noise, but nothing that overpowers my radio. If you wanted a quiet drivetrain shouldve bought a BMW. haha

 

its probably the transfer case. is it blown? I think not

 

If you're driving straight and its whining at a constant speed, It's your Transfer Case.

If it whines when decelling in first gear then it's the fact we have a straight cut 1st gear and is perfectly normal.

Also turn your stereo off, May have a ground loop lol.

 

A majority of the time people have a transfer case whine coming from the ring gear. This is something that is very common and you just deal with.

The wine often happens around 50mph as well. GL bud, I bet you're probably fine though..

 

Under acceleration and deceleration? Like a buzzy whine? Try turning air in on off at idle Ti see if you can hear a noise more or not. Try putting the clutch in and out and see if the noise disappears when clutch disengaged if noise disappears your thrust bearing is going. It will make a buzzy whine under acceleration deceleration , have a check

 

Thanks for that. An input shaft bearing noise (like "grinding" or muffled "popping") is evident when the car is idling with the clutch out, when the clutch is put in the noise goes away. What I've noticed is that this noise can now also be heard while driving, it is most audible when down shifting and deaccelerating. It seems to get louder under these engine breaking conditions, as soon as the clutch is pushed in the noise disappears completely. The noise can also be heard during low RPM cruising eg. in 4th or 5th.

This is the input shaft bearing, correct? As far as I know I have an OEM clutch. Considering that the noise has gotten worse to the point of being heard during driving, what needs to be done here? What are the repercussions of ignoring this problem?

 

thrust bearing bout a 60 part mate but needs to be changed dropping out the clutch basically from memory, or you could try some graphite grease on it but that doesn't always help.

 

This man is a genius for stating this clearly....I drive my Evo like if I stoled it on a regular basis and when I am cruising very slowly i am was permanently listening to the whining and being very paranoid about it but if its not a siren sound or the sound doesn't follow you throughout hight RPMs plus no metal shaving seems you should be good.

I just stumbled across this post and I see many are also paranoid, thats cause we all love our rides...best

p.d: I always use MOTUL SAE w90 for extreme use.