MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

[witchcraftz]

Car just started making an odd noise, it sounds like a whirring/whining noise. It kinda reminds me of when you take a piece of rubber and put it in the blades of a fan on full speed.

At first I thought maybe the new Aero II rims were rubbing in the fender area but I checked and there does not seem to be anything rubbing. The noise seems to happen only when I go over 60 km/h (or maybe I can only hear it when over 60).

Is it perhaps the transmission as that is when it goes into 5th? Or maybe the turbo dying? Maybe something I haven't clued in on yet?

[stefan]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

random thoughts maybe...

rule out heater fan?
Loose fender liner flexing toward wheel at higher speed?

I think a turbo you would hear as it spools no matter what the speed. It spools up more or less the same in first as it does in fifth...
No comment on tranny.

[Geobmx4life]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

Localize the noise if you can...my rear passenger wheel bearing just started to go, and it was noticeable at 60kph and above...took the car to a parking lot and did figure 8's...sound disappeared turning right...and got louder turning left....that's how I diagnosed it...being repaired at CAW today as I don't have a press to install the bearing.

[Ur0Drivr]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

The turbo "dying" sound is more along the sound of a dentist drill. Ask me how I know

[MechEngg]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

George i think i have to do a wheel bearing as well! I have a press kit, we could have had a party haha

[stefan]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

Localize the noise if you can...my rear passenger wheel bearing just started to go, and it was noticeable at 60kph and above...took the car to a parking lot and did figure 8's...sound disappeared turning right...and got louder turning left....that's how I diagnosed it...being repaired at CAW today as I don't have a press to install the bearing.

This should confirm bearings. Its pretty obvious. When you load up the bearing, it goes quite. 60 is pretty close to where I noticed it too.

[MechEngg]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

Other way to check wheel bearing is to jack up that corner and grab the wheel at the top and bottom and try to wiggle it and see if it moves. Then grab the sides as well and see if it wiggles back and forth. If it does it in both directions then you can tell that the wheel bearing is shot.

[witchcraftz]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

Hmm, could be the front right bearing, I just did the rears last year so they should be good for a while.

[Geobmx4life]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

George i think i have to do a wheel bearing as well! I have a press kit, we could have had a party haha

Ah POOP!!!

[100%VAGitarian]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

This should confirm bearings. Its pretty obvious. When you load up the bearing, it goes quite. 60 is pretty close to where I noticed it too.

correction, when you load up the bad bearing, it gets louder. ie: left wheel bearing gets louder turning right, and right gets louder turning left.

[kujiwara]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

Wheel bearing possibly

[stefan]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

correction, when you load up the bad bearing, it gets louder. ie: left wheel bearing gets louder turning right, and right gets louder turning left.

Definately got quieter under load both times that I needed a front bearing in my mk4. I googled a bit to figure out why, as your comment makes sense. This guys explination seems to add up.

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=250295

[witchcraftz]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

After driving it last night I feel it's more like the sound a propeller airplane makes. Oddly enough, it goes form a propeller airplane to a kind of clunking when I turn left.

I'm taking the front end apart this Sunday so hopefully I'll find out what's up.

[witchcraftz]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

Spent the last 30 minutes under the car, splashes of oil all around the turbo.

Bearing failure/leak? I still have full power when I press the gas, oil level is still at max so not much oil has seeped out.

How long can the turbo last like this? I have no other car and need to drive to get to work and get to places. :(

[Benjamin]

Re: MK4 TDI whining noise over 60 km/h?

When you say all around, top, bottom, sides? Check your feed and return lines to start. Check the clamp on the charge air side as well to make sure no leaks on that side.

How much time do you have once the turbo starts going if that is the issue. Could be any minute, could be a year or two, there is not right answer.