Transmission Noises

[gordon lonsdale]

This last few weeks and over maybe 6/700 miles the old 1.9 mk 11 manual has slowly developed a low growl/whine at 40 to 70 both while accelerating and on the overun , its totaly speed related only - and also happens while coasting out of gear.Could it just be a wheel bearing or do I have to face the awful reality of a bu..ered diff ? Oil level and spec are fine ,mileage is 95000 .

[sparky Paul]

I can't say I can ever remember anyone having diff problems with a Galaxy.

 

This might sound a bit unlikely, but have you had any new tyres recently? The last ones I had one mine made an awful noise... similar symptoms to yours, a whiny growl over 35mph, almost disappearing at 70mph. Although the noise only started when I fitted the four tyres, it was getting worse and I had convinced myself that something mechanical was going kaput. I had checked the wheel bearings, and like you was worried that the diff might be up the spout.

 

I read the Auto Express tyre tests and bought some Marshal Matrac tyres - highly reviewed, and seem great so far. The new pair of front tyres has fixed the problem 100% at the front, with just the whine from the back ones to contend with now... :lol:

 

Sumo Firenzas - never again. :lol:

 

Although the tyres were otherwise fine, I have never heard road tyres make such an awful noise.

[mikej]

HA HA :lol: i have the same tyres on now and they are driving me insane cheap but never again, same symptoms as you, i too thought the diff but when i changed the front back to Dunlops all was quiet on front anyway it's still there on the rear as i have a few miles left in them yet. I have just changed the rears on my Focus C class, Nexian i think they were?, same bloody noise. Looking for some mid range tyres now for the gal without the noise lol.........Fingers crossed it,s just your tyres mate. :lol:

[sparky Paul]

HA HA :lol: i have the same tyres on now and they are driving me insane cheap but never again, same symptoms as you, i too thought the diff but when i changed the front back to Dunlops all was quiet on front anyway it's still there on the rear as i have a few miles left in them yet. I have just changed the rears on my Focus C class, Nexian i think they were?, same bloody noise. Looking for some mid range tyres now for the gal without the noise lol

 

These Marshals are well reviewed, and worked out under

[gordon lonsdale]

I can't say I can ever remember anyone having diff problems with a Galaxy.

 

This might sound a bit unlikely, but have you had any new tyres recently? The last ones I had one mine made an awful noise... similar symptoms to yours, a whiny growl over 35mph, almost disappearing at 70mph. Although the noise only started when I fitted the four tyres, it was getting worse and I had convinced myself that something mechanical was going kaput. I had checked the wheel bearings, and like you was worried that the diff might be up the spout.

 

I read the Auto Express tyre tests and bought some Marshal Matrac tyres - highly reviewed, and seem great so far. The new pair of front tyres has fixed the problem 100% at the front, with just the whine from the back ones to contend with now... :D

 

Sumo Firenzas - never again. :D

 

Although the tyres were otherwise fine, I have never heard road tyres make such an awful noise.

Thanks for that Sparky but I cant see how it can be tyres causing it as they've bin on for the last 2 yrs and though they have always been a bit noisy... they are Dunlop Sp s , this noise has developed gradually over this last few weeks .Any ideas how you diagnose a diff ? And thanks all

[sparky Paul]

Thanks for that Sparky but I cant see how it can be tyres causing it as they've bin on for the last 2 yrs and though they have always been a bit noisy... they are Dunlop Sp s , this noise has developed gradually over this last few weeks .Any ideas how you diagnose a diff ?

 

Yes, that would tend to point elsewhere... it was worth a try. I remember how I had convinced myself there was something seriously wrong mechanically. Having said that, the Dunlops do get noisier as they are approaching the very end of their life.

 

The noise from a bad diff bearing tends to alter very noticeably as you go around a bend at speed. As the torque is pushed more to one driveshaft or the other, this puts load on different bearings, and the diff itself spins in the housing, working the bearings inside the diff. A diff bearing will also sound different under load, i.e. accelerating, to when on overrun, i.e. when engine braking.

 

The noise I had from the tyres varied little, no matter what I did on the road.

 

Wheel bearings tend to get slightly louder as you turn sharply and put more weight on the bad bearing, although they can be notoriously difficult to diagnose, especially fronts.

Edited September 20, 2009 by sparky Paul

[snapper]

The drive shaft UJ's are suspect on Galaxy's, listen for a Clunk when throtle on or off.

Try windows open steady speed then on off the gas.

I found you could pipoint left or right and almost inside or outside UJ.