We have a high pitched whistle, whine coming.

ANONYMOUS

MEMBER
2000 NISSAN ALTIMA

We have a high pitched whistle, whine coming from the front of the car. We have had the windshield totally replaced, replaced any missing fasteners, wheel covers are intact, rear sway bar turned and greased, tire guy said that if it was a tire problem the noise would be there all the time. The noise doesn't start until we have driven 10-20 miles. Once the noise starts it's always there until the car has been turned off and sits for awhile. I am ready to accidentally blow up the car. It is that annoying. Do you have any ideas? The car has 180,000 miles on it.

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,744 POSTS

Axle seals can squeal but only when the car is moving. You normally won't hear them at highway speeds. Front wheel bearings will sound like an airplane engine.

There is a tool you might be able to borrow or rent from an auto parts store that borrows them called the "Chassis Ear". It is a set of six microphones, a switch box, and headphones. You clip the microphones to suspect points, then drive around while listening with the headphones. You can move the microphones around to zero in on the source of the noise. Be aware that many mechanics have never seen or even heard of this tool. Suspension and alignment mechanics use it to find rattles, squeaks, and other noises.