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Whining noise front end - Right side?

Tiny
BILL.E3000
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 CHEVROLET IMPALA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 99,000 MILES
Hi Folks
I have a question about a high whining noise in the front end of the car. Only when it is cold, as it warms up you just about hear it but it sounds like a jet. Doing about 50 MPH, shut down the engine and put the car in neutral. Sound was still there. Do you have any idea what it could be?
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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 AT 4:22 PM

9 Replies

Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,395 POSTS
Not knowing where you are in the world, are you running the A/C? The radiator cooling fan will run constantly as long as the A/C is on. If the fan has blade damage or if the air flow is obstructed, it will make an unusual noise. Please advise.
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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 AT 5:16 PM
Tiny
BILL.E3000
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hi James
Live in Maryland - temperature in mid 40s - no A/C. The noise is strong when first starting out (cold). I was thinking CV joints or transmission. The rear shaft still turns even in neutral once the car is rolling and the enigine is off. I checked the fan blades - looks OK. The noise is a function of speed. It just started a couple of days ago - now it is there all the time. I apprecaite your help - any advice?
Thanks
bill
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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 AT 6:58 PM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,395 POSTS
Bill, My wife drives an'04 Impala, and I have been all over that thing looking for something that would make noise. The only thing I can come up with is the transmission. If the trans filter is partially plugged, it will make the pump whine trying to pull cold fluid. Once the fluid warms a bit, it pulls easier and the whine will decrease. You could pull the pan, or have it done, and change fluid and filter. I'm pretty sure this will solve your problem. Let me know.
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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 AT 9:20 PM
Tiny
BILL.E3000
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hi James
I will try that this weekend and let you know what happens - it make sense to me.
Thank you
Bill
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Wednesday, December 3rd, 2008 AT 5:54 AM
Tiny
BILL.E3000
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hi James,
I changed the filter and transmission fluid this weekend - mess job. It needed to be done anyway. This did not correct the problem, whine is still there. The whine does not start until the car is doing over 15-17MPH - Did 50MPH, shut the engine off and in neutral - noise is still there until you go below 15-17 mph. Maybe a better way to describe sound is a low drone vs a high pitch sound. Could it be the CV joints? Complete Brake was done about 4 months ago.
Thanks
Bill
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Sunday, December 7th, 2008 AT 8:08 AM
Tiny
JAMES W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 2,395 POSTS
A CV joint usually won't make any noise going straight down the road. If they do, it has to be "really" bad, and it will be a clunking noise or more noticeable when making a sharp left or right turn. Do you have "traction control". Judging from your last posting it almost sounds like a carrier bearing in the final drive (differential). Does it make any difference in the noise under light acceleration and deceleration? Let me know.
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Sunday, December 7th, 2008 AT 5:25 PM
Tiny
BILL.E3000
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Hi James
The car has traction control.
I have rebuild RWD diff but never a FWD diff. I need to look up how easy or hard it will be. I have not noticed any difference between light acceleration or deceleration. It appears to sound the same.
Thanks
Bill
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Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 AT 11:41 AM
Tiny
JUSTIN ALLEN SPAUR SR.
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Hello, I am having the same issue. I think that it’s the torque converter going bad so transmission flush might help or have it replaced from a shop.
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Thursday, September 14th, 2023 AT 8:15 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,904 POSTS
This sounds like to me the front bearing hub is going out. I would raise the front of the vehicle and see if the front wheel has play, if so, here is how to change the bearing hub out. Check out the images (below). Please let us know what happens.
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Friday, September 15th, 2023 AT 11:25 AM

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