Whine from front transfer case?

Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2014 LEXUS IS 250
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 187,000 MILES
I believe its coming from there. Tires and suspension have no issues. If I remove the front drive shaft will I be able to drive it to see if the noise goes away so I can narrow down the issue? I do that with bmws to determine if the transfer case up front is bad
Sunday, December 14th, 2025 AT 10:41 AM

9 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
Yes, you can remove the front prop shaft and do a short diagnostic drive to see if the whine disappears. If so the noise goes away these cars had a problem with the differential main bearing for the ring gear, it is a little to small in my opinion.

Short drive only (5-10 miles max)

1. No hard acceleration
2. No high-speed freeway runs

You might get a warning light, just ignore it. Let us know how it goes
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, December 15th, 2025 AT 1:14 PM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2,018 POSTS
I see. Why no hard acceleration. Is that gonna do anything
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, December 15th, 2025 AT 2:05 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
Yes, this will cause the traction control to throw codes due to tire slippage.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 AT 9:46 AM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2,018 POSTS
Oh I see
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 AT 9:59 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
Yep, let me know if the noise goes away without the front driveshaft installed.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 AT 10:10 AM
Tiny
BHAMDOC1973
  • MEMBER
  • 2,018 POSTS
Unfortunately the car would only drive straight with this shaft out. If you turn it will barely move so I cant drive it at any speeds now. I saw evidence of some leak from the front case. I want to change the front case fluid. Am guessing that is called the front diff? And I wabt to change the transfer case by the transmission, so basically whatever the shafts connects to on both ends. Any instructions on drain and fill on these and the type of fluid plZ
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, December 20th, 2025 AT 2:06 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
The transfer case does use ATF because it has clutches inside, I would change the fluid out. The transfer case does not have a separate stand-alone drain/fill procedure like a typical transfer case it shares the automatic transmission fluid (ATF) with the transmission itself. So service the transmission at the same time. ATF capacity for the AWD model is about 10 quarts. There is no separate drain/fill plug labeled specifically “transfer case.” Here are the drain and fill. Check out the images (below). Let us know how it goes
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, December 21st, 2025 AT 10:40 AM
Tiny
DIVIDES
  • MEMBER
  • 954 POSTS
Oh ok, I won't need to do it then, I would need to change the front diff fluid
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, December 21st, 2025 AT 1:21 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 54,882 POSTS
I would do the transmission fluid and diff fluid.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, December 22nd, 2025 AT 9:40 AM

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Transfer Case Noise Content