Guys I've searched on the past forum's but can't find anything. I hear a whining (not worrying) which I believe is coming from my diffential (that's my amateurish guess). If so, is this a common thing and whats the rectification? Usually occurs when, believe it or not - driving! many thanks, Julian
Assuming it's not a cat or a kid or your girlfriend whining- Let's narrow it down..... Does it sound the same under power and coasting? Does the noise change as you turn? Does it increase with engine speed or wheel speed or in a particular gear? Is there a vibration associated? What else can you tell us about the sound? Got lube?
Cheers here goes, the sound increases (not in noise) with acceleration, only when in gear, not in neutral - noise in all gears, no vibration. So I guess its associated with the drive when in gear. It doesn't cause any problems, just damn annoying and I'm hoping its a small bit of rectification work
Ok, probably not the diff itself, as it only "works" when the wheels are traveling at a different speed (turning). If it's the drive gear (or most others for that matter), the pitch will change when you are on throttle vs. off-throttle (coasting). If the pitch changes by gear, it's probably a bearing since you are changing the gearshaft speed much more than the wheel- and final drive gear speed. Neutral will usually not tell you much, except to remove the gearbox from the equation, as there is no load on the box, so things spin freely. Earlier 348 gearboxes have a weakness in the gearshaft bearings on the drivers' side-it's a ball bearing that I believe was later changed. If it sounds like a bearing noise, you might put the car on stands and listen through a screwdriver placed against the bearing housing (farthest outboard drivers' side casting near exhaust) as an assistant moves the tranny through the gears with the engine running and wheels turning. Good luck. I have most parts used for this box if you need some.
Thanks Bruce Its due for a service in May & the MOT. Sounds like your summary is close to the mark. If its not too bad (cost wise), I'll get my dealer to sort it out. If it gets horrendous - I might just come back to you about the parts!
