Hey Guys, posted on TrailVoy and all I heard were crickets so I finally jumped ship and signed up over hear. (They sure are missing some of you guys over there! =P )
Here is the skinny:
- 06 TB LS - i6 4x4 with GU6 3.42 Non-locking Rear End 189,000 miles
- Whining/whistling/groaning (not grinding) Almost sounds like blowing air over a half empty beer bottle mixed with an electric motor. Pitch is higher at higher speeds. 99% sure not coming from engine compartment, more central or rear.
- Noise becoming more pronounced. Used to only be heard at "highway speeds" (50-75 mph) now can be heard at a lower pitch around 35-40 mph. Used to be able to drown the sound out with the radio but that isn't the case anymore.
- Only present when on the accelerator while in gear. Noise disappears when coasting and braking. Reoccurs as gas is reapplied. Shift into neutral eliminates noise too & engine rev sounds normal even while coasting.
- Same going noise straight or turning while on the gas, but no noise coasting flat or down hill.
So digesting the info above I'm leaning towards a bad pinion bearing but I have ZERO slop from the shaft to the rear diff so I'm not 100%. Last fluid change did not resolve or even improve this (Both Diffs & Transfer Case fluids). It is now time to change the fluids again though. The fact that it only happens when on the accelerator really eliminates a lot of issues. I'm hoping there is someone else out there that has seen this and can point me in the right direction. Thanks for your time!
Here is the skinny:
- 06 TB LS - i6 4x4 with GU6 3.42 Non-locking Rear End 189,000 miles
- Whining/whistling/groaning (not grinding) Almost sounds like blowing air over a half empty beer bottle mixed with an electric motor. Pitch is higher at higher speeds. 99% sure not coming from engine compartment, more central or rear.
- Noise becoming more pronounced. Used to only be heard at "highway speeds" (50-75 mph) now can be heard at a lower pitch around 35-40 mph. Used to be able to drown the sound out with the radio but that isn't the case anymore.
- Only present when on the accelerator while in gear. Noise disappears when coasting and braking. Reoccurs as gas is reapplied. Shift into neutral eliminates noise too & engine rev sounds normal even while coasting.
- Same going noise straight or turning while on the gas, but no noise coasting flat or down hill.
So digesting the info above I'm leaning towards a bad pinion bearing but I have ZERO slop from the shaft to the rear diff so I'm not 100%. Last fluid change did not resolve or even improve this (Both Diffs & Transfer Case fluids). It is now time to change the fluids again though. The fact that it only happens when on the accelerator really eliminates a lot of issues. I'm hoping there is someone else out there that has seen this and can point me in the right direction. Thanks for your time!