Bearing like whine?

[jezza16v]

Just top up the gearbox oil first, its cheap & dead easy, it should take 2 litres, I got 1.5+ litres into my last one so must have been only half a litre in there. The whine went pretty much but after another 3000mls the box went BANG!
The gearbox oil filler allen bung is on the end of the gearbox behind the front passenger side wheel. You squirt the new oil in there until it overflows out of the hole then you know that its at the correct level.
If that doesn't sort it, there's not much cash or time wasted and you can start looking elsewhere.
All three of my Golfs came with very low gearbox oil, its one of the first things to check when you buy one.

[DOA]

Out of interest, does it have the same whine in all of the gears, just one, a couple and is it purely engine speed related, doing it at the same revs in whatever gear it does it in? Also, can you repeat the whine with the clutch in or it not in gear?

I notice it most in 2nd and 3rd, maybe because at 2k revs the engine/road noise is enough to drown it out. It seems to be engine speed related, although again its hard to tell as it may be present between 10-40mph but I just happen to be in 2nd/3rd mostly at these speeds.  I never notice it at motorway speed, only around town.  There is no whine when stationary/ revving in neutral, and i think the whine reduces/disappears when the clutch is in, although this is hard to be sure of....

Judging by that it may not be the diff but it definately sounds like a bearing is on the way out in the gearbox and the fact most people give their gearboxes greif in these gears points me to think it may be related the the shaft these gears are on. As said before, oil may sort it for a while but it will be likely to go soon. As also said, if it can go on some ramps it will be relatively easy for a mechanic to trace the noise to either gearbox or diff if he gets a listening stick on each.

[scottishpedro]

Just top up the gearbox oil first, its cheap & dead easy, it should take 2 litres, I got 1.5+ litres into my last one so must have been only half a litre in there. The whine went pretty much but after another 3000mls the box went BANG!
The gearbox oil filler allen bung is on the end of the gearbox behind the front passenger side wheel. You squirt the new oil in there until it overflows out of the hole then you know that its at the correct level.
If that doesn't sort it, there's not much cash or time wasted and you can start looking elsewhere.
All three of my Golfs came with very low gearbox oil, its one of the first things to check when you buy one.

Out of interest, does it have the same whine in all of the gears, just one, a couple and is it purely engine speed related, doing it at the same revs in whatever gear it does it in? Also, can you repeat the whine with the clutch in or it not in gear?

I notice it most in 2nd and 3rd, maybe because at 2k revs the engine/road noise is enough to drown it out. It seems to be engine speed related, although again its hard to tell as it may be present between 10-40mph but I just happen to be in 2nd/3rd mostly at these speeds.  I never notice it at motorway speed, only around town.  There is no whine when stationary/ revving in neutral, and i think the whine reduces/disappears when the clutch is in, although this is hard to be sure of....

Judging by that it may not be the diff but it definately sounds like a bearing is on the way out in the gearbox and the fact most people give their gearboxes greif in these gears points me to think it may be related the the shaft these gears are on. As said before, oil may sort it for a while but it will be likely to go soon. As also said, if it can go on some ramps it will be relatively easy for a mechanic to trace the noise to either gearbox or diff if he gets a listening stick on each.

Thanks for the advice, it's booked in next weekend to get it looked at

Cheers

Pedro

[danny_p]

gearboxes   if the oil level is low  5th gear eats itself    if its jumping out of 5th it's to late  the box is dead on its feet  if not may survive

what actualy happens is 5th gear ends up running dry if oil level is low  so it overheats and looses it temper and hardness,  so it wears away bloody quickly,  this fills the gearbox with shrapnel / swarf    that promtly trashes every thing that moves  bearings and cogs   it then rapily eats itself.

[scottishpedro]

gearboxes   if the oil level is low  5th gear eats itself    if its jumping out of 5th it's to late  the box is dead on its feet  if not may survive

what actualy happens is 5th gear ends up running dry if oil level is low  so it overheats and looses it temper and hardness,  so it wears away bloody quickly,  this fills the gearbox with shrapnel / swarf    that promtly trashes every thing that moves  bearings and cogs   it then rapily eats itself.

5th gear is good!

[mk2bal]

My old 020 totally lost 5th gear in the end, so I had a 4spd abf for a few weeks! Sometimes forgot aboout it and stuck it in 5th at like 100mph, was like putting it in neutral-nothing there!! Oops back to fourth!! Gold swarf oil poured from it when I removed it and smashed a hole in it for a look-see

[scottishpedro]

It appears the gearbox oil level is normal and the oil is fine.

[Bandit127]

I am getting a bearing like whine when accelerating (almost sounds like a quiet supercharger) in my 8v M2. It is noticeable between 2k-3k revs and is present when I come off the accelerator (and freewheel for example going downhill).  I tried slipping into neutral and the noise seemed to reduce, although this isn't conclusive, I may be imagining this.  I wondered if I had over tightened the alternator belt but the noise isn't present when the car is stationery (I also removed the belt and there does not seem to be any unusual play in alternator/water pump pulleys).  Any suggestions?  Possibly front wheel bearings?

Thanks in advance

Pete

Before you go in at the deep end...

You just tightened the belt and the noise started? Hmm. I reckon you should whip the belt off and take it round the block. A few hundred yards should be enough on a cold engine to let you know if the noise has gone.


 

[scottishpedro]

I am getting a bearing like whine when accelerating (almost sounds like a quiet supercharger) in my 8v M2. It is noticeable between 2k-3k revs and is present when I come off the accelerator (and freewheel for example going downhill).  I tried slipping into neutral and the noise seemed to reduce, although this isn't conclusive, I may be imagining this.  I wondered if I had over tightened the alternator belt but the noise isn't present when the car is stationery (I also removed the belt and there does not seem to be any unusual play in alternator/water pump pulleys).  Any suggestions?  Possibly front wheel bearings?

Thanks in advance

Pete

Before you go in at the deep end...

You just tightened the belt and the noise started? Hmm. I reckon you should whip the belt off and take it round the block. A few hundred yards should be enough on a cold engine to let you know if the noise has gone.


 

I tightened it a while ago but this may be worth a shot thanks

[weazgti]

Cambelt cover not on properly with the belt running against it. More noticeable at higher revs.
Ended up filing a bit out of mine to stop it.
Should be able to tell by looking at cambelt cover at the bottom, be melted plastic there or very slight groove.
Completely different answer to whats been posted but your gonna be fookin annoyed if you get a box changed and it was a 10 min job really.