this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
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Mechanic Advice

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Hello, I have a problem with my car. It started about a month ago. A weird humming sound starts randomly, usually in the first minutes of starting the car. Lately, it was getting triggered by my first sharp turn to the left. After some time the sound just goes away.The more I accelerate, the quicker the sound, but it doesn't get stronger or sharper. The noise was really faint initially, but it got a bit louder these past days. The mechanic didn't find anything weird with the car. The wheels are well attached (apparently). At the time he wasn't able to reproduce it so he just told me to bear with it, but now it's a bit louder so I am getting nervous.

Here are 2 links for the sound output from inside the car, one for the old noise and one for the new one:

https://whyp.it/tracks/115868/old-sound?token=bZjFm

https://whyp.it/tracks/115869/new-sound?token=01Yug

Any ideas what that would be?

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[–] BallsInTheShredder 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

A little late to the party and my ears aren't so good but will try to help.

Assume you're actively driving in the audio clip we hear and the sound you're referring to is the oscillating humming noise?

If it's only while you're moving from what I can hear I'd recommend checking or having your mechanic check your driveshaft, the U-joints, differentials (doubt it but good to check) wheel bearings - btw to my ears it sounds just like a wheel bearing, if the noise only comes from one wheel then that's the culprit.

If it's when you're stationary, in park without the trans running I couldn't tell you what it'd be without a video or hands on.

If it's when you're stationary but in neutral, there you are, potentially the pilot or guide bearing that surrounds the shaft that inserts into your engine from the trans or something else in the trans as it should be the only thing moving aside from the engine.

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to DM me, hope you've gotten it resolved by now

[–] blacksoul 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks for your response. You were right, it was the shaft bearings. I took it to the mechanics, since it was nothing I could fix by myself.

[–] BallsInTheShredder 1 points 1 year ago

The U joint bearings? Glad it's figured out either way and thanks for updating me! At least it's a minor fix, just wish I could've helped more. Hope it's resolved quickly and cheaply amigo

[–] jrwperformance 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Hard to guess with only sounds and not knowing what kind of car...but sounds like it could be a center support bearing for a driveshaft...does the sound increase in frequency with vehicle speed or with engine RPM?

[–] blacksoul 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It’s a automatic Mazda 3. It increases with the speed. At a fixed speed, when it changes gears, the sound stays the same.

[–] jrwperformance 1 points 1 year ago

Need to look at everything that spins at wheel speed. Brakes, wheel bearings, CV shafts, CV shaft support bearing (if it has one).