I have a 2002 WRX and it has around 47,000 miles on it. About 1,000 miles ago I started noticing a new noise that's beginning to bug me. It's a whining/whirring noise and sounds like it's coming from the center of the dash. It is purely speed related and seems to be worse in the morning when it's cold. I start to notice it around 35 mph and by 65 you can hear it over the radio....the pitch gets higher and louder the faster you go. My wife hasn't ridden in the car in a while and asked what it was when she rode with me last week..... If I put the car in neutral, the noise is still there. If I turn the air flow/airconditioning off, still there. If I turn the radio off, still there. All fluid levels are where they should be.

I searched through a bunch of threads and read about the wheel bearings....but again, this sounds like it's in the middle of the dash board and not from any particular side. Any other ideas???

Before I just take it to the dealership and drop it off.....I'd like to at least have an idea about what it is. They'd probably tell me they didn't hear anything and charge me $100 for looking if I don't point them in some kind of direction....

Thanks in advance.

Being the victim of a failed center diff, I'd have to say it sounds like a failed center diff :).


Brian

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Being the victim of a failed center diff, I'd have to say it sounds like a failed center diff :).




Great..... Wonder how much that is going to cost.....sounds expensive. :(

Since I'm an idiot........would that be covered under the 5 year/ 60,000 powertrain coverage?

Do you have aftermarket stereo equipment installed in your car? Could be engine noise from bad grounds if you do. I sincerely doubt this is the problem though since the sound would be prevalent right after the install.

Doubtful on wheel bearings since they sound like a clunking/grinding noise which gets faster as you move. Does the sound get louder with the windows open/closed?

Not sure where my vote lies... I've never heard a failed center diff before. Has your car been towed, have you done donuts and/or have you done some handbrake turns?

Do you have aftermarket stereo equipment installed in your car? Could be engine noise from bad grounds if you do. I sincerely doubt this is the problem though since the sound would be prevalent right after the install.

No after market stereo, and the noise is there even with the radio off.


Doubtful on wheel bearings since they sound like a clunking/grinding noise which gets faster as you move. Does the sound get louder with the windows open/closed?

I'll check on the windows open/closed thing on the way home tonight.


Not sure where my vote lies... I've never heard a failed center diff before. Has your car been towed, have you done donuts and/or have you done some handbrake turns?

The car has never been towed, and I'm one of those folks that probably shouldn't even own a WRX because I don't "drive it like it was built to be driven". I've never tried a donut or a handbrake turn in the car. Hell.....I keep a log book of my MPG at every fill-up and I average about 25 mpg CITY driving if that tells you anything about my pansie driving habits. :p

I have an appointment at the dealership tomorrow at 8:45 for the seat bolt recall (yeah.....I've put it off for 6 months. :lol: ) and I'm going to get them to see what the noise is while I still have my powertrain warranty.

I had to cancel my original appointment because of work but I finally got off my ass and took it in as the noise was just getting worse....

The dealership had the car for a week and this is on my invoice (work was covered under warranty): "Bearing noise in transmission R&R tarnsaxle assy. to overhaul center differential, replaced both transfer driven gear bearings".

The noise is now gone. :banana:

Of course.....now I am slightly nervous about having a car with less than 50,000 miles that already has transmission problems. :(