Crazy loud whistle from front of car...anyone have an idea what's causing this?

hail2theTheif · 09-03-2012, 06:07 PM

Hey everyone,

Trying to diagnose a sound coming from my GF's 05 Legacy GT wagon. Sound is most prominent at higher speeds around 70+ but she says it occurs slightly at lower speeds (55ish) as well. It's a crazy loud whistle noise almost as if someone is blowing a dog whistle in the cabin. Can't obviously say where it's coming from BUT sounds like the front passenger side.

Gets louder as you go faster. Noise happens while in neutral as well but dies down as speed lessens.

Here is the link.

Any thought helps. Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDIRE...ature=youtu.be

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TurboneX · 09-03-2012, 06:11 PM

Roof rack?

STI Dy · 09-03-2012, 08:11 PM

Have you had the windshield replaced? If window trim shifted it can cause a whistle where a gap may be. Check the door seals too.

hail2theTheif · 09-03-2012, 09:42 PM

@TurboneX - We have the bars on top but no actual rack or anything attached. Be weird it would all the sudden start making noise but worth a check. I'll remove the bars and drive it see if that has any change.

@STI Dy - We just bought it a little bit ago and haven't changed it since we got it. Worth checking the trim for sure.

Hoping it's not a mechanical thing.

hail2theTheif · 09-04-2012, 02:44 AM

Did a bit more "testing". So no sound that I can tell out of the ordinary up until literally 72-75mph. It's quiet all the way up till there and then super fast that noise just comes on harsh and continues anywhere past 75mph. It's not connected to accelerating just speed. Doesn't follow boost either. You can put in into neutral around 80 or so and it will just continue until you've coasted below 75mph and it stops again. Sounds like it's in the front and you can hear it from either side of the car loudly. I mean....it's like a banshee screaming in your ear. Tried with windows down and up. Same result either way.

I'm very very perplexed. I've had bad wheel bearings before and a rear differential whine but neither have ever sounded like this. More of the deep howl for the wheel bearing and RPM related for the diff.

Any other ideas? Something in the wheel well or up front maybe taking the air in and just at that speed causes a whistle? Seems like a long shot cause you'd think a lighter whistle would be heard at lower speeds. However, with the suby growl there could possibly be something at lower speeds I'm not hearing.

I will also get some more video tomorrow so the situation is better described going in and out of the sound.

Patrick Olsen · 09-04-2012, 07:55 AM

Start taping off panel and trim gaps with painter's tape and see if you can make the noise disappear.

And more people might chime into your thread if you use a subject line that actually gives an idea of what the thread is about.

Bast · 09-04-2012, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboneX

Roof rack?

This turned out to be the culprit.
Problem solved!

09-03-2012, 06:07 PM	#1
hail2theTheif Scooby Specialist Member#: 42548 Join Date: Aug 2003 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Portland, Oregon Vehicle: 2005 GF8 05 STi Red	Crazy loud whistle from front of car...anyone have an idea what's causing this? Hey everyone, Trying to diagnose a sound coming from my GF's 05 Legacy GT wagon. Sound is most prominent at higher speeds around 70+ but she says it occurs slightly at lower speeds (55ish) as well. It's a crazy loud whistle noise almost as if someone is blowing a dog whistle in the cabin. Can't obviously say where it's coming from BUT sounds like the front passenger side. Gets louder as you go faster. Noise happens while in neutral as well but dies down as speed lessens. Here is the link. Any thought helps. Thanks! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDIRE...ature=youtu.be * Registered users of the site do not see these ads. Last edited by hail2theTheif; 09-04-2012 at 12:03 PM.

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09-03-2012, 06:11 PM	#2
TurboneX Scooby Specialist Member#: 21676 Join Date: Jul 2002 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Pacific Northwet Vehicle: RX 02Foz,05OB Black	Roof rack?

09-03-2012, 08:11 PM	#3
STI Dy Scooby Specialist Member#: 181783 Join Date: Jun 2008 Chapter/Region: International Location: Sporting the teal handkerchief Vehicle: 2007 OBP "Bolt on equipped" STi	Have you had the windshield replaced? If window trim shifted it can cause a whistle where a gap may be. Check the door seals too.

09-03-2012, 09:42 PM	#4
hail2theTheif Scooby Specialist Member#: 42548 Join Date: Aug 2003 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Portland, Oregon Vehicle: 2005 GF8 05 STi Red	@TurboneX - We have the bars on top but no actual rack or anything attached. Be weird it would all the sudden start making noise but worth a check. I'll remove the bars and drive it see if that has any change. @STI Dy - We just bought it a little bit ago and haven't changed it since we got it. Worth checking the trim for sure. Hoping it's not a mechanical thing.

09-04-2012, 02:44 AM	#5
hail2theTheif Scooby Specialist Member#: 42548 Join Date: Aug 2003 Chapter/Region: NWIC Location: Portland, Oregon Vehicle: 2005 GF8 05 STi Red	Did a bit more "testing". So no sound that I can tell out of the ordinary up until literally 72-75mph. It's quiet all the way up till there and then super fast that noise just comes on harsh and continues anywhere past 75mph. It's not connected to accelerating just speed. Doesn't follow boost either. You can put in into neutral around 80 or so and it will just continue until you've coasted below 75mph and it stops again. Sounds like it's in the front and you can hear it from either side of the car loudly. I mean....it's like a banshee screaming in your ear. Tried with windows down and up. Same result either way. I'm very very perplexed. I've had bad wheel bearings before and a rear differential whine but neither have ever sounded like this. More of the deep howl for the wheel bearing and RPM related for the diff. Any other ideas? Something in the wheel well or up front maybe taking the air in and just at that speed causes a whistle? Seems like a long shot cause you'd think a lighter whistle would be heard at lower speeds. However, with the suby growl there could possibly be something at lower speeds I'm not hearing. I will also get some more video tomorrow so the situation is better described going in and out of the sound.

09-04-2012, 07:55 AM	#6
Patrick Olsen NASIOC Supporter Member#: 120 Join Date: Jul 1999 Chapter/Region: AKIC Location: Where the Navy sends me... Vehicle: 1997 Legacy 2.5GT QuickSilver Metallic	Start taping off panel and trim gaps with painter's tape and see if you can make the noise disappear. And more people might chime into your thread if you use a subject line that actually gives an idea of what the thread is about.