whine between 20 & 25 mph

[JARichard]

From the beginning. I am very picky about my TRUCK. This past Saturday while X-mas shopping i began to hear this whine. I could hear it over the radio and the kids. I asked my wife if one of the rug rats were whistling? NO were not. I couldnt believe my wonderful truck was making this noise. I began to watch all gauges when the sound would happen. it is always between 20 & 25 mph . Acceleration and deceleration. It is not specific to engine rpm or temp. HAS any one else heard this noise. I brought it to the dealer on Monday. He said it has always made this noise and that I just noticed it. Yeah after 51,800 miles i just noticed it. After arguing for 30 min. he said it is the TURBO and it is normal. Please tell me who is correct or if you had this problem what was the fix

THANKS!

03 QC standard output 47RE 4x4 engine, transmission, tires still stock

 

[drrhoades]

Turbo should be a whistle and that would be whenever you put your foot down. A whine is more of a axle noise or transmission noise. I would bet more towards the axle. Have them check backlash and run a gear pattern on it. It could also be bearings in the axle. Luckily you are still under warranty I presume.



Doug

 

[rbattelle]

Is it at 20-25 MPH, or at a specific RPM?

 

[JARichard]

It is only speed specific. I have driven the truck uphill, downhill, shifted into neutral. The noise still happens. Here is the funny thing. Today was the 1 st afternoon since this whine occurred that the temperature was above 50. The noise never happened.

I know what the turbo sounds like and have more or less ruled it out. It isnt coming from that part of the truck any way. It sounds like it is coming from the middle rear of the truck or right under me.

Thanks for asking!!!

PS I saw a similar problem in another thread but the speed was different. There wasnt any replies either.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I had a similar noise, sort of a strange resonant hum, that was always the same note or pitch when you heard it, no matter what RPM or speed. It came in at a certain speed, usually around 30-35 MPH on my truck and disappeared around 45-50. Not loud, but noticable and annoying.



I found that if I grabbed hold of my tailpipe and shook the exhaust real hard it would go away for a couple days. I changed out my exhaust eventually and the noise went away for good so it's likely that's where your noise is originating. My only conclusion was the driveline somehow caused it, just a slight vibration that set off harmonics in the exhaust system.



You're the first person I've seen post about it.



Vaughn

 

[KBennett]

Mine makes it too.

It kind of sounds like a bad differential. It does it worse when it is cold.

 

[jman]

Mine does the exact same thing and it is worse when it is cold, but I can make it whine like crazy if I hold it at 20 mph. I think it is something in the rear diff. I am holding out until after the first of the year to take it in for some other minor things. I just hope I can get it to do it when I take it in.



It was doing it tonight when I came home. You can play it like a fiddle and man is it annoying. Luckily it is at a very low speed that I don't drive very ofter.

 

[JHardwick]

LOL, i never noticed mine until I read this thread.



At just over 20mph in fourth gear I heard it, sounds like common gear noise to me, i'm sure it's always been there

 

[jponder]

Originally posted by Vaughn MacKenzie

I had a similar noise, sort of a strange resonant hum, that was always the same note or pitch when you heard it, no matter what RPM or speed. It came in at a certain speed, usually around 30-35 MPH on my truck and disappeared around 45-50. Not loud, but noticable and annoying.



I found that if I grabbed hold of my tailpipe and shook the exhaust real hard it would go away for a couple days. I changed out my exhaust eventually and the noise went away for good so it's likely that's where your noise is originating. My only conclusion was the driveline somehow caused it, just a slight vibration that set off harmonics in the exhaust system.



You're the first person I've seen post about it.



Vaughn

Okay Vaughn, People are just curious ya know. In your list of things to solve your problem... ... . What number was grab the tailpipe and shake it? Next, could you please list all your other attempts at solving it

 

[JKnutson]

my 03 does this to, @ 22-30 mph and just slightly @ 40mph. it is cold temp related, it will not make this high pitch noise when it is warm out (above 50 deg). it is not rear end whine, listen closely like jarichard said it is coming from below the front pass or driver area. my speculating it is t-case, nv5600, or the exhaust. ironically today here in iowa it's been in the mid 30's and not once did it make the noise, but yesterday same temps and w/ it making the noise. go figure... .

 

[Johnstra]

Dealer replaced ring & pinion on mine. I couldn't talk them into a whole new axle assembly. It sounds worse now.

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by Johnstra

Dealer replaced ring & pinion on mine. I couldn't talk them into a whole new axle assembly. It sounds worse now.

Oh, great, that's gotta make you feel much better.



BTW, be sure to properly break in the new gears!

 

[swexlin]

Brought this back to the top, as I started noticing a very faint whine today. Truck now has 550 miles on it. Faint, but there.



Searched forums here and at DTR, but seems to be no agreement on the cause or cure.



Any new ideas?

 

[swexlin]

Interesting, this morning, not as noticable, but there were two distinct sounds: one sounded like a faraway hoot owl, and the other sounded like a very very faint siren.

 

[Buzzer]

Interesting. I have that hoot owl sound when decelerating. More noticable then not at lower speeds. I kinda feel it has to do with the air flow and the turbo. Not quite sure yet though. Haven't experianced the siren yet.

 

[HoofinSoot]

Well DAMN !



I heard the "hoot owl" this morning too ! 32* when I left for work. Went away after about 35-40mph, and after it got to operating temp, it went away in that range too. 850 miles on the clock ... ... hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

 

[swexlin]

I think the hoot owl sound is intake also, funny I never noticed it before. Rear end whine (if that's what it is) was much reduced this morning.



Maybe I'm just going senile.

 

[ddutil]

I got the ''free"" owl with my 03, too.



I had a problem that sounded similar with my 96 and it was a loose collar at the boot between the inter-cooler and turbo. I triple checked my 03 but all collars & clips seem fine.



Do you guys have any mod on your airbox (pipes, filters, holes, TAG, ... )? I run a amsoil drop-in reusable oiled filter.



Dan

 

[HoofinSoot]

No mods on mine yet.

 

[swexlin]

No mods on mine either. Yet...



Maybe the owl is just a free sound effect from Dodge.



It's the rear end whine that has me more concerned though.



I'll keep you posted.