Hey everyone, my 97 3.2 TL whines when I drive past 30mph. It sounds like an electric car from the old movies. The sound is most noticable when driving between 30mph and 75mph. Im assuming the sound is coming from the transmission because I took the car out and drove it to 60mph (at this speed the sound is very noticable) and threw it into neutral. The sound disappeared. I continue to rev and hold the engine rpm at around 3k and all I could hear was the engine, no more whine.

I also did another test and discovered that the sound is noticable only in 3rd and 4th gear because I also put the car in D2 and drove to 40mph and there was no whining sound.

Anyone know what the problem is? Its really annoying. After searching the forums I found some in the 2nd gen forum saying its the transmission filter clogged and not sending enough fluid, therefore causing the whining sound. I've also read that it could be the heat sheild- don't know how, but thats what I read.

P.S. I got the car handed down to me and don't know how long this noise has been there since I dont have contact with the previous owner.

Thanks in advance for your help

 

GET THE TRANNY SERVICED! I am probably to late responding to this, you might have already lost the tranny...if so...been there! Sounds almost like a turbo whine?? YIKES!

 

Thanks a lot for responding smonster0516! I thought no one would. Anyway, Turbowhine is the perfect word to describe it. My twin turbo 300zx used to do that. Well I havent driven the TL since I started this thread.
By getting the tranny serviced, I assume you mean change the filter and fluid. I'll do this right away. Oh ya, I changed the fluid in the tranny about 500miles ago but I didnt change the fliter (thought the TL didnt have one like my old accord).

 

if you find alot of shavings in the screen, check the ATF pump.. otherwise it might be bad torque converter..

then its.. well, that sucks..

i am just getting this from the manual, don't have experience..
some other notes there suggest that you'll need to overhaul..

take care.

 

Aright guys, last night I changed the tranny filter, gasket and fluid. The car has better response and shifts even smoother than before, almost too smooth.
Well, the bad news is that that bastard whining sound is still there while in 3rd or 4th gear. It has gotten a lot less but still there. Im guess I'm gonna look into the atf pump now. What exactly should I be looking for; how can I tell its the pump?
Thanks a lot guys!

 

Is your ABS working ok?

 

It's a solenoid I bet.

 

I assume my abs is working fine. The abs light in the instrument cluster is off and brakes seem okay. I can check it out with my dad.
Smonster0516, are you saying the abs solenoid is the problem?

 

It's actualy one of the pulleys or something else associated with the belts and such.

 

hrrmmm iim not sure if i have the same sound, but i got a new sound once i changed the air filter.

 

No, I am talking about a transmission solenoid, I believe it is something to do with shifting. The transmission shop I took my car to had to rebuild 3 times before the retard figured it out, the extremely intellegent individual also replaced my radiator (transmission cooler) that was already brand new, he didn't even ask me and he didn't have the old (2 month old!) radiator. That was fun. Any how, worth checking out before your car won't shift into 3rd then 2nd then reverse, then nothing, that is quite a traumatic event.