Whiny Screechy Noise when in 1st-4th Gear
 

Hi everyone, my first post here. I recently bought a 2009 Z Touring w/Nav 6MT in March with about 43K miles on it and I noticed that when I'm driving in 1st - 4th gear there's a little whiny, screechy noise faintly behind the engine noise but still noticeable. The noise is pretty much gone in 5th or 6th Gear. Is this normal and if not, what is causing it? My buddy and I can't seem to figure it out.

My car has a bit of gear whine, I notice it in 3rd and 4th a bit, not sure what the cause is, or if it's normal.

No one else has experienced this? It makes the city drive kinda annoying, I only hear it above 3000 RPM.

I'd change the tranny oil as a first step. If the previous owner didn't you're overdue.

Thanks. I'll look into that. Any other things that might cause this?

I don't recall hearing anything. I'll try driving w/o music tonight to see, but it doesn't sound like it's normal.

Is it coming from the gearbox area? Or maybe it's related to the ECU whine that's been going around?

Have you been violently launching the car? After I launched my 5.0 Mustang about 20 times it whined like an eaton in 1-4

ECU whiny?

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...0-whining.html

http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...noise-ecu.html

http://www.the370z.com/nissan-370z-g...se-update.html

:iagree:

Yeah I've read about the ECU whine, I just want to make sure it's not the gearbox or something more serious. It just happens in 1st-4th gear and is obvious after 3000 RPM, I don't have to launch the car to hear it. How can I differentiate that its really from the ECU and not the gearbox?

Not sure. I think I remember reading that the ECU whine could be heard in the passenger footwell or something? :confused:

I haven't heard anything in mine, so it's def. not normal what you're hearing. Esp. if it's only in gear whilst driving.

A passenger should be able to tell if the whine is coming from the ECM (near their feet) or the transmission (on their left side). Or pull the carpet/trim back from the ECM and see if it gets louder.

I haven't heard what the Z's ECM sounds like (mine is quiet or maybe my ears have gotten too old to hear it) but on ones that I have heard, it was a high-pitched (higher than what I associate with gear whine) "squeal." Your screechy may be what I call a squeal.

Edit: And gear whine will usually vary in frequency with speed while ECM whine is usually constant.

Thanks for the response. In the event that it's gear whine, what should be the proper course of action?

I don't know. :( If we were talking about a Ford design four speed (AKA toploader) from the '60s, I would be in a better position to help.

The main sources of manual transmission whine that I can think of are:
* Gear noise. Check trans lube. Replace if needed. Try a different brand/weight fluid.
* Shifter vibration. Once again, I would be able to help if this were a much older car. The FSM would be a good place to start.
* Transmission mount (or other drivetrain mount): Usually a lower frequency "rumble" but might be worth taking a look at.

Those should apply to most geared, rotating equipment. Some of the members that are more familiar with the 6MT will probably have more specific advice/pointers.

Hey guys, here's a short clip about what I mean, Sorry about the sideways video don't know why it came out like that, but the sound is all you need.

I was in a parking lot so I was only in first gear low RPM, but the sound is similar to that and more prominent over 3000RPM. Let me know what you guys think is causing this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWvq...ature=youtu.be

Here's it embedded.



Sounds like normal tranny whine to me? I didn't hear anything out of the ordinary.

I'm gonna try to remember to record mine when I leave today. I am in a parking garage, so maybe it'll amplify any sounds and you can compare.

I have this sound too, was told it's normal. Unless we're not hearing it all in the video

So it's still normal if it's making the same noise over 3000 RPM in 3rd-4th gear? The reason why I bring it up is because my friend has been driving manual for years and thought it was kinda weird.

I have a replacement trans from Nissan with a little over 10k on it, it has some slight gear whine as well, most notable on a slow accel between 3-4k, I would not worry about it. Still, on a used a car I change ALL the fluids, regardless of what you were told by the seller...

Yeah i will definitely do that. It just takes away from the drive a little, especially on local streets where you're in 1st-4th gear mostly, when you have this high pitched jet-like noise in the background there.

I tried to record mine, but it didn't come out well at all. The exhaust masks any other sounds as well. :(

Sorry.

Crank dat solija boy!!

Mine makes the same noise. As far as I can tell, it's normal.

I'd love to find a way to mask it. I thought about dyna mattting the hood, or finding some sort of liner.

Sounds like an 18 wheeler.

sounds like gear noise to me,,,id change the tranny and rear end fluids to start

This thread title...so many jokes about wives.