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Car making a strange noise
Benzine - 16/11/10 at 05:10 PM

My volvo 960 has started to make a weird noise. It doesn't start until I've driven for a few minutes. I've tried hard to think of a way that best describes the noise but literally the best I can do is 'a baby owl trapped in a tractorbeam'. Not a harsh grating sound but a smooth kind of woowoowooowooowoo.

It doesn't change with engine revs so I'm pretty sure it's drivetrain. If it were a wheel bearing would it make the noise all the time? Doesn't seem to change when I go round corners sharply. Prop related? Diff?

lewis - 16/11/10 at 05:15 PM

Belt pulley?

Benzine - 16/11/10 at 05:19 PM

quote:
Originally posted by lewis
Belt pulley?


Noise doesn't change with engine revs, only car speed

AndyW - 16/11/10 at 05:20 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Benzine
My volvo 960 has started to make a weird noise. It doesn't start until I've driven for a few minutes. I've tried hard to think of a way that best describes the noise but literally the best I can do is 'a baby owl trapped in a tractorbeam'. Not a harsh grating sound but a smooth kind of woowoowooowooowoo.

It doesn't change with engine revs so I'm pretty sure it's drivetrain. If it were a wheel bearing would it make the noise all the time? Doesn't seem to change when I go round corners sharply. Prop related? Diff?







Sorry but me just being silly, I thought you ment the car wouldn't starts so how could you drive a few miles?

Benzine - 16/11/10 at 05:22 PM

quote:
Originally posted by AndyW
Sorry but me just being silly, I thought you ment the car wouldn't starts so how could you drive a few miles?


matt_gsxr - 16/11/10 at 05:26 PM

Sounds owl related to me.

philw - 16/11/10 at 05:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by matt_gsxr
Sounds owl related to me.


Perhaps you should Tweet it, you may get a response

blakep82 - 16/11/10 at 05:59 PM

Description
Description
owl face

brake drums on the back? rubbing there paerhaps? sounds obvious, but will be something rubbing i think, rather than something worn, but the only doing it a few minutes after starting to drive, sounds heat related, prop shaft touching exhaust? does an exhaust expand much when it heats up?

or do you have an owl living in the boot? have you checked? i'm told they get a bit car sick

[Edited on 16/11/10 by blakep82]

adithorp - 16/11/10 at 07:18 PM

Sound like a wheel bearing is the most likely cause. They don't always vary with cornering load and expecting them to often sends you off chasing red herrings. Try jacking up and giving each wheel a spin. Again this isn't foolproof as the load is then on the opposite side of the bearing.

speedyxjs - 16/11/10 at 07:33 PM

Have you looked at your brakes? Could be something stuck in the pad?

Canada EH! - 16/11/10 at 10:20 PM

does the noise change while coasting down hill in neutral?

Paul TigerB6 - 16/11/10 at 10:55 PM

woowoowoowoowoo

Its not the siren from when it was a police car is it?? It'd be a T5 if it was i guess

Benzine - 17/11/10 at 09:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Canada EH!
does the noise change while coasting down hill in neutral?


Nah it stays the same


Thanks for the ideas, I'll try jacking up the car and checking the bearings soon. Nice owl, Blake!

blakep82 - 17/11/10 at 09:41 PM

yeah, she was awesome, she kept shouting