Trouble shooting strange noises: how do you guys pick it out?

[poser]

So I've got this weird noise that happens, sometimes.
It's random, doesn't alway happen very long. At first I thought it was engine noise, it would change in "speed" or whatever if I speed up or slow down. But if I put it in neutral and rev the engine……nothing.
Turning off the A/C doesn't effect it at all.
It's really hard to describe too. I may try and record it with my phone and see if it turns out.

How do you guys, trouble shoot weird noises? Any tips?

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Do u hear it when u turn your radio up ?

 

[Jimmy6string]

That's a pretty broad question... Trouble shooting noises can be tricky. A loose belt can be easy to "hear" but other noises could indicate half a dozen suspects. One thing to try for is to locate the source of the sound and then try to describe it as well as you can, when it occurs, etc.

 

[poser]

Do u hear it when u turn your radio up ?

the radio doesn't effect it, as I usually turn the radio all the way down to hear it better.

That's a pretty broad question... Trouble shooting noises can be tricky. A loose belt can be easy to "hear" but other noises could indicate half a dozen suspects. One thing to try for is to locate the source of the sound and then try to describe it as well as you can, when it occurs, etc.

That's the tough part on this one. It's coming from the front, and I feel like it's coming from the engine bay.
It's really hard to describe, and I can't replicate it in the driveway.
It comes and goes.
My first thought was water pump pulley or something like that, but it only changes in tone or speed with the engine when in gear.

I'm baffled, and it's bothering me.

I'm definitely going to try and record the sound to see if any of y'all have experienced the same.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

the radio doesn't effect it, as I usually turn the radio all the way down to hear it better.



That's the tough part on this one. It's coming from the front, and I feel like it's coming from the engine bay.
It's really hard to describe, and I can't replicate it in the driveway.
It comes and goes.
My first thought was water pump pulley or something like that, but it only changes in tone or speed with the engine when in gear.

I'm baffled, and it's bothering me.

I'm definitely going to try and record the sound to see if any of y'all have experienced the same.

But if u turn the radio all the way up u do not hear the noise sounds like that fixes it. Do u feel the noise u hearing.

 

[wc11]

Weird ?!?! Whirring? Crunchy? Whining? Knocking? etc etc.

During acceleration, under braking, coasting, towing, turning.......

 

[gamefreakgc]

Yeah, gotta give us a clue to what it sounds like.

Belts will squeal and chirp since they are rubber. More often when the engine is cold

Vacuum leaks will hiss and whine and change with RPM's. May only do this at a certain operating temperature.

Valves will tap and knock, pretty much all the time.

Other noises with the suspension or steering usually only happen over uneven terrain or while turning.

 

[poser]

I'll do the best I can:
Happens most often on flat smooth roads.
Speed doesn't seem to be a factor as I've heard it coming off the highway, and at 30 mph.
When I hear it, if I speed up, it increases in rhythm, and them decreases on deceleration.
And it sounds the same at 30 mph as it does at 50 mph, but like I said, accelerating changes the way it sounds just a little.
It, almost sounds like rattly-whiring-whine. And I know that makes zero sense.
I really as me scratching my head.

 

[poser]

But if u turn the radio all the way up u do not hear the noise sounds like that fixes it. Do u feel the noise u hearing.

I'm not sure if I've noticed being able to "feel" it, but I'll pay close attention to that next time I hear it.

 

[CdaleR4000si]

Here's how I tracked down a noisy double cardan joint. (It was driving me crazy).

Get a cheap digital recording device and super-glue some neodymium magnets to it. Stick it to the vehicle wherever you suspect the noise might be coming from and take it for a ride. Drive until you hear the noise and then see if your recording picked it up. If it didn't, move the recorder and try it again. When you have it placed near the source, you should be able to hear it really well on the recording. My cardan joint noise was pretty faint from the inside, but it was incredibly loud when I had the recorder close to it.

Good luck!

 

[BlazeRunner]

Get up to a decent speed and carefully shift into neutral, see if that changes anything in the sound.

 

[poser]

Get up to a decent speed and carefully shift into neutral, see if that changes anything in the sound.

I've done this, and it doesn't change anything. I'll even rev it in neutral while coasting and it doesn't change.

 

[poser]

Here's how I tracked down a noisy double cardan joint. (It was driving me crazy).



Get a cheap digital recording device and super-glue some neodymium magnets to it. Stick it to the vehicle wherever you suspect the noise might be coming from and take it for a ride. Drive until you hear the noise and then see if your recording picked it up. If it didn't, move the recorder and try it again. When you have it placed near the source, you should be able to hear it really well on the recording. My cardan joint noise was pretty faint from the inside, but it was incredibly loud when I had the recorder close to it.



Good luck!

Good idea, I'm pretty sure I can get my hands on a recorder.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Yeah, see if you can get a decent recording of it.

I am pretty good at debugging noises but I gotta hear it. If you have to, tape your cell phone in the engine compartment where you think it's coming from and lets go from there.

Noises can be very difficult to track down. I took the rear half of my 2002 apart trying to track down an annoying $#&ing squeak. Took out the DS rear window, motor, everything. No avail.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Well all the information provided sounds like if u turn the music up in the rig u will be good to go..... But it sounds like your describing a tire noise

 

[wc11]

Tread noise?
Have the tires been balanced or even rotated?
Cheap way to start. Swap the fronts to the back.

Wheel bearings? Is it more noticeable on one side or the other?

 

[Idle Beak]

I'll do the best I can:
Happens most often on flat smooth roads.
Speed doesn't seem to be a factor as I've heard it coming off the highway, and at 30 mph.
When I hear it, if I speed up, it increases in rhythm, and them decreases on deceleration.
And it sounds the same at 30 mph as it does at 50 mph, but like I said, accelerating changes the way it sounds just a little.
It, almost sounds like rattly-whiring-whine. And I know that makes zero sense.
I really as me scratching my head.

I differently know the feeling. Of not being able to diagnose a sound that only you seem to be able to hear. I have had a similar sound coming from the exact same place during the same conditions you describe. I have concluded that the sound is coming from the a/c pulley viberating when it is free spinning without the compressor cluch engaged. Every time I put someone in the truck to listen for the noise it doesn't happen. Because of this fact I am still considering that I'm crazy, and it's just gnomes singing in my head.

 

[poser]

Tread noise?
Have the tires been balanced or even rotated?
Cheap way to start. Swap the fronts to the back.

Wheel bearings? Is it more noticeable on one side or the other?

good idea, I'll rotate the tires and maybe check the bearings.

I differently know the feeling. Of not being able to diagnose a sound that only you seem to be able to hear. I have had a similar sound coming from the exact same place during the same conditions you describe. I have concluded that the sound is coming from the a/c pulley viberating when it is free spinning without the compressor cluch engaged. Every time I put someone in the truck to listen for the noise it doesn't happen. Because of this fact I am still considering that I'm crazy, and it's just gnomes singing in my head.

haha, yeah, well most people already think I'm crazy.