Somethings definitely broken..

tmath11 · Mar 1, 2015

So yesterday I drove about 70 miles down the highway in the rain and today, I don't know what happened, but my car sounds like a truck with 40s on it going down the road. It just hums at almost all speeds. I've never heard anything like this come from my car and it has 40k miles.

I have a K&N SRI and my original fear was that maybe some water got sucked into the engine. But I wasn't going through puddles, just driving through the rain. And I'm pretty sure the hum is a speed controlled noise and not something effected by the engine rpm. (I've tried downshifting to see if the hum changed at the same speed, different gear)

My second fear is that it has something to do with me needing my oil changed. I'm overdue for one by 1500 miles. - Don't really know on this one, just wanted to through it out there.

I suppose the most logical thing is that a bearing is bad or somethings rubbing the wheel (although there's nothing I can see). Anyone have ideas? I'm going to take it to the dealership this week..

NickD · Mar 1, 2015

Could be you picked up a small stone stuck between the rotor and its shield, happens around here all the time since WI is lining the shoulder with stone. And some people just can't stay in the lane kicking these stones unto the pavement.

Bending out the shield a tad, could drop out, or otherwise, you have to loosen the rotor.

BowtieGuy · Mar 1, 2015

First of all, being 1500 miles overdue for an oil change (assuming you mean by the OLM) is one of the worst things you can ignore maintenance-wise on this car. Especially if you are on the dealership Dexos 1 oil.:1poke:

As far as your noise, your description sounds like a bad wheel bearing to me.

obermd · Mar 1, 2015

Before you take it in to be checked you need to determine if the hum is engine speed related or road speed related. This will help pinpoint the source. Also, how do you know you're 1,500 miles overdue for an oil change?

neirfin · Mar 1, 2015

i bet wheel bearings, if it doesn't get quieter when you let in the clutch at speed, (or put in neutral for auto).
change your friggin oil already, $35 saves you $3500, the stealership can void your warranty for letting your oil go bad...

Robby · Mar 1, 2015

Give a lot of though to Nicks stone idea......I've seen (heard) it many times over the years.

A small stone gets thrown up in the water spray and lodges between the rotor and shield (backside of rotor) and makes the most incredible squealing racket you can imagine.

Sounds just like a wheel bearing before it just falls apart.

Cheap to fix too.

Rob

brian v · Mar 1, 2015

Hey can I speculate Too ?

Give us a More Detailed Equation and then we will tell ya what you already know ... I hope that helps .. are ya using a Synthetic Oil by chance ?

NickD · Mar 2, 2015

Ha, picked up a stone on that Ford C-Max in Italy, but Hertz sure gave me a beat up one. Use that as an excuse to trade it off for a much better C-Max and insisted on driving it first, least around the block.

They could tell by the noise it made pulling in, but Hertz people don't know anything about cars.

Somethings definitely broken..

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