When I get to about 35-40 mph, my car starts humming / buzzing and gets louder as I go faster.
I've read that it could be tires (they are brand new) but it sounds more like an engine thing.

I want to bring it in to get looked at, but don't want to be duped into something I don't need and that doesn't fix the problem... Any thoughts are appreciated.

2005 XA
100,000 miles
Automatic

Also - The sound does not change when I make turns.

 

With the box in neutral do you notice the noise if you increase RPM's? Does it come from one side of the car? I had a bad water pump that made a noise that changed with engine speed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2C4gQB8-64k

 

I think it's coming from the front passenger side. I'll have to listen in neutral.

When I watched your video it sounded more like a grinding/gargling than what I'm hearing, but it might sound different under the hood than from the driver's seat.

It sounds like I'm flooring it when I get to about 40 and above and then I let off the gas and it gradually gets quieter.

I'll check while it's in neutral.

 

All the driven accs like water pump are on the passenger side, if you can duplicate it while sitting still then it is something driven off the motor. Another idea, how new are these brakes?

 

Brakes are from August and tires are from Sept/Oct.

 

not to offend you, but could your Overdrive be off??

 

It would reset everytime when the car starts to be on... Noise started when the tires were put on?

 

The noise started before I got the new tires.

There's a button to turn the OD on and off.
I've always left it on and if it's off it will light up to let you know.

You can't offend me I'll take any suggestions!

 

After the brakes? Let us know what happens when you are in N.

 

first thing i'd d is check all your fluids.

not your water or anything. but your oil, tranns oil and fluid. check your hydraulic fluid as a major.

after that 40mph mark and it starts to sound like that, does the xB seem to get sluggish when you DO floor it?

also, when the noise started, can you remember what kind of driving conditions you were going through at that time? any abusive or demanding load on the xB that you know of during that time?

also, what specific make and model tires did you get and where did you go to get them installed?

out of the things i can think of...

water pump
noisy tires
transmission problem *if sluggish after 35-40mph range, no worries of overdrive or no overdrive to be included, mainly transmission slip*
low hydraulic fluid

if it's the water pump... you'll know when it over heats.

if it's noisy tires... well, just gotta let them wear down a bit OR they could need rotating or maybe they weren't aligned right.

transmission problem, i've heard this kind of feed back from a few suby automatic trannys and eventually had massive slip problems over 45mph *in last gear*. the noise would happen regardless of drive mode.

if you have low hydraulic fluid. easiest way to check is the break fluid reservoir. this is found on the driver side just behind the battery and above the brake booster. this reservoir is both for your brakes and for your transmission *both for automatic and manual*. another low hydraulic place to check is your power steering. this is a different type of hydraulic fluid then what's in the brake fluid reservoir. though i'm not sure if you can get to it, that may be a shop thing because i haven't seen a reservoir for power steering, then again i haven't really had a need to look for it.

 

To not cause confusion the brake level has nothing to do with the tranny, automatics (which she has) on the xa but also xb have a dipstick. Power steering has the tank by the belts near the firewall.

 

^^i chcked ur vid and wow..that sounded awful....
but i had a similar problem also....
i was on my way home and heard a whinning noise...
i thought i was my wheels at first but kinda far-fetched
cause i had the tires on for a while....

when i put it in nuetral the noise would still be there...
but the sound would wind down as i slowed down...
....kinda like a fan or something...
but when i speed up it winds up...(like a S/C..hahaha)
and this was at speeds of 70-80mph....

so the next day i took the car out again...
and now its not making any noise...or winding sounds...
anyone has any idea on what it might be???

04xb 5-speed 65,xxx miles

 

was relating more towards use with manual xBs. i don't mess with automatics but i mentioned it as something to check anyway. the way i see it, it's better to check anyway regardless if there is a difference that isn't known just to be on the safe side. good to know it doesn't have any relation to the automatics. for the manuals, the brakes and hydraulic clutch system works with the same reservoir.

good to know where the power steering is though, thanks! i've put my xB through alot of abuse so i'm sure the fluid could use a looking at "just in case".

jcs_xb - that's odd... the way you explain it... it's like you have a straight cut gear kit going on . was the winding noise relative to your engine rpm? or just actual traveling speed?

 

^^^ it wasnt related to RPM...because i would let the RPM go down and leave it on neutral during high speeds and the noise would still be there....and it would just wind down becuase i was slowing down...

 

could just be the speed you were going, possibly the tires or you might be hearing the VVTi a little? i know last i went that speed i heard a slight whine noise past 80-ish and could be the VVTi in full force trying to make power to go faster.

just a guess though...

 

^^^hhmmm..never though of that actually....
and the weird thing is ive been driving it for a
while now...and i haven't been hearing any noise...
kinda weird...but ill keep you updated if anything changes

 

take it upto the 75-ish range when you can and get back to me. i'm pretty sure the noise you may b hearing is the VVTi at work. last i remember hearing it i was going around 110mph and roughly 5,500-6,000rpm. sounded like a real screaming SLASH air sucking noise.

JessXA - you say it get's louder as you go faster. this is the only reason why i would suggest it has anything to do with your transmission or your tires.

 

yeah..i always take it up to 75-ish to 80....(not speeding..just trying to figure the noise out) i never figured i would hear the VVTI working...and the weird thing is that
i never even heard this noise until a couple of days ago...and now i dont even hear it...
i just hear a slight winding...(well maybe cause now im looking for the sound..rather than before where i just didnt mind)

also i heard it when i was on idle at 75-80 MPH (i threw it to neutral to listen) but i dont hear it anymore.....so just kinda weird....and thanks for your help...im starting to freak out a little less too....

JessXA i am sorry for jacking your thread,...i didnt maen too...
there was just some similarities with your problem and mine...
and i hope you get to figure out whats wrong with yours man....

 

Okay, just got internet back and am trying to go through these replies.
The original suggestion I had was to put it in neutral and see if the sound remains. It's still there.

Condition: I just pulled out of my driveway and started down the road smooth and heard it once I hit 40mph and it's been there ever since.

I will have someone check all the fluids. All I know how to check is oil and washer fluid...


I'll keep reading through and checking things off.
THANKSSSSSSSS everybody.

 

Yes, it seems louder as i pick up speed. Kind of a low sounding humm and then it gets louder and higher, but definitely not a squeeling. Did you say that it has to do with the trans and the tires, or doesnt have anything to do with those two?

I had the sound before I had my new set of tires put on. If I knew more about cars I could give more details, but I really have no idea, unfortunately. I'm sure you would hear the sound and have a good idea of what it was. If only I could somehow pop the hood and go 40mph and record the sound!

Also.. jcs xb - no problem. it sounds like you were hearing the same thing as me so if one of us finds out what it is we both make out!