guBBy Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Hi guys, Happy Easter. Drove the car 50 miles to visit family car drove up no problem. It involves a long motorway stretch I put the cruise control on at 70 and it got me there with no dramas. On the way home I drove to Tesco put in momentum 99 and made the 10-15 journey back to the motorway. As I joined the motorway and got up to 70 a strange noise appeared. I would best describe it as a constant drone. I put the clutch in and the noise remained until the speed started to drop. It wasn't there through any of the 50 sections only when i hit 70 mph and 2500rpm. Any one any ideas on what this could be as it is pretty loud and intrusive. Makes having a conversation more of a shouting match. Everyone's thoughts as always are appreciated. Cheers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATTAK Z Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Sounds like an exhaust problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChow Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 If it remains with the clutch pressed, I'd suggest maybe a bearing issue. Could you tell where abouts the sound was emitting from, front? Rear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bems Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Bearing maybe any vibration through the wheel at all? Maybe exhaust but that would happen in any gear at any speed at 2500rpm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guBBy Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 Thanks for all the replies. Sound is definitely coming from the front. I thought from front drivers side but the Mrs said she thought it was in front of her. I didn't think the wheel was vibrating any more than normal but it is something I could try again tomorrow. I know the exhaust was slightly corroded when I got the car but I thought it was the back box ( I haven't been under the car yet ) any way to check if it is a bearing? Engine wise the car seems to pull strong! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrChow Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 I think if it's a bearing you'd need to have the car or at least the said wheel in the air. Without getting under the vehicle, grasp each wheel at the top and bottom and attempt to rock it. There should be minimal movement. Excessive play may indicate that the wheel bearing is worn. Then rotate the wheel, listen for any unusual noise and feel for any roughness as it rotates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p34nut Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 I would honestly first point at a wheel bearing. Drove my fathers focus recently and yeah the drone from the bearing is quite a loud hum when you get upto speed. Seems strange at only the 2.5k Rev mark though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guBBy Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 Thanks guys I do have access to a ramp but just need to find the time to get it up my friends garage ( not using the zed as a daily driver ) A hum is probably a good way to describe the noise I am getting. I was sure it went away whenever I wasn't doing speeds around the 70-73 mph mark. Around town there doesn't seem to be any strange noises. How much am I looking at to fix it if the bearing is the problem? Also anyway to rule out the exhaust when I get it to the garage? Cheers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guBBy Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 (edited) Off topic but does any one know what this key card item is? It is attached to both my sets of keys and when I googled the company name SPAL it is an Italian automotive group but know idea what they do with my car. Cheers. Edited April 5, 2015 by guBBy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 ^^ Do you have an aftermarket alarm & immobiliser? Could be some type of wireless key card for the immobiliser. Maybe take one off the car keys and try to start the car without it on to see if it will start & drive (some immobiliser's will still let you drive before coming on later down the road fyi). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guBBy Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 Weird 😳 I do know that to the right of the instrument binnicale just next to the door I have a little green light that makes a loud beep every time I start the car. So could be a good call on the immobiliser. Will maybe email the company with the product code on the back of the key card to see what it is! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Weird í ½í¸³ I do know that to the right of the instrument binnicale just next to the door I have a little green light that makes a loud beep every time I start the car. So could be a good call on the immobiliser. Will maybe email the company with the product code on the back of the key card to see what it is! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk From looking on google "SPAL" make all sorts of automotive parts (fans/switches etc) and also car alarms. My bet it is an immobiliser key card on your keyring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guBBy Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 Nice one GM from reading on their website they seem to make pretty decent stuff so at least whoever added that to the car in the past has picked a decent system. I probably could be saving on my insurance with that and didn't realise 😩 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 No probs and you're right if you let the insurance company know you probably could be saving a little, ...only if it's a Thatcham approved alarm & immobiliser though. You'd need to know exactly what model you have though first for that. I paid £35 locally at an Audio/alarm specialists here in Cardiff who checked out my alarm system on a JDM Impreza I owned. They confirmed it was a Thatcham Cat 1 alarm/immobiliser system and issued me a certificate to prove it which I then sent to my insurers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guBBy Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 Sounds good GM. Any reason someone would have fitted this instead of just leaving the standard alarm in place? I will enquire locally as to who can have a look into this for me. Now just need to get this 70 mph noise sorted out ASAP! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GMballistic Posted April 5, 2015 Share Posted April 5, 2015 Sounds good GM. Any reason someone would have fitted this instead of just leaving the standard alarm in place? I will enquire locally as to who can have a look into this for me. Now just need to get this 70 mph noise sorted out ASAP! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk If your cars an Import then it wouldn't have had an alarm from the factory. If your cars a UK model then it could be that the alarm went faulty and this was the cheaper replacement option or possibly the previous owner just wanted a better alarm system so upgraded it. Just guessing though really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guBBy Posted April 5, 2015 Author Share Posted April 5, 2015 I've got the original bill of sale from Nissan uk with the car and was serviced with them for the first 5 years of its life and think the vin number matches the uk codes when I checked before buying. Have me worrying I have an import now lol It has parking sensors front and back with the Bluetooth module fitted and a power cable in the dash cubby so think someone maybe just liked fitting all they could to the car 👠Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guBBy Posted April 6, 2015 Author Share Posted April 6, 2015 I would honestly first point at a wheel bearing. Drove my fathers focus recently and yeah the drone from the bearing is quite a loud hum when you get upto speed. Seems strange at only the 2.5k Rev mark though Could this be a cause of my problems? Noticed one of my wheel weights seems to have gone missing, although it might of been like this prior to yesterday. Just looks as if it has fell off. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 I would honestly first point at a wheel bearing. Drove my fathers focus recently and yeah the drone from the bearing is quite a loud hum when you get upto speed. Seems strange at only the 2.5k Rev mark though Could this be a cause of my problems? Noticed one of my wheel weights seems to have gone missing, although it might of been like this prior to yesterday. Just looks as if it has fell off. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk That could very well be the issue, well spotted! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guBBy Posted April 6, 2015 Author Share Posted April 6, 2015 I would honestly first point at a wheel bearing. Drove my fathers focus recently and yeah the drone from the bearing is quite a loud hum when you get upto speed. Seems strange at only the 2.5k Rev mark though Could this be a cause of my problems? Noticed one of my wheel weights seems to have gone missing, although it might of been like this prior to yesterday. Just looks as if it has fell off. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk That could very well be the issue, well spotted! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Thanks, let's hope so 👠where would I go to buy the weight that seems to be missing or is this a specialist job? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 I would honestly first point at a wheel bearing. Drove my fathers focus recently and yeah the drone from the bearing is quite a loud hum when you get upto speed. Seems strange at only the 2.5k Rev mark though Could this be a cause of my problems? Noticed one of my wheel weights seems to have gone missing, although it might of been like this prior to yesterday. Just looks as if it has fell off. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk That could very well be the issue, well spotted! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Thanks, let's hope so 👠where would I go to buy the weight that seems to be missing or is this a specialist job? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Any tire place fella, not sure they will 'sell' you a weight they will probably want to rebalance it... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 They'll probably remove the three thousand other weights on there and do a proper job at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guBBy Posted April 6, 2015 Author Share Posted April 6, 2015 They'll probably remove the three thousand other weights on there and do a proper job at the same time. Yeah there is quite a few weights attached to that at the moment 😳 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gsexr Posted April 6, 2015 Share Posted April 6, 2015 Wheel weight coming off wont make a droning noise. More than likely a wheel bearing. Does the noise change as you weave from side to side going down the road. ( Do this carefully if you dont know what your doing) As the weight distribution moves from one side of the car to the other the noise will change if its a bearing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricey Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 If it's that loud I'm surprised you've not heard it before and it's got worse if it's a bearing. Bearings are a good place to look with droning noises though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.