Toyota Yaris 2008 Making a Strange Whistling/Whirring Sound - Thoughts?

[AnneSA]

Hi all,

Bit of a random one. My 2008 Toyota Yaris has started making a weird whistling/whirring sound whenever I’m driving. The faster I go, the louder and more intense it is. It happens about 80% of the time and then very occasionally I have a trip where it doesn’t happen at all.

It could be coincidental but I first noticed it after taking my car in for a recall for the passenger air bag, mains window switch and something relating to the air con I believe.

I’ll try and add a video clip of the sound, but of course the sound miraculously stopped as soon as I restarted my car to try and record it.

Does anyone know what it could be or if it’s just normal for an old car?

Thanks!

 

[Burnerman]

For sure Anne, that’s a bit of a tester!
Does the sound change if you apply the brakes lightly?
Does the sound change if you are taking a corner?
I can’t see any connection between this and your recent repairs at the moment, but if the air con was messed with, maybe the pollen filter went AWOL.
Does the noise change with road surfaces?
John

 

[Jurassicspark]

With the car at 20MPH, press the clutch pedal down does the noise stop?

Have the car in neutral and rev the engine can you still hear the sounds?

 

[AnneSA]

With the car at 20MPH, press the clutch pedal down does the noise stop?

Have the car in neutral and rev the engine can you still hear the

Thanks for getting in touch!

It’s an automatic.
It starts as soon as you drive off and intensifies with acceleration. The sound continues when I take my foot off the accelerator though.

Earlier today I parked up and left the engine running for 15 minutes and the sound continued. It then randomly stopped as soon as I turned the air con off. I tested driving with the air con off to see if that was the cause but the sound started up again.

I recorded the sound as a voice memo earlier, but it doesn’t look like I can attach it unfortunately.

 

[Jurassicspark]

Thanks for getting in touch!

It’s an automatic.
It starts as soon as you drive off and intensifies with acceleration. The sound continues when I take my foot off the accelerator though.

Could be a lot of stuff. Without hearing the sound I can't be for sure. However, it could be a drive belt issue.

I recorded the sound as a voice memo earlier, but it doesn’t look like I can attach it unfortunately.

Record it next time by using the default camera app. You should be able to upload it then.

 

[AnneSA]

With the car at 20MPH, press the clutch pedal down does the noise stop?

Have the car in neutral and rev the engine can you still hear the sounds?

I’ve posted a clip of the sound to YouTube. This was taken as the car was parked. It gets louder and faster as you speed up.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

Could be a lot of stuff. Without hearing the sound I can't be for sure. However, it could be a drive belt issue.

I'd be guessing it's in this area if air con has been involved. It's the only logical connection I can see.

 

[AnneSA]

For sure Anne, that’s a bit of a tester!
Does the sound change if you apply the brakes lightly?
Does the sound change if you are taking a corner?
I can’t see any connection between this and your recent repairs at the moment, but if the air con was messed with, maybe the pollen filter went AWOL.
Does the noise change with road surfaces?
John

Hello,

Thanks for getting in touch.
The sound does change but it seems to be quite random. It does stop completely or go very faint when I brake and come to a standstill though. It gets louder and faster as I speed up and continues when I take my foot off the accelerator. I have to accelerate quite hard to set off and get up hills and that’s when it’s at its loudest.

I’ve posted a clip of the sound to YouTube. This was taken when the car was parked.

 

[AnneSA]

I'd be guessing it's in this area if air con has been involved. It's the only logical connection I can see.

I’ve posted a clip of the sound on YouTube if it helps. This was taken whilst parked up for about 10 min. Like i said, it completely stopped as soon as I turned the air con off, but started again as soon as I drove off.

 

[AnneSA]

Hello,

Thanks for getting in touch.
The sound does change but it seems to be quite random. It does stop completely or go very faint when I brake and come to a standstill though. It gets louder and faster as I speed up and continues when I take my foot off the accelerator. I have to accelerate quite hard to set off and get up hills and that’s when it’s at its loudest.

I’ve posted a clip of the sound to YouTube. This was taken when the car was parked.

Correction - the sound continues just as loud whilst braking. It stops or goes faint when at a standstill.

 

[Burnerman]

Some more information now!
The noise continues, although you are not driving but the engine is running.
Fiddling with the air con has a definite effect.
Initially this could be a fault with the air con compressor or the alternator, as the electrical load alters.
I would check the condition of the alternator drive belt and it’s tension, then I’d take the belt off and see if the sound has gone.
John

 

[carmanmemoranda]

If it's only just happened since the recall take it back

Sounds like the drive belt, or related area to me. Was probably moved at the recall and not quite reset