General Whining 6-Speed Owners! ;0)

[Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica]

Just a question for the 6-speed TwinAir 4x4 owners.

Something I thought about yesterday, whilst driving the Panda, but have always dismissed as it's done it from new. When you get up into 6th, say 50mph, do any of you notice a light transmission whine? Nothing especially loud and it's certainly got no worse in the time we've owned it. It's much quieter than in a classic mini for example. Just wondered if others had noticed it and whether it's a 4x4 thing? (Perhaps the rear drive mechanism freewheeling?)
Anyone else noticed it?

 

[Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica]

Just another thought? Perhaps this also affects 5-speed (diesel) 4x4s, if it is something to do with the rear drive? It's not loud, just a faint whine. Normally the only wine in our car is a case of red on the way back from the supermarket!

 

[varesecrazy]

Just another thought? Perhaps this also affects 5-speed (diesel) 4x4s, if it is something to do with the rear drive? It's not loud, just a faint whine. Normally the only wine in our car is a case of red on the way back from the supermarket!

not sure you'd hear it in a Diesel

not got anything of note in my Punto TA..( noise wise)

 

[MickG]

Can't say I have (petrol 4x4) although I always have music on.

M

 

[Phantom3D]

No whine, Cross TA. Drove with music off today.

 

[babbo_umbro]

Haven't noticed a whine - 4x4 TA at 35,000 miles and three years. Could it be tyre noise that's otherwise not dominant?

 

[Fleeters]

4x4 TA, 2K miles. Haven't noticed anything. The wife nags a bit...that's a kind of a whine!

 

[jrkitching]

Just a question for the 6-speed TwinAir 4x4 owners.

Something I thought about yesterday, whilst driving the Panda, but have always dismissed as it's done it from new. When you get up into 6th, say 50mph, do any of you notice a light transmission whine? Nothing especially loud and it's certainly got no worse in the time we've owned it. It's much quieter than in a classic mini for example. Just wondered if others had noticed it and whether it's a 4x4 thing? (Perhaps the rear drive mechanism freewheeling?)
Anyone else noticed it?

Gear whine is a distinctive sound which the trained ear can usually separate out from all the other creaks, groans and noises the car makes. It will be all too familiar to anyone brought up on 1960's Minis & Vauxhalls. The obvious first thing to check is the oil level in any part of the transmission that has (or should have ) oil in it; obviously the gearbox for starters. If all the levels are good, it could likely carry on getting neither worse nor better for the life of the car. My long term R5 deveoped a very slight whine in top gear at normal cruising speed after about 20k, which would disappear under any other load or speed conditions; it then got no worse during the 220,000 miles I had the car for.

AFAIK it's not in the service schedule, but changing all the transmission fluids every 50k or so would seem like a worthwhile investment.

 

[varesecrazy]

would the same bearings be running in 4th and 2nd also..??

probably not loud enough to tell if it's NOT there in 5th..

 

[Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica]

Ok, so I had a bit of an investigate today. I actually think the noise is speed-related, rather than gear related, you start to hear it through 4th, 5th and 6th. Hadn't noticed previously as it is rather quiet and when accelerating the TwinAir can be a bit...err....'vocal'! So speed related might add credibility to my thoughts that it's just the output to the rear differential idling.
I'm not unduly concerned - it's really rather quiet, certainly nothing like old Mini volume! If you had the radio on you'd definitely be none the wiser! May check oil levels in the box as a matter of course, though.

 

[aussiepanda]

The wife nags a bit...that's a kind of a whine!

I wanted to say something like this but being a bachelor and having a 2 wheel drive, wasn't sure it was appropriate.
Besides, the tread title reads as though the OP is complaining about all the 6 speed owners who whine about their cars all the time.

 

[deeyup]

Ok, so I had a bit of an investigate today. I actually think the noise is speed-related, rather than gear related, you start to hear it through 4th, 5th and 6th. Hadn't noticed previously as it is rather quiet and when accelerating the TwinAir can be a bit...err....'vocal'! So speed related might add credibility to my thoughts that it's just the output to the rear differential idling.
I'm not unduly concerned - it's really rather quiet, certainly nothing like old Mini volume! If you had the radio on you'd definitely be none the wiser! May check oil levels in the box as a matter of course, though.

Did you try taking the car out of gear and coasting?
Might be a wheel bearing?

 

[babbo_umbro]

You'll see from a thread from a few months back that there have been a few issues with the rear diff housing leaking a little oil - might be worth peering underneath.

 

[Panda 4x4 TA Antarctica]

No, Deeyup - transmission related, the noise is distinctive.
Babba Umbro - yes I'll have another look, but this sounds as if it's forward of the firewall, not from the rear.

To be honest, I'm thinking I'm being overly sensitive - it's VERY faint and most likely just a normal running noise, rather than a problem. Will check levels and stop looking for problems that may not exist!

 

[R1NGA]

OK, I had a very close listen to my 4x4 TA as I drove home last night - in near silence on a smooth road without any music or radio - and I can identify the faintest tranny whine when going slowly in 5th and 6th. Certainly nothing noteworthy or worrisome, but yes, there is something audible on mine.

Not fussed in the slightest however!

 

[Rob MK]

Hi I'm a bit late to this post, but my 2014 TA 4x4 15,000 mils has a audible whine:

15 to 25 MPH
35 to 50~55 ish
Its not gear dependant, just speed related.
Can be heard over the stereo at medium volume.
Its worse under acceleration loads and less so under over run, out of gear clutch out its just about possible too hear.
Cant tell if its front or rear or underneath.

Brought used and I've had for 2~3 months from main dealer, got them to check: Fiat UK technical state that some resonance at 50 is known, there are service things that can be done to try to help.
Dealer said see how it goes.....getting annoying now.
Not as loud as old mini, but then was designed 40 years ago?


Clutch has been bleed but is just off the floor and gritty movement feeling to travel, especially when warm.
Any other posts cover these?

Thanks for any help

 

[jrkitching]

Hi I'm a bit late to this post, but my 2014 TA 4x4 15,000 mils has a audible whine:

15 to 25 MPH
35 to 50~55 ish
Its not gear dependant, just speed related.
Can be heard over the stereo at medium volume.
Its worse under acceleration loads and less so under over run, out of gear clutch out its just about possible too hear.
Cant tell if its front or rear or underneath.

Brought used and I've had for 2~3 months from main dealer, got them to check: Fiat UK technical state that some resonance at 50 is known, there are service things that can be done to try to help.
Dealer said see how it goes.....getting annoying now.
Not as loud as old mini, but then was designed 40 years ago?


Clutch has been bleed but is just off the floor and gritty movement feeling to travel, especially when warm.
Any other posts cover these?

Thanks for any help

Driveshafts, wheel bearings & diff bearings are all possibilities for the whine, as is an output bearing in the gearbox. Pinpointing the culprit can be surprisingly difficult, even for experienced mechanics. I've seen 3 highly skilled guys misdiagnose what we all thought was a whine from the diff, which on initial stripdown was clearly a front wheel bearing.

Clutch hydraulics are generally weak on most RHD Fiats and appear to have been added as an afterthought. I'd suggest regular fluid changes (2yrs max) - my factory fill fluid was shot after 6 months .

 

[The Panda Nut]

Just a thought. Check your gearbox oil level. I had a Renault some years ago and after a lot of complaining to the dealer, found it needed oil. Its certainly worthy of a thought.

 

[g8rpi]

Driveshafts, wheel bearings & diff bearings are all possibilities for the whine, as is an output bearing in the gearbox. Pinpointing the culprit can be surprisingly difficult, even for experienced mechanics. I've seen 3 highly skilled guys misdiagnose what we all thought was a whine from the diff, which on initial stripdown was clearly a front wheel bearing.

Clutch hydraulics are generally weak on most RHD Fiats and appear to have been added as an afterthought. I'd suggest regular fluid changes (2yrs max) - my factory fill fluid was shot after 6 months .

One good way to identify odd noises is to use an accelerometer and spectral analysis. Fairly complex but oscilloscope and automotive diagnostic tool maker Picotechnology https://www.picoauto.com/ make a Noise, Vibration and Harshness kit for their oscilloscopes https://www.picoauto.com/products/noise-vibration-and-balancing/nvh-overview
If you can find an automotive electrician with this kit they should be able to pin it down.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[varesecrazy]

that's shocking , for both of your cars to fail so quickly.

not touched mine in 12 years = 04'panda, and only had 1 slave failure in @ 900,000 miles of FIAT'ing