My car is making teh funny noises

[CarolinaKat]

So my Civic is making a funny noise when I get over about 35 mph or so. It's a resonance kind of a noise, coming from the back of the car, somewhere in the wheel wells. Both my father (who restores cars) and my DBF (who's a mechanic) keep telling me that it's 'road noise' and I keep thinking of the old saying that the 'cobbler's children get no shoes'. It's getting louder and they are telling me that it's all in my head and it just SEEMS louder since I've had a migrane since April. My coworkers went to lunch with me yesterday and agree I'm not crazy and it is getting louder.

I think it's something in the back passenger side wheel, it's loudest on that side, but I've never encountered something that makes quite this kind of noise before. It is a resonance, almost like a whirring, that ramps up as I'm acellerating and evens out as I reach speed. It's worse on asphalt and other 'easy driving' surfaces and its better on ones that aren't so perfect. My tires look ok. And other than this Thruly awful noise the car is driving fine. Any clue as to what I should be telling my mechanic guy (who I LOVE) to be looking for when I take it in?

The Civic is an '07 coupe with around 120k and I had routine maintence done at 100k.

[tskeeter]

Changes with changes in speed, so makes me think it might have something to do with a wheel. Maybe a wheel bearing. Could also be other issues related the the wheel rotating.

Since different types of surface reflect sound differently, I'm not so sure that the type of road surface you are on really changes the noise, you just hear it better.

Another thing to consider would be a vibrating heat shield on the exhaust system, or something similar. But, vibrating heat shields usually make a buzzing noise, not a whirring.

[chiver78]

I'm having a similar issue - very long story short, the car will be going BACK to the mechanic for the 2nd attempt to fix what my mechanic BIL (whose shop is nowhere remotely convenient, or it would have gone to him in the 1st place) swears is a wheel bearing. my car is an '04 Acura RSX with almost 140k, sounds like the same hardware here. let me ask you the same questions BIL asked me.

when was the last time you had your tires rotated/balanced? mine aren't that old, and still look to be in great shape, but I'm doing that tomorrow before I go back to the mechanic. that will eliminate the "road noise" in my case, maybe it will in yours too? how often do your BF and dad drive your car? my BIL drives mine enough to know that something wasn't quite right, even through the road noise.

the next time you hear the noise, try changing lanes, or even just leaning the car like you're drifting - in both directions. see if the sound changes at all. if it does, that also tends to be wheel bearings or so I'm told.

[CarolinaKat]

Nothing changes the noise other than a change in road surface or a change in speed. Changing lanes/turning/stopping then going again doesn't help. DBF drives the car all the time and consistently tells me I'm nuts and that I just have 'sensitive hearing' and that sometimes the soundproofing isn't as good as it once was and that it's just going to be loud. He tends to blame it on my migrane but I think it's more than that. He works on diesels as his specialty so I think he's just blowing me off.

IDK the last time the tires were rotated/balanced, but they aren't any unusual wear patterns. Wheel bearing sounds like a good canidate. I feel like my brains are vibrating out of my head when it starts. BTW my mom agrees with me. Maybe just the men in my life are immune to this noise?

[thyme4change]

Does it sound like this? I think these are funny noises.

[tskeeter]

I feel like my brains are vibrating out of my head when it starts. BTW my mom agrees with me. Maybe just the men in my life are immune to this noise?

Could well be. Guys, especially as they get older, tend to have a harder time hearing high pitched sounds. That's why they go huh? Sorry, I didn't hear you, dear. Then again, since your DBF works around impact wrenches all day ....

On the other hand, chiver's comment about rotating the tires to try to reduce the noise may have some merit. Even though there is no unusual wear, it is possible that there is just enough difference in the wear patterns of the individual tires that putting a different tire in the passenger rear position will make the noise go away, change the noise to a more tolerable pitch, or really aggravate the problem so even your deaf Dad and DBF can hear it.

[moxie]

Sounds to me like the car may have a fatty liver.

[chiver78]

Jul 10, 2012 19:16:06 GMT -5 @rj said:

My guess would be wheel bearing on both car.Now tires could caue it, Look for cupping or chopped tires. If they are chopped but not to bad, move them to the front and see if the noise moves with them. A beer says wheel bearings

Cupping? Chopped? What do those mean?

I'm getting the tires rotated in an X, per BILs suggestion. I guess it makes the set wear more evenly. (IDK?)

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