Hello! Just bought a 2013 GX 460 and have noticed an odd whirring that only occurs when accelerating past 70mph. The noise stops once I pull off the accelerator even though the speed is above 70mph. It sounds like feedback from a speaker almost and it sounds like the top/passenger side of the engine possibly (sound at that speed is hard to track though). Bearings all seem to be good and the diffs/trans have been serviced. Has anyone else experienced this? The tires are in good shape and have miles under them too. Any ideas and help are greatly appreciated!
Whirring Noise When Accelerating above 70mph + . Need Help Diagnosing
- Thread starter A2GingerGX
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Does it make any noise while parked?
- Thread starter
- #3
Nope. Only when I am at 70+ And accelerating. Like when you pass a car. It sounds almost like speaker feedback (very very light but, noticeable above the radio). Once I get off the gas (even if I am above 70+) the sound goes away immediately.
re_guderian
SILVER Star
U joints greased lately?
- Thread starter
- #5
Just had them done at the dealer last week. Is there a diagram anywhere showing the Zerks though?
Wheel bearing or water pump?
- Thread starter
- #7
Bearings are doubtful since it is a very specific speed and there is no play in the wheels. I checked the shafts for play too and nothing there either. Water pump would be interesting but, doubt that too since it occurs only above 70+ and accelerating. Half of me thinks it is fuel or vaccum related Since it occurs at a time when the engine is calling for more power but, I don’t know what part would make noise.
- Thread starter
- #8
I should mention that it is most likely coming from the top/passenger side. It sounds like it is higher on the block than a bearing or water pump but, sound does travel oddly in cars.
r2m
Richard
Does it actually sound electronic? or mechanical?
In other words, if you turn you radio off, do you still hear it?
In other words, if you turn you radio off, do you still hear it?
Most reports seem to loop back to transfer case,AT or diff…IMO must be channeled sound for that part of engine to sound as source. Whine or Whining noises - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion - https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gx-2nd-gen-2010-present/658265-whine-or-whining-noises.html
re_guderian
SILVER Star
You would think AT/Xfer would be rpm related, instead of solely mph related? Diff, hub, and drive shaft/u-joint would be mph and not rpm dependent? That's my line of thinking, anyway. I've been wrong plenty of times, though.
Bearings on this 4R…at link below
- Thread starter
- #14
Thanks for the insight here. I’ve done all of the service now and nothing indicates major wear. No drone at lower speeds either which is odd. I did find two bracket bolts missing. I’m replacing those tonight. I doubt they are the cause though. It’s for the power steering lines on the passenger side. Seems like the 10mm bolts backed themselves out.
- Thread starter
- #15
Not the bolts or brackets. No clue what it could be at this point. Everything has been greased and no major signs of wear.
- Thread starter
- #16
Rotated the tires to see if the noise moved. It quieted down but still not gone. So might need new tires too. I’ll be re-greasing and inspecting the u-joints again. I saw a similar post saying noise and vibration on highway that proved to be a destroyed u joint.
Just following up to see if you ID'd the cause of the whirring noise. I have had the same noise on my '06 470 for a while now, produced in the same manner, but cannot locate the cause. Curious if you found the source in your situation.
I have a 2013 and had a similar issue, covered in the "whining above 70 mph" thread linked above. I'd recommend taking it to a shop who can put it on a lift and use a ChassisEar to listen around for the noise.
Mine also occurred at 70+ (only while coasting) and sounded almost electronic, as well. The sound drove me crazy for three years before I bit the bullet and took it to a reputable shop. They had it diagnosed in a few hours - worn pinion gear in the front diff. Mechanic said the noise can manifest in different ways depending on how the gear is worn, while coasting (like mine) and also while accelerating (like yours).
A worn pinion gear in mine is odd as it's relatively low miles, has had all routine maintenance and fluid changes at the dealer, and has been 100% an on-road vehicle from Day One, 80% of miles are highway miles. So nothing about its history would send up any red flags for a worn out front diff, but that's what it is.
Interesting observation in my research over the years is every post I've been able to find online about a GX owner experiencing this sound seems to come from a 2012 or a 2013. I am wondering if Lexus used a bad batch of front diffs around this time that for whatever reason experienced excess wear quickly due to the manufacturing defect. Of course these vehicles are all out of warranty now, and it sounds like the problem only affected a handful of them over a relatively short production run, so Toyota doesn't have to worry about it.
Mine also occurred at 70+ (only while coasting) and sounded almost electronic, as well. The sound drove me crazy for three years before I bit the bullet and took it to a reputable shop. They had it diagnosed in a few hours - worn pinion gear in the front diff. Mechanic said the noise can manifest in different ways depending on how the gear is worn, while coasting (like mine) and also while accelerating (like yours).
A worn pinion gear in mine is odd as it's relatively low miles, has had all routine maintenance and fluid changes at the dealer, and has been 100% an on-road vehicle from Day One, 80% of miles are highway miles. So nothing about its history would send up any red flags for a worn out front diff, but that's what it is.
Interesting observation in my research over the years is every post I've been able to find online about a GX owner experiencing this sound seems to come from a 2012 or a 2013. I am wondering if Lexus used a bad batch of front diffs around this time that for whatever reason experienced excess wear quickly due to the manufacturing defect. Of course these vehicles are all out of warranty now, and it sounds like the problem only affected a handful of them over a relatively short production run, so Toyota doesn't have to worry about it.
In a related CL thread I’ve seen mention of a ‘16 and ‘19 so doesn’t appear to be narrowed to 12-13 models.
#Whine or #Whining noises - ClubLexus - Lexus Forum Discussion
GX - 2nd Gen (2010-2023) - #Whine or #Whining noises - New 2012 GX 460 in 01/2012. While GX is coasting between 55 mph and 70 mph, noticeable whine from vehicle. (Sounds like the whine from snow tires, but that happens all of the time in a previous vehicle.) Noise disappears when the accelarator...
www.clublexus.com
I've participated in that thread. Not sure if the whine heard by the 16 & 19 owners is the same thing, but the OP and initial responders had, I believe, '12s, and notably experienced that sound from the time the truck was new, before it had a chance to wear out the pinion gear, which is partly what led me to believe that there was a bad batch of diffs from the factory in this timeframe.
