Hi guys. I've been doing some searching but can't seem to figure this issue out. I have a faint but very annoying high pitched blower/howling noise that I hear during idle when the road and engine noise is down. Does not change with RPM, does not change with AC on/off, seems like it occurs more on hotter days, but is still intermittent. Def not the AC compressor (thats a whole other noisy issue i got), and it doesnt seem like the cooling fan.

The best way I can describe it is it sounds like a muffled vacuum cleaner coming from the rear of the car. Matter of fact, for a while I thought it was lawn mowers or trucks around me at stop lights until I realized this was from my car.

When I get out of the car it seems to be coming from the trunk/exhaust/gas tank. If it is happening I can turn the car off and back on and it will go away, then sometimes come back later in the drive.

I know the description is vague, but any help is really appreciated so I can help address it with the dealer (or maybe its normal and doesnt need to be addressed). Could this be a fuel pump noise? Fan noise that just sounds like its coming from the rear?

 

I have the exact same issue. If anyone else has the same issue please post up. I also have the loud A/C compressor noise. I wanna try and get a good sound/video clip of the howling noise.

 

I'm gonna try to get a sound slip of it too, but I'm pretty certain its not going to be audible with all the sound distortions and other noises using digital camera.

 

What happens if you try to tighten the gas cap? I have heard of issues on some Infinitis with the gas cap seal causing noise.

 

hmmmm, I'm not sure, I will give that a try though. Thank you for the suggestion.

 

i had a similar howling noise but only when driving, open your glovebox and listen if the sound gets louder if yes then its the in-cabin filter with either someting stuck on it or punctured(mine had paper like item stuck stopping flow), thats what the issue was with mine, hope it helps.

 

God damn this noise is really annoying me. I've been turning the car off at traffic lights and restarting it to temp. make it go away, sometimes it comes back other times it doesnt. It definitely happens more in warmer/hot weather. The cabin filter looks good, arrows are pointing the right way too. Tried to tighten and loosen the gas cap. Doesnt matter if the tank is E or F, AC is on or off or radio is on or off.

Dealer was of NO HELP, because they couldnt hear it. My GF couldnt hear it at first but now she can. I saw some other post that sounds the same (only different lol):

http://myg37.com/forums/g37-sedan/19...se-poll-6.html

Headrest rattle: check
Dashboard rattle: check
Rear deck rattle: check
Washi trim rattle: check
Throwout bearing scraping noise: check
A/C compressor whine: check
Transmission/Clutch chatter: check
Passenger door rattle from speaker bass: check
Front suspension squeak on speed bumps: check
High pitched frequency whine/howling: CHECK

Reproduced and fixed by dealer: none except A/C compressor, but its back w/ a vengeance now

Sorry, had to vent.

 

Does it change with windows up or down?

To me it sounds like either a gas tank venting issue related if the ventilation system doesn't change it and it isn't rpm related or the noise could well be coming from the fuel pump. I would check everything egr related. One thing to be careful about is noise location. Noise will sometimes sound like it may be coming from one location but in reality is telegraphed there. For example if the gas tank was making a sound the real source could really be on the engine side if egr related. On the other hand if fuel pump related then it most likely would sound like it was coming from - the fuel tank.

 

the noise is continuous and not something pulsating or on/off repeatedly. I've notice lately that it's gone (although the weather over here has become much cooler in the past few days). Next time it happens, i'll be checking to see if it becomes louder with the glove box open.

 

Sorry I can't help with the noise issue but am another one with the noisy AC compressor. Dealer wants me to believe it's normal. My '04 was dead silent compared to this. Sounds like a tractor at low speeds with AC compressor cycling.

 

RBull - I was actually surprised they fixed my AC considering my luck with getting dealers to "reproduce" issues. My car tends to behave at the dealer, sometimes you get lucky though. Its back now anyways. I think it's so common that a lot of dealers have just decided its normal, on the bright side it still blows cold air when noisy.

pfarmer - thank you for the suggestions. You're right about finding the source, it is eluding especially something high pitched like this, it sounds like its coming from everywhere. Its strange, even though its faint it almost gets deafening due to the high pitch. I have noticed that it gets louder when i turn my head and point an ear between the head rests, and sounds like its coming from the rear, but who knows it could just be bouncing like you said. When I get out I can hear it coming from the trunk area, but the problem is the exhaust starts to mix in there too.

(Funny note by the way, when hunting for the noise in the rear I've twice inadvertently stuck my face right at the exhaust pipe, punch in the face!.....smart guy here)

 

Do you have a moonroof? Does it change with the windows up or down or the moonroof open?

 

Sorry, forgot to check on friday and did the restart at a traffic light and didnt hear it after that.

Got it on the way into work today and it does not really get louder with the windows or sunroof open, however the engine noise sort of starts to drown it out when I open the windows. I can definitely hear it get louder when I put my head down by the rear wheel and look up at the bottom of the car.

I think I'm going to go straight to the dealer and leave the car running and ask the service rep to come listen, and possibly ask a tech to listen. I think I gotta tell them, sit here and listen, now put your head here and listen. My mistake last time was just leaving it with the dealer and describing the noise. Only problem is that some people just dont hear the noise, I think b/c its so high pitched.

 

I'd check the intake tubes and seals first. I would also systematicaly turn off and on A/C ,radio etc to see if the noise goes away with any of them.

 

To me it is starting to sound more and more like an egr issue. Problem with this is that the way noise can telegraph it can be almost anywhere. May be time to do the garden hose trick.