Humming sound from girlfriends car

[jjanders]

So my girlfriends car (04 Corolla) has developed a strange sound which I figure someone here might be able to diagnose.

It is kind of a humming sound, it almost sounds like the engine is revving too high (but it's not). It's a constant while she's driving. It is there while she's driving straight, loudest around 35-40mph. When she turns the wheel a bit to the left, the noise gets a bit louder. If she turns the wheel a bit to the right, the noise seems to go away completely.

Could this be an alignment problem? The wheel doesn't vibrate, car doesn't seem to pull to the left or right, or any traditional symptoms of a bad alignment.

Any other ideas what it could be? Wheel bearings or CV joints? If these would bad I would think it'd be more of a clunking/metallic sound and would happen either way she turned the wheel, but I'm not that knowledgable....

Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

[jagec]

Wheel bearings or tire noise (uneven wear or inflation?) would be possibilities. Try turning the wheel all the way to lock and taking circles in both directions. CV joints that are going bad will usually click under these circumstances.

 

[jjanders]

I doubt it's the tires, she just had new ones put on, and the sound was happening before she had them put on. I defintely haven't heard a clicking noise, I'd describe it as a rubbery humming, it sort of sounds like if you took an object and placed it against the tire and then spun the tire? Kinda hard to describe. There is a lot of snow/salt/ice around here so it's possible the bearings have worn quickly (only have ~50K miles on it)

Thanks.

 

[LuckyTaxi]

I think this happened to me once. It turned out there was something wrong with my rotors.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Humming sound from girlfriends car

So many things could be going on. Sorry, my mind wanderd away there for a moment.

 

[Cdubneeddeal]

Wheel bearings for $1000 Alex. Drive a deserted road where no one can see you (You'll understand why in a second). While going about 35 mph, put the car in neutral and turn the wheel to the right and hold it, then to the left and hold it. If you notice the humming stronger on one side when you do this, the wheel bearing on that side is shot. Do not brake or use the accelerator during this procedure. You could also take into a mechanic. They'll take a special instrument that measure the sound from each wheel. Could also be your inner cv joint if the sound doesn't increase on either side of the axles.

 

[jjanders]

Originally posted by: Cdubneeddeal
Wheel bearings for $1000 Alex. Drive a deserted road where no one can see you (You'll understand why in a second). While going about 35 mph, put the car in neutral and turn the wheel to the right and hold it, then to the left and hold it. If you notice the humming stronger on one side when you do this, the wheel bearing on that side is shot. Do not brake or use the accelerator during this procedure. You could also take into a mechanic. They'll take a special instrument that measure the sound from each wheel. Could also be your inner cv joint if the sound doesn't increase on either side of the axles.

It also makes the noise if she's just going straight, though (though it does get louder if she turns the wheel to the left, and goes away when she turns it to the right).

Thanks for the replies, I think she's gonna take it to get looked at tomorrow (I'd try but she lives a few hours away currently)

 

[HardcoreRobot]

my car got a bit of hum for a couple days, then the alternator died.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Sorry, that was me...and it was more of a moaning sound actually.

 

[PandaBear]

Is it speed specific or RPM specific, or throttle specific?

Speed (regardless of what gear or how much gas you press on) -> from tire all the way to transmission, suspension, etc.
RPM -> transmission, engine, belts etc.
throttle -> mounts, air/fuel related.
Acceleration/Deceleration regardless of throttle or speed -> brake or suspension.

 

[jjanders]

It's quiet until ~30mph, after that the noise is pretty constant.

She's getting it looked at today....I'm thinking wheel bearings, but we'll see.

 

[cprince]

check the power steering fluid level.

 

[jjanders]

Fluids are fine. Ended up being the right bearing (makes sense since it got louder when she turned left). She got it fixed up today.