Thread: Diagnose this noise! Transfer case or gearbox whir/whine?

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Just a suggestion.
When my pinion bearing let go on my M3, the mechanic put the car up on a hoist and started it up and ran through the gears.
They and I could spot where the noise was coming from with the old screwdriver stethescope .
Regards PhilipA

At risk of revealing who the indie is I won't post the photo but that was the first thing they did when I first took it in and then again when I took it straight back!

Strangest thing they couldn't isolate it - as though the drivelibe needs to have some resistance on it

Originally Posted by carpdvl

On the basis it was making a very similar noise when I dropped it in as to now, and the indie said one of the intermediate bearings was kaput, I was thinking along the same lines... But it is bizarre that it would be gone immediately so perhaps correct on the box having been assembled incorrectly

I'm thinking the best way to check now will be to drop the tcase off and run it up with just the gbox in place?

nope, remove the gearbox output gear or the tcase input gear, its the same gear just depends on whose description you want to use.

the tcase shimming you can check by dropping the bottom plate and just doing the intermediate gear set check.

First thing I'd do is check the oils for metal shine.

Which means there are two whines?

A Red and a White one presumes, Doctor Penfold?

Originally Posted by 4bee

A Red and a White one presumes, Doctor Penfold?

I'll be needing a lot more than just two to get over this headache!

I'll be needing a lot more than just two to get over this headache!

Naaahh, don't despair it'll be ok on the day. I know these things but bugger all about Transmissions.

I had a transfer case replace recently with a Land Rover genuine rebuild. The box made noise from day one and the mechanics said it was just gears bedding in. At the first oil change I found the oil drain plug used must have been aftermarket. The magnet on the end of the plug was too long and collided with the gears. After picking out as much mashed magnet as possible and an oil change, noise has now gone.