Nissan Micra 1.4 - Annoying Whine

It's a common fault on mk1 models of the KrisDel^TM Time Machine, indicating sloppy bearings on the input shaft to the flux capacitor. Get it up above 88mph (not possible around junction 27 of the M25 these days) and the problem will disappear.

So it doesn't come from the front passenger seat, then?

How about during the time that you stop accelerating and start to coast. Or when you gently remove your foot from the gas. Does it change pitch, cycle on and off or appear to maybe be coming from the drive gears. Any leaks by the axles? Possibly changing the gear oil! _{(Just like the litter box it's nice to change once in a while)} Or at least check the level. These sound like dumb suggestions considering what I know of you, but sometimes we overlook the little crap and end up slapping ourselves in the forhead.

If I stick it in N it's still there, even shifting down, but it could be the final drive...seems road speed related.
No prob when stationary.
Del

G'day Del the Cat...

Did the noise come in quickly or has it just appeared out of the blue?

Tyre noises usually, (I mean usually, not always..) come in slowly as tyres get worn or sometimes the rubber compound starts to harden. I had some 4x4 tyres that did the hardening thing some time ago.. man did they whine like crazy...

It could also be the exhaust resignating thru the chassis. If the exhaust mounts are getting a little weak or has a 'bit' of a smack on some of these bloody speed humps or gutters etc; this can create a whinning noise too... I'm not sure, but are the mirca's front wheel drive?.. You may have a CV joint starting to go & the vibration from this could be causing the whole vehicle to vibrate. Like you say it is difficult to pin point...

Anyway, that is all I have for now.. good luck in your quest to solve this mystery..

Cheers for now

LOWIQJO

"It makes a noise like an electric train pulling away from a station...and it's driving me nuts." Too late

Have you looked at the belts? I know the noise seems to come from behind but you never know. If there is no change when you have stopped it stands to reason that it's something that continues to move/rotate when the car is stopped.

This is just a shot in the dark, I know nothing about cars,I have trouble remembering where the key goes.

We don't have them here, but assuming it's one of those little buggers with FWD - the 2 rears are sway-mounted.....seems like if a bearing is suspect you could jack the rears up again and take hold of each wheel to see if there is play in them when you try to "twist" the wheel back & forth...if it's a bearing, your going to have some play.

Another thing to do while it is up, is to grab each wheel & push/pull back & forth to see if there is any play there also....another indicator of a bad bearing if you have travel when doing either of the above

The sound is only when your rolling, correct?

I've pulled, pushed, twisted, rocked and spun the wheels, no sign of play...

...annoying resonant whine that seems to be road speed related...

Just to confirm that you mean what I think you mean - the pitch of the whine increases with road speed and is independent of being in Drive or Neutral (can you you knock an auto into neutral whilst in motion? I've never tried). Is it still there if you cut the engine and coast?*

How old is the car?

Have you put Mrs Cat in the back so she can crawl around and locate it? (Or let her drive and you do the crawling?). Make sure you're equipped with a screwdriver and piece of rubber tube - both can be used as "stethoscopes" to locate the sound direction and source.

Can it be heard be a bystander?

Is your turbo pipe connected and snuggly attached (one of my recent problems)

You've covered all the obvious causes. Without hearing it I can't think of anything else (no guarantee that I would if I did!)

Last suggestion - have someone follow your car and check for joy-riding squirrels hanging on the rear bumper going Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee !!!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

*this test should only be carried out by trained professionals on closed test tracks. Children: do not try this at home.

I had wondered about taping some pvc tube to various areas and leading them through a window so that I (or Mrs Cat) can listen while I drive...we have lots of 5mm bore pvc tube at work.
It's due for MOT soon, I might see if they will let me sit in it when it's on the rolling road for the brake test.
Del (BTW I removed the extraneous squirrels first thing)

An intake/inter-cooler leak was my first inclination too...wrap connections with plastic cling-wrap then check after spin.

<...it's driving me nuts....>

So this chap wanders into a bar with a steering wheel hanging out of his flies and asks for a pint of beer.

The barman pours the pint and gives it to the man, noticing the steering wheel hanging out of his flies and asks, "Excuse me, Sir, but do you know there's a steering wheel hanging out of your flies?"

The man replies, "Yes, I know, and it's driving me nuts."

Torque converters make a whine when going out. Then the car owners do when they get the estimate. Although it seems like torque converter problems would be more engine speed related than road speed like you said. Does the ATF smell wrong or burnt? Do you see any sparkley (is that a word) bits in it?

Dunno, maybe I'll have a look...although the AT box doesn't have a damn dipstick I can look at, it has some electronc level sensor instead...arrrgh <slaps furry head with paw>

Maybe it's nature's way of tellin' me to PX the damn thing...mind it's omly got 35k on the clock!!!???
Del

Is it old enough to qualify for the £2K scrappage allowance?

Might be off the beam, but have you checked the speedometer cable? That would still be rotating (with road speed), even in neutral. Just disconnect from the transmission for a test.

might be the constant velocity joints beginning to fail. look for a torn boot. loss of lube, full of grit etc

http://www.nissan.ic-auto.co.za/Specifications/nissan_micra_1_4_acenta_5-door_%282006%29.aspx

C'mon man, it's a Nissan. Whaddya expect? How many miles?

I had a similiar problem with camper van, there was a whine related to road speed which started suddenly.

I had fitted new mud flaps and the end of one of them was touching the tyre. It was'nt happening when I jacked up vehicle as it came away from it.

Feed the trunk monkey...

Probably a CV joint going south...You think from rear but bearing grumble not whine...not a alternator bearing...nah...garage would have you up a tree

This found after Googling "Nissan Micra 1.4 automatic, whine"

The autobox is a CVT affair,runs on rubber bands. More problems than a manual sadly,prone to slipping & whining noises but better than the competition (Fiesta/Punto/Clio/Corsa).

It seems to be a recurring comment on Micra reviews.

I don't think it CVT, you can feel it shift between ratios and drop it from D to 2 or turn off the overdrive.
Ive popped it into the garage that does th MOt for me near where I work, he's going to run it around the block and offer an opinion. (Don't both with the matter of a pinion, gearbox jokes...)
Del

Assuming front wheel drive, jack up the front end and run it, if this does not produce the noise, consider swapping the front tyres/wheels out.....

Just heard from garage, he reckons rear wheel bearings, both sides.
Probably all those wretched speed bumps and pot holes around Harlow.
I'll let him do 'em and tell you all how it goes..
<exciting isn't it>
Del

Rear wheel bearings are easy enough, Del. Given the youth of the vehicle mileage-wise, it's worth fixing if the aim is to keep it and run it "into the ground".

I'd have done 'em myself when I was a kitten...but I'll wave the magic plastic and let him do 'em while they are there.
Hopefully it will cure it and I'll have one less thing to stress about....

The down side is, I can't pop home for lunch today..
Athough there is a greasy spoon around the corner...mmmm cholesteroltastic.

Del

No problem:

(usual disclaimer).

Is your rail picture one of a high speed rail on a curve? I've never seen one (railhead) that was not symetrical. Thanks

Does this car have an antenna. My truck was suddenly making a funny noise last month. Couldn't figure out what it was. Then one day I was replacing the wiper blades and noticed the antenna some how came lose. After I tightened it the strange noise went away. Guess the air flow as I was driving down the road across the lose antenna was making the funny noise because I haven't heard it since.

Yup, new read wheel bearings has done the job!
...blimey it's quiet as that forrest where they go to clap with one hand whilst felling a tree to see if anyone can hear it .
Excelent... £186 , I s'pose that's not too bad these days, and I didn't have to book it in or aything.
You can all relax now.
Let's hear it for Ed's Autos.
Del

It appears that I am too late to make any bad jokes at your expense. Damn it.

I will try to offer two suggestions for future use. 1) drive the car next to a wall. or a long building with the window open. Noises that are muffled or distorted, may sound much clearer when the noise is bounced off of something. 2) If the wheels have dust caps, pulling them off will usually show tiny metallic flakes present when a wheel bearing is going away.

Best wishes.