Club Touareg Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Garage Forums

2013 TDI Transmission 'WooWooWoo' noise at 50mph

1 reading
Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
I

icurnow

· Registered
Joined
·
12 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
As described in the title really. Very apparent on smooth surfaces less so on textured the transmission makes a audible 'WooWooWooWooWoo' noise in the background (most obvious at about 50mph). It has reached the point where my now driving daughter mentioned it.
The car is 2013 3.0TDI with 60,000 miles on the clock, which I bought 3 months ago, the noise was evident then but possibly less so.
I know there is a prop shaft bearing which can go bad and do understand I might expect more transmission noise then the 2wd vehicles I've had before. This does sound a little too much however. Can prop shafts go out of balance?

Suggestions and advice very much welcomed? I presume this not something they all do?

Thanks in advance, Ian
 
#3 ·
icurnow said:
As described in the title really. Very apparent on smooth surfaces less so on textured the transmission makes a audible 'WooWooWooWooWoo' noise in the background (most obvious at about 50mph). It has reached the point where my now driving daughter mentioned it.
The car is 2013 3.0TDI with 60,000 miles on the clock, which I bought 3 months ago, the noise was evident then but possibly less so.
I know there is a prop shaft bearing which can go bad and do understand I might expect more transmission noise then the 2wd vehicles I've had before. This does sound a little too much however. Can prop shafts go out of balance?

Suggestions and advice very much welcomed? I presume this not something they all do?

Thanks in advance, Ian
Click to expand...
Its difficult to say for sure. Can you post up a audio/video clip as hearing it may help diagnosis? My 2014 Tdi 60k makes a low volume background transmission (may even be a resonant frequency coming from the engine) noise at around 60mph. Always done it in my ownership. I have also changed all oils in diffs & transfer & gearbox. Transfer box was low on oil which I have heard is how they left the factory.

Ed.
 
#4 ·
Can you make driver inputs that alter the sound OP? For instance, if you swing the wheel hard left does it alter the sound or frequency? What if you swing the wheel hard right? What if you go fast, or what if you go slow? What if you floor it while turning right or left, and then hit the brakes medium-hard while turning the wheel left and then trying while turning the wheel right? That can usually help narrow down front/rear and which side.
 
  • Like
Reactions: icurnow
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
Discussion starter · #5 ·
volkswagens-for-life said:
Can you make driver inputs that alter the sound OP? For instance, if you swing the wheel hard left does it alter the sound or frequency? What if you swing the wheel hard right? What if you go fast, or what if you go slow? What if you floor it while turning right or left, and then hit the brakes medium-hard while turning the wheel left and then trying while turning the wheel right? That can usually help narrow down front/rear and which side.
Click to expand...
Thanks to all above who have offered suggestions. I've just driven for 2 hours on my own in it at a penny possibly dropped, and I might be over thinking this. It's quite possibly simply a buckled wheel or as suggested a tyre problem. As easy starting point I'm going to get all four checked for true and re balanced... It just might be that simple (crossed finger).

In terms of swerving at speed, thanks but I'll probably wait on that one 😉

I'll feedback once wheels tested, helpful to know I shouldn't be looking at shaft bearings yet.

Thanks, Ian
 
#7 ·
At 60k, bearings should be good.
The most obvious culprit is worn out tires, noisy tires, or some sort of tire defect. (sorry, tyre)
When others suggest "swerving", they don't mean try to roll your vehicle... simply do a "sweeping slalom" motion on a wide open road to get weight transfer from side to side..... if it goes quiet when you unload one of the sides, it points to a potential wheel bearing problem on that side.
 
#8 ·
The centre bearing on the prop shaft isn't an issue on Generation 2 cars. I can only recall one or two versus the many, many failures on Gen 1s.

Which tyres are fitted (make, model and size) and what's the tread depth?
 
#9 ·
Recently bought a 2013 3.6FSI and have a similar issue I hear a rumble (similar to driving over spaced out rumble strips or uneven road surface) at 50-60mph. Tyres are a little worn so I’ll swap those out and see if the problem improves.
 
#10 ·
I had a similar issue with my 2013 TDI Lux, the noise was as you described, kinda in the background and was worsening as the mileage grew, some passengers would hear it others not.
Being an old car guy who set many a gear set in my history, I told the dealer it was hypoid gear whine from the front differential, they said / insisted it was the transmission, used "chassis ears" etc., and replaced the trans under warranty (76K miles)....... (undoubtedly thinking i was an old fool for suggesting a solution)
One quick trip to the highway verified it was NOT the transmission.......... wiping the egg off, the dealer replaced the front differential as I told them and the noise vanished.
Up side, noise gone and i have a new transmission and front differential (y)
Good luck
 
#11 ·
SammyJ said:
I had a similar issue with my 2013 TDI Lux, the noise was as you described, kinda in the background and was worsening as the mileage grew, some passengers would hear it others not.
Being an old car guy who set many a gear set in my history, I told the dealer it was hypoid gear whine from the front differential, they said / insisted it was the transmission, used "chassis ears" etc., and replaced the trans under warranty (76K miles)....... (undoubtedly thinking i was an old fool for suggesting a solution)
One quick trip to the highway verified it was NOT the transmission.......... wiping the egg off, the dealer replaced the front differential as I told them and the noise vanished.
Up side, noise gone and i have a new transmission and front differential (y)
Good luck
Click to expand...
A new gearbox on warranty at 76k Excellent!!
 
#12 ·
icurnow said:
Thanks to all above who have offered suggestions. I've just driven for 2 hours on my own in it at a penny possibly dropped, and I might be over thinking this. It's quite possibly simply a buckled wheel or as suggested a tyre problem. As easy starting point I'm going to get all four checked for true and re balanced... It just might be that simple (crossed finger).

In terms of swerving at speed, thanks but I'll probably wait on that one 😉

I'll feedback once wheels tested, helpful to know I shouldn't be looking at shaft bearings yet.

Thanks, Ian
Click to expand...
I think it might just be a tire and/or balance issue. Had a similar sound/issue with a car around 25yrs ago. Woowooo sound and vibrations occurred at around 50-55mph. Tires needed to be replaced and after replacing them, the problem went away. Hopefully rebalance takes care of the issue.
 
#13 ·
If you're balancing a Touareg's tires, get them today force balanced
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#15 ·
My bad you are correct. Sometimes autocorrect makes me want to smash my phone and this is one of those instances. This kind of crap happens all the time when I'm typing on my phone. Thanks for looking out
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
#17 ·
icurnow said:
As described in the title really. Very apparent on smooth surfaces less so on textured the transmission makes a audible 'WooWooWooWooWoo' noise in the background (most obvious at about 50mph). It has reached the point where my now driving daughter mentioned it.
The car is 2013 3.0TDI with 60,000 miles on the clock, which I bought 3 months ago, the noise was evident then but possibly less so.
I know there is a prop shaft bearing which can go bad and do understand I might expect more transmission noise then the 2wd vehicles I've had before. This does sound a little too much however. Can prop shafts go out of balance?

Suggestions and advice very much welcomed? I presume this not something they all do?

Thanks in advance, Ian
Click to expand...
I had exact problem on my 2012 vw Touareg TDI, it will make that noise from 40 to 50 mph goes away at higher speed. I thought it was my wheel bearing going out. But end up it’s the tire, I put some new tires on it, no more noise. I would check the tires firs before you do anything else.
 
#18 ·
icurnow said:
As described in the title really. Very apparent on smooth surfaces less so on textured the transmission makes a audible 'WooWooWooWooWoo' noise in the background (most obvious at about 50mph). It has reached the point where my now driving daughter mentioned it.
The car is 2013 3.0TDI with 60,000 miles on the clock, which I bought 3 months ago, the noise was evident then but possibly less so.
I know there is a prop shaft bearing which can go bad and do understand I might expect more transmission noise then the 2wd vehicles I've had before. This does sound a little too much however. Can prop shafts go out of balance?

Suggestions and advice very much welcomed? I presume this not something they all do?

Thanks in advance, Ian
Click to expand...
Just drove it on my winter tyres and yup, all’s well. Will put on new summer tyres when I switch them back.
 
#19 ·
A pulsating roar can be difficult to nail down, but the 10yr/100k drivetrain warranty can be very beneficial to the consumer. I would recommend ruling out the tires and wheels first, then work from there. Follow the advice of others above to try to narrow down and take note of the conditions that produce the noise. Under load? In gear (vs coasting in neutral)? Speed(s)? Straight ahead, or altered slightly when making a sweeping turn? Nature of the pulses -- short vs long (time), constant volume or building/waning? ..... and so on. The more information you have the better you or others can try to help determine what might be happening. A dealer and their technicians, on the other had, will follow their corporate procedures which may or may not make sense to an old school mechanic. And believe me there can be a big difference between the two.

I will spare you the long, long story but parts one wouldn't expect, such as a wheel bearing (usually not covered) and a differential, can be faulty even at low mileage (30k miles for our 2015 TDI). Rare, but one never knows what a previous owner or possibly defective original parts might lead to.
 
Save
Reply Quote Like Like
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
About this Discussion
20 Replies
10 Participants
Last post:
Tom_B
Club Touareg Forum
posts
784K
members
105K
Since
2003
Club Touareg Forum is a forum community dedicated to Volkswagen Touareg owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about VW Touareg Sport Utility Vehicles and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
General Maintenance & Repair Australia & New Zealand Brakes, Steering, Suspension, Wheels and Tires Mobile Electronics and In Car Entertainment General Touareg Discussions