My gearbox sounds like a bearing is failing

[Rammy76]

My 2003 Passat TDi 130 6 speed has started to whine faintly once over about 40mph. I think there could be an issue with the diff bearing as it's not related to anything else rather than the speed of the car (unless someone on here with more knowledge has other ideas?).

It has just turned 150000 miles, 90% motorway and has had a relatively easy life. It also has FSH and despite numerous requests by myself that maybe the gearbox oil should be changed, VW and several other garages insist it is not required as it is "sealed for life".

I've heard of this being a load of bks for auto gearboxes, but surely manual ones must require changing at some point also?

Has my perfectly good gearbox's lifespan been cut short because of this "sealed for life" malarkey, or have I just been unlucky? I realise it already has done a few miles but I'm sure the easy life it has had it should've crossed the 200000 mile barrier without too much issue.

My other issue is now I need another motorway cruiser, should I just stick this on eBay and see what I get for it as it stands or try and repair/replace the gearbox? I've got a feeling that it may be rather costly to repair it.

I've been offered a 2002 Rover 75 2.0 V6 Connoisseur with 77000 miles and FSH for £600. I realise the MPG or performance won't be wonderful but I'm tempted to get this as a cheap barge, it certainly looks comfortable! That way I can get shot of the Passat and not have to fork out a fortune and gives me a usable car straight away.

Thoughts?

[B'stard Child]

Better the devil you know.....

[DocArbathnot]

If it's the diff the whine should go if you lift off.
It's an old car a whine can go on for yrs, if it's only slight turn the radio up.

[Rammy76]

DocArbathnot said:

If it's the diff the whine should go if you lift off.
It's an old car a whine can go on for yrs, if it's only slight turn the radio up.

The whine is constant, whether I dip the clutch or not it just changes with speed.

I'd happily keep driving it and turn up the radio but I'm worried a bearing may collapse if I keep using it as I can't see it getting any better.

[DocArbathnot]

Rammy76 said:

The whine is constant, whether I dip the clutch or not it just changes with speed.

I'd happily keep driving it and turn up the radio but I'm worried a bearing may collapse if I keep using it as I can't see it getting any better.

Sounds like a wheel bearing in that case.

[Benbay001]

Rammy76 said:

The whine is constant, whether I dip the clutch or not it just changes with speed.

I'd happily keep driving it and turn up the radio but I'm worried a bearing may collapse if I keep using it as I can't see it getting any better.

Cant you pretend you have straight cut gears?

[Triumph Man]

Sorry to hijack the thread, I have a similar problem with my 520i, but the whine only occurs in 1st to 4th (rises and falls with engine revs). There is no whine in 5th. When you lift off, the whine goes. I think it might be the 'box might just require a top up, any other possibilities (that aren't the gearbox)?

[Super Slo Mo]

DocArbathnot said:

Rammy76 said:

The whine is constant, whether I dip the clutch or not it just changes with speed.

I'd happily keep driving it and turn up the radio but I'm worried a bearing may collapse if I keep using it as I can't see it getting any better.

Sounds like a wheel bearing in that case.

I'd be inclined to agree. If it is a wheel bearing, it'll get louder or quieter as you turn one way or the other. The difference is more pronounced at the front.

Go and take it for a quick spin and try it. If it does this, see if it's louder turning left or right, this will help identify which bearing it is (the opposite, basically).

[Super Slo Mo]

Triumph Man said:

Sorry to hijack the thread, I have a similar problem with my 520i, but the whine only occurs in 1st to 4th (rises and falls with engine revs). There is no whine in 5th. When you lift off, the whine goes. I think it might be the 'box might just require a top up, any other possibilities (that aren't the gearbox)?

I don't know how the 520i's gearbox is constructed, but it's possible that the layshaft for the first 4 gears is different to 5th, or indeed, it's possible that 5th is straight through in as much as it's direct drive (1:1) and doesn't go through the layshaft first.

I'm no expert, but it might explain your symptoms, and thus would suggest layshaft bearings. A rebuild would cure it. They're not as expensive as people think, a gearbox specialist should be able to sort it for you. Alternatively, a recon box from a reputable supplier would do the job.

However, it might not be this at all. I would suggest taking it to a gearbox specialist to find out.

[Ozzie Osmond]

DocArbathnot said:

It's an old car a whine can go on for yrs,

Yup, if it ain't broke don't fix it. I've had an A/C compressor rattling for years. Some fail, some don't.

[Fantuzzi]

Rammy76 said:

DocArbathnot said:

If it's the diff the whine should go if you lift off.
It's an old car a whine can go on for yrs, if it's only slight turn the radio up.

The whine is constant, whether I dip the clutch or not it just changes with speed.

I'd happily keep driving it and turn up the radio but I'm worried a bearing may collapse if I keep using it as I can't see it getting any better.

If you put the clutch down and the noise is still there then it isn't the gearbox bearing, which is good as they are expensive!

[rayyan171]

This is also happening on my XC90. The front end of the car whines as soon as i hit 30 and the whine goes higher pitched the higher the speed. Some suggest wheel bearings though...

[eltax91]

Like has been said it could be a wheel bearing, get then checked!!

I had an Octavia that started to whine in 6th like this on about 130k miles. Same engine/ 'box combo as yours

My trusty Indy suggested I drop the gear oil out and replace it with slightly thinner oil, but not skimping by using the best quality stuff available. The bearing noise disappeared and it was still fine 47k later when I wrote it off!