Increased whine when accelerating

[nickverwood]

Hi. 2005 987 manual.

While the normal low level transmission whine has always been noticeable, in the past weeks the car has developed a marked new noise.

When I reach around 2,000 rpm a really high pitched whine starts up, drowning out the exhaust noise. The noise can be replicated when stationary and/or if I rev the engine in neutral.

As such I have ruled out any wheel bearing related problems. Also the fact that it happens regardless of whether under load puzzles me.

The noise is also apparent under engine braking/slowing down. The whine reduces as I get up to speed in 5th, but is definitely there in the background, just drowned out I guess.

It's not a belt type screech and the serpentine belt was changed 5k miles or so ago.

Noise is there regardless of engine temperature, A/C on or off, stereo off. The car runs, pulls and handles perfectly otherwise.

I suspect (hope!) it's an idler or ancillary pulley/bearing and will get it checked out, but prior to that has anyone got any thought please?

Many thanks.

[Loren]

Can you make a recording and post it here?

[nickverwood]

Now that will be testing my ability..will try!

[nickverwood]

OK - sorry for the awful quality. The first is sitting on my drive, stationary not in gear and increasing revs to 3000rpm. The second is starting up, driving off the drive accelerating up to about 30mph (just over 2000 rpm I guess) up around the corner and then coming to a stop. And no, I wasn't driving under water. I hope you can make out the whine under all the other background noise.

engine noise.mp3

driving.mp3

Edited June 22, 2012 by nickverwood

[Loren]

Have you checked for fault codes?

Sounds somewhat like an air/exhaust leak - which should give codes.

[nickverwood]

No, I only have a basic reader unfortunately and nothing was thrown up. Will need to take to local Indie for that. Are there any typical hoses or clamps that come loose or split that I can get to easily to check? All seemed OK top end of engine when I checked recently, and when I had a quick look underneath when I had tyres changed recently.

[Loren]

Air leaks are generally practically impossible to see without a smoke machine - or at least a fault code to point you in the right direction.

Perhaps you can locate someone with Durametric, a Porsche PIWIS tester?

[RFM]

I do not know if there is already a modification has taken place on your car, 987 MY 05/06, the piston of the oil pressure system may make noise at approx. 2000 RPM especially with cold engine. There is a new design provided since 2006. It may well be that this is the problem.

[nickverwood]

Any idea how I can check if this mod has been done? I guess it was not a recall so will not be on any database. Although, the noise is not really temperature dependent. Thanks.

[Loren]

Any idea how I can check if this mod has been done? I guess it was not a recall so will not be on any database. Although, the noise is not really temperature dependent. Thanks.

Yes, it should be in Porsche's database as the TSB calls out specific engine numbers.

Your OPC should be able to contact Porsche and see if (and when) it was or was not done.

[nickverwood]

Hi, well I managed to find (I believe) that the problem engines were from late 2005. Mine is early in the year so unlikely to be affected it seems. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Also no fault codes apparent, so am at a loss now.

[mattatk]

So what caused the noise? I must admit I have a similar noise which kicks in when accelerating the engine (driving in gear or stationary in neutral).

Cheers

[nickverwood]

Hi Matt,

Sorry, I still haven't found out! The car is running smoothly since I've had it, so I have just made the assumption the whine is normal. I'm thinking of having a transmission fluid change at the next service early in the New Year to see if that makes any difference even though it's not yet due on the service schedule (I'm at 63k miles). Will post if there is any improvement. LEt me know if you get any alternative views though.

Cheers.

[White987S]

I do not know if there is already a modification has taken place on your car, 987 MY 05/06, the piston of the oil pressure system may make noise at approx. 2000 RPM especially with cold engine. There is a new design provided since 2006. It may well be that this is the problem.

Correct, there was a TSB (ENU #1726) issued by Porsche in February 2006 for the replacement of the control piston in the oil pump (997.107.125.01 and 996.107.123.50 for the seal).

[pappe]

Has there been any update on this thread since 2012?? Surely by now all has been deemed fine or the transmission has fallen out. I have this exact noise!

Thanks

[Loren]

Has there been any update on this thread since 2012?? Surely by now all has been deemed fine or the transmission has fallen out. I have this exact noise!

Thanks

Please post the exact model and year of your car.

[Papp_e]

1999 boxster non-s. I realize OP has a 987, however I experience and hear the same symptoms and noise.

Thanks for the input

[Loren]

1999 boxster non-s. I realize OP has a 987, however I experience and hear the same symptoms and noise.

Thanks for the input

In your case it is not the oil pump control piston.

Best record and post your noise -- in the 986 section please.

[Mike Barros]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but I seem to have this exact noise under the same circunstances. My car does this RPM dependent noise in gear and neutral, easier to hear during engine braking as the exaust is less pronounced. Temperature doesnt seem to affect it, only RPM. When my car was in for service at an indy I complained about the noise and they replaced a pulley, but it didn't fix the issue at all. Mine is a 07 base 987 cayman.

[987s]

This obviously doesn't apply to OP, but may help some of the subsequent posters. My 987S has a whine that is identical to what OP described except that it goes away simply by turning the stereo off or playing something through it. I suspect it has something to do either with the Bose fiberoptic system or the aftermarket Navtec ipod/iphone adapter (or both). I don't know why it is linked to RPM speed but it is. I haven't traced the problem further because either turning off the stereo, or playing music is all the solution I need but thought I'd pass on what I do know in case it is helpful to someone trying to figure out their noise.