Hayden
Love/Hate Relationship
- Location
- Vancouver, Canada
- Car(s)
- 2016 GTI
I have recently started having this strange whine / hum noise.
I have a 2016 GTI autobahn 6speed with 24k kms so far. The last 2 months or so the car has developed a whine/hum noise.
While driving in 4th gear and holding the rpms at 2k is when the whine happens. It is throttle dependant and only whines when the throttle is applied. When I’m at 2k rpm I can apply the throttle and it whines, let go of the throttle and the whine stops. It also happens in 3rd gear slightly (I can make it whine in 3rd if I’m holding at the 2000-2050 rpm mark but the engine noise sort of drowns it out. But I’m 4th gear it is extremely noticeable.
Here is a video of mine, it’s easier to hear with headphones in, but in person the noise rings through the cabin and isn’t as quiet as the video sounds.
The car shifts and drives extremely smooth and I have no issues whatsoever besides the audible whining noise. I posted on a MK7 Facebook group and had a guy say he has a similar noise and posted a sound clip. It sounds identical and it’s in the same gear and rpm range.
Now I had the car at the local VW dealership to have this sound looked at. Long story short they told me it’s not an unusual sound and “their GTI on the lot makes the same noise” ( whether that’s true or not I’m not sure ). They told me to pickup the car and not worry about it until it gets louder and at that point bring it back in. I am tempted to try a dealer with a more reputable service department. They also said they found metal shavings in my transmission fluid but that it is normal as well.
It is very strange to me that this can be chalked up as “normal” because it’s mainly in only 4th gear (again, slightly in 3rd, nothing in 5th, and nothing in 6th) and at an exact RPM and it’s throttle dependant makes me think something needs fixed/replaced.
Any thoughts or tips on how to tackle this issue? I don’t want it to blow up once my warranty is over.
Cheers
Edit: Thought I would mention a few more things. My car is basically stock, it does have a CTS intake and AWE tuning track catback exhaust. Stock tune etc. Noise was there’s before the intake and exhaust and I also unplugged my soundakktor.
UPDATE - July 7 2023, the mysterious whine is GONE!! 4.5 years of this whine, it drove me sick every day.
The other day I changed my brake pads and rotors so I figured I should probably do a brake fluid flush...dropped it off at a shop and told them to do the clutch fluid too, fuck it.
Driving home and then to work on the highway, it didn't whine a single time. I am assuming this was something to do with the clutch fluid...I have no way of explaining this but I am sooooooooooo happy it has stopped.
I have a 2016 GTI autobahn 6speed with 24k kms so far. The last 2 months or so the car has developed a whine/hum noise.
While driving in 4th gear and holding the rpms at 2k is when the whine happens. It is throttle dependant and only whines when the throttle is applied. When I’m at 2k rpm I can apply the throttle and it whines, let go of the throttle and the whine stops. It also happens in 3rd gear slightly (I can make it whine in 3rd if I’m holding at the 2000-2050 rpm mark but the engine noise sort of drowns it out. But I’m 4th gear it is extremely noticeable.
Here is a video of mine, it’s easier to hear with headphones in, but in person the noise rings through the cabin and isn’t as quiet as the video sounds.
The car shifts and drives extremely smooth and I have no issues whatsoever besides the audible whining noise. I posted on a MK7 Facebook group and had a guy say he has a similar noise and posted a sound clip. It sounds identical and it’s in the same gear and rpm range.
Now I had the car at the local VW dealership to have this sound looked at. Long story short they told me it’s not an unusual sound and “their GTI on the lot makes the same noise” ( whether that’s true or not I’m not sure ). They told me to pickup the car and not worry about it until it gets louder and at that point bring it back in. I am tempted to try a dealer with a more reputable service department. They also said they found metal shavings in my transmission fluid but that it is normal as well.
It is very strange to me that this can be chalked up as “normal” because it’s mainly in only 4th gear (again, slightly in 3rd, nothing in 5th, and nothing in 6th) and at an exact RPM and it’s throttle dependant makes me think something needs fixed/replaced.
Any thoughts or tips on how to tackle this issue? I don’t want it to blow up once my warranty is over.
Cheers
Edit: Thought I would mention a few more things. My car is basically stock, it does have a CTS intake and AWE tuning track catback exhaust. Stock tune etc. Noise was there’s before the intake and exhaust and I also unplugged my soundakktor.
UPDATE - July 7 2023, the mysterious whine is GONE!! 4.5 years of this whine, it drove me sick every day.
The other day I changed my brake pads and rotors so I figured I should probably do a brake fluid flush...dropped it off at a shop and told them to do the clutch fluid too, fuck it.
Driving home and then to work on the highway, it didn't whine a single time. I am assuming this was something to do with the clutch fluid...I have no way of explaining this but I am sooooooooooo happy it has stopped.
Last edited:
, this summer I purchased mk7 1.6 TDI with 150 k (km) on it, it was so quiet no gearbox whine and everythig working perfect until 180 K ( I made 30k during summer ) there is a whining noise in 3 rd gear, than in 4th the most starting from 70 kmph and above, and in 5th gear from 100 to 110 kmph and then disaapears, all this happens when accelerate while in 4th gear it happens while accelerating also while decelerating this was my story.