I have a 1987 Volvo DL 240. It's been making a weird whizzing noise when I drive it. It sounds kind of like vacuum cleaner. It's coming from underneath the car, and it gets louder the faster I go. It only makes this sound when the car is in motion unless I'm going up a hill, then I don't hear it. I'm assuming it's the transmission. I put half a quart of transmission fluid in there, but it still makes that noise. Do I need to empty all the old fluid and put new fluid in? Or is it something else? Please help!

 

Oh yeah! and it's an automatic if that's important.

 

Where is the fluid on the dipstick?
The driveshaft carrier bearing could also be bad.

 

Before I added the fluid when it was below min, there were only a couple drops on the dip stick. After I added about a half quart it was at max. And I don't really think it could be the drive shaft carrier bearing, it's not really a clunking sound, but I could be wrong.

 

Nevermind! I just talked to a perfesional and he said it is the carrier bearing. He discribed all the symptoms that a problem with the carrier bearing would have and that's exacly what my car has; the random whizzing noise that's different at different speeds. So I have to get that replaced which will cost like 75$. Is it worth it to try to do it myself? Would it be hard?

 

Wow sorry about all the misspellings ... professional, described, and exactly...

 

Let them do it.
It is kind of a Pita and might require a Press.

 

My 1994 940 turbo just started doing this, im freaking out the tranny is shot. What can i do? Its making a whizzing sound, how can i tell for sure its the carrier bearing and not some other horrible issue? also if it is the carrier bearing how long can i drive this way?

 

If you can support the car on jackstands safely and run it and see where the noise is coming from.

I wouldn't drive for to long like that.

 

did that fix your volvo, I have the same model. Mine is doing the same thing, driving okay on straight highway, when I started to go up hill, he started acting up, wouldn't make it up the hill a short hill on the highway, My cousin and his wife brought me home. Had to have my car towed to my home. please help me and let me know if that helped your car

 

If the carrier bearing is bad, it makes a whining noise but should not affect your cars ability to go up a hill. Loss of power could be attributed to many different things such as a clogged catalytic converter, timing belt slip, etc.

For help on this, you should start a new thread describing in detail what the symptoms were when the problem occurred. Please include make, model and year of your car.

 

I have a new to me 240 1993 and this morning it started making a loud whining noise that appears to be associated with the speed of the car, not the engine. I can't understand why it would show up suddenly- except that it was extremely cold this morning, 0 degrees with the wind chill. I have not driven the car much and not in these temperatures.

Is there something about the cold that would cause the noise, or do you think it is the drive shaft support bearing?

Thanks in advance for your input.

 

i'd check that center bearing first. I've seen them completely frozen up and spinning inside the rubber donut cushion, and making horrible noises. while at it, its a good time to check the U joints too.