NarcoticCow

Essentially what the title says. When I cold start my car and start to drive, regardless of gear I hear a circular swirly sounding sound. Like something is spinning. It doesn't sound like anything is grinding away, thankfully. It happens between 1-2k rpm and goes away after the car heats up or >10mins. Anyone else have anything like this? The sound sounds like it's coming from the center but not necessarily towards the front or back (or maybe I just can't tell).

Any and all advice would be appreciated!

Vetteman Jack

Moved to C5 Tech for some advice.

lucky131969

When the engine is running and car is in motion, many things are "spinning". Your description of "circular swirly" coupled with not being able to discern where the sound is coming from, tells me you should just take the car to a trusted shop.....as this happens every time...so it should be easy to identify. Ambiguous descriptions will just get 100 guesses from the forum.

Supercharged111

I vote power steering because of the use of the word swirly. Is it full?

Tron Z

I got a circular swirly once; I think that it was in fifth grade. I can't recommend them, as they are thoroughly unpleasant.

In order to make sure that your swirly does not turn unpleasant, you need to have a grown-up look at the car.

acroy

good thought



OP we'll need more to work with than that.
can you record it?
sound only while in motion or also while stopped?
if you turn off the engine while driving, and coast in neutral, is the sound still there?
sound go up and down with speed or rpm or ....?
Manual or auto?

Brake discs can get a surface coat of rust overnight (esp in Houston....) and make a grinding noise till it gets burnished off.

30rpm

Not too much to go off of but when was the last time you changed the trans fluid?

bookyoh

A little more back ground will be helpful.

When did you first notice the new noise?
Was any work done on the car around the time you first noticed it; even something as simple as an oil change?
Did anyone other than you drive the car around the time you first noticed it?
Did you experience something like a very badly missed shift or hitting a curb or running over something in the road?
I am serious with this last question because I have experienced it myself…… do you wear hearing aides? It is amazing how many “new” noises I discovered with my car when I started wearing hearing aides.