Hello all
I have lurked here for a while when considering the purchase of my 99 xc. I have had the car for about 3 months and love it. It has developed a noise at about 60-65 mph where there is fairly loud constant pitch howling noise lasting a second or 2 from the front somewhere. Braking, stepping on the gas, turning the wheel doesn't seem to affect it, but Im not sure. The garage I bought it from originally said it was the front license plate being loose, but I removed it and still get the noise.

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks
Neil

If your car came with a roof rack and cross bars like mines did, the cross bars alone would cause a howling noise at highway speeds if the bar was too close to the front. When I'm not using the rack, I push the front cross bar to the midpoint of the roof and the noise went away. Or else remove the cross bars. Hopefully your problem is that simple.....

Thanks for all the suggestions.
I took it back to the garage and it wound up being the windshield. They had it re-seated and it's good as new now.

Thanks again
Neil

I had a bad howl when some windshield molding came loose.

Air noise can throw you for a loop. Does the car have roof racks or any damaged moldings around the roof or windshield? Being a 99 AWD, I am just trying to make you feel better. Rotate your tires. Hopefully they are Michelins.

Hi Neil,

There are several items that can cause the sound you describe. I have listed what I can think of off the top of my head below.

I believe you have a bad bearing somewhere. The possibilities are;

1) A wheel bearing (most likely one of the front wheels).
2) Bad CV (Constant Velocity) Joint (again most likely one of the front wheels)
3) Bevel Gear in the transfer-case or some call it the “Angle Gear”.
4) There is a coupling located at the front of the rear drive shaft that can be bad

What I have listed are the common issues XC owners have had. Items 1,2 and 4 are easily identified and repaired. Item #3 is going to be a real pain in your wallet.

Also a sticky or stuck brake caliber can cause a howling noise at high speed but not at low speeds. Again this is an easy problem to find and fix.

Good Luck,

Steven---