Question...

I just purchased a 92 240 dl, it has 170,000 miles on it and for the most part runs just fine. Here's the thing, when the car goes over 50 mph it makes what can only be described as a high-pitched whistle. Does anyone have any idea as to what would cause this? I am no volvo expert, but I think it might be the transmission. I have a 30 day warranty so I plan of getting to the bottom of this before it costs me a bundle to fix. If anyone has had any experience with this type of noise please e mail me.

Thanks!

I'll agree with all the good answers about wind noise (having chased and solved just that on a '74 145...)...

...but it might also be a strange manifestation of a bad center support bearing. In the past, I've described a bad bearing as somewhat like ghosts singing in three part harmony, or maybe the wind whistling through the rigging on the Flying Dutchman at dawn.... tends to be more pronounced when cold and diminishes when warm....

Paul & John,

Thanks for your suggestions. I will try the tape trick and see what happens. Hopefully you are correct, it will be much easier to deal with if it's just molding rather than the transmission. Paul, I have no idea what kind of tranny it is. I am a little mentally challenged when it comes to issues regarding cars....

Andrea

What kind of tranny?

I have heard a hell of whistle at speed in a friends 240. It was the windshield molding. Top center. If this is suspected, put an experimental piece of tape on it to see if goes away.

Paul, did you mean manual vs. automatic? If you did than it's an automatic, and I am an idiot for not getting the question the first time around. DUH!!!!!

Automatics make noises (maybe not as loud as manuals) but I think whistlin' dixie at a high pitch above 50mph ain't one of them.

Hmmmm is it closer to metallic or wind whistling?

Its certainly hard to diagnose sounds from descriptions but my first guess is that it could be wind noise, prehaps from around the windshield trim? You might try sticking some tape (that won't leave residue!) over the trim and taking a spin.

John Mc

95 Jetta GLX VR6

71 1800e (lots of wind noise from the 1800 'positive ventilation' windows)

63 544 (can't hear the wind noise, too noisy)