Transmission noise, maybe

[abyssvibeawd]

Recently I have noticed a strange sound coming from my car. It happens when stopped, the car is running and still in gear. At first I thought it was a distant crotch-rocket accelerating, that kind if progressively increasing high pitch acceleration sound. It isn't very loud. I turned down the radio to hear and discovered when I place the car in neutral or 2nd, it immediately stops. Very strange. Has anyone experienced this before? I have a 2004 AWD. Transmission fluid, trans filter, differential and transfer case fluids have all been replaced within the last 6 months. The sound seems to be coming from the front of the car, between radio and shifter, but hard to tell.

[cq358]

you need to change your differential oil

[Caretaker]

yep, I get this with my 03 AWD Vibe. It definitely is coming from the engine. What on earth does the differential fluid have to do with an engine noise?????Anyway, It is a noise that gets higher and higher in pitch and then terminates after 5 or so seconds, correct? I have no idea what it is, but it has been occuring for at least 60,000 miles. I'm now at 120,000.

[abyssvibeawd]

Yes, you have the same thing, it does seem to go away after about 5 seconds, but I always just shift into neutral, that makes me think it is related to the transmission. Well if you have been experiencing it for over 60k miles then probably nothing to worry about I guess. It does seem to happen when the car is warmed up.

[Caretaker]

As the noise turns off, it almost sounds like a "secondary noise" switches off the first noise. I've heard a similar "switching noise" with my PC computer. Do you notice that as well?

[joatmon]

I could see where shifting into neutral would unload the engine and affect a noise it makes, but I don't see how shifting into second would do the same thing. I also don't see how the differential would make a 5 second noise while stopped. However, cq358's suggestion is still good, you need to periodically change the diferential oil, others who didn't were faced with expensive repairs.

[ou.grizzly]

I have read about the rear differentials wearing out/making noise and seals on output shafts leaking on the AWD Matrix/Vibe models. Yet I am sure if this is directly related to your concern.

[abyssvibeawd]

No I haven't noticed that secondary noise. Maybe some vacuum hose or something? There has to be others out there with the same sound. I do tend to notice every little sound, vibration or anything out of the ordinary, due to my un rational fear of something going wrong with my cars. Probably from the long list of high mileage cars I have owned.