Audi A3 2.0 FSI - Strange sound at motorway speeds

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Fri 6 Mar 2015 17:15
Audi A3 2.0 FSI - Strange sound at motorway speeds - irie_jeff

I can hear a sound like a washing machine spinning when i drive at motorway speeds - or over 50mph. the higher the speed, the faster the spinning sound. It's not loud at all but noticeable all the same. It seems to be coming from the rear. Passed MOT in January, had CV Boot replaced on both sides and cambelt is due to be replaced soon. apart from that no problems. Any idea on what it could be?

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Fri 6 Mar 2015 17:36
Audi A3 2.0 FSI - Strange sound at motorway speeds - bathtub tom

Age and mileage? Has the sound always been there, has it got worse lately, or suddenly started?

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Fri 6 Mar 2015 19:55
Audi A3 2.0 FSI - Strange sound at motorway speeds - elekie&a/c doctor

Possible wheel bearings?

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Fri 6 Mar 2015 23:45
Audi A3 2.0 FSI - Strange sound at motorway speeds - Peter.N.

Try declutching and letting it coast, if the noise is still there as suggested probably a wheel bearing, if it goes off it will be a transmission problem.

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Sat 7 Mar 2015 10:15
Audi A3 2.0 FSI - Strange sound at motorway speeds - Ordovices

Check the tyres for saw-toothing.

misalignment can cause wear on inner or outer edges. If you run a hand along the tread direction and feel a ripple - sometimes with quite pronounced tread block edges - this can produce quite a whine at certain speeds. The road surface will also exacerbate this.

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Sat 7 Mar 2015 10:41
Audi A3 2.0 FSI - Strange sound at motorway speeds - irie_jeff
2005, 69k miles. I've had the car since July 2014, and as far as I can remember the sound has always been there. Hasn't got worse.
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Sat 7 Mar 2015 13:47
Audi A3 2.0 FSI - Strange sound at motorway speeds - dieselnut

I think Ordovoices has probably got it nailed.

My son bought a Skoda Octavia VRS ( quite probably same chassis ) a couple of years ago.

Went for a test drive & noticed the wining noise from the rear.

Otherwise liked the car so asked the seller to fix what we thought was a worn bearing then he would buy it.

Seller got his garage to check the bearings which were fine, but changed the rear tyres instead which completely cured the problem.

But you will need to get the car 4 wheel alligned to stop the new tyres going the same way.

Run your hand around the surface of the tyre inner & outer, one way will probably feel smooth, the other direction they will feel rough.

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