High Pitched Noise While Driving

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DiamondDan73

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 28, 2015
Messages
64
Location
Southern California
Does anyone else have a high pitched noise while driving? The only way to describe it is it is the same noise when you get a hearing test. It's very high, very faint, and very annoying. It happens at freeway speeds. It's no the radio or the A/C.
 
Does the pitch vary with the speed? That's the noise from the motor, possibly leaking into car speakers but I have not verified that. I find it mildly annoying, but I can manage by turning on the radio at low volume. That is the price to pay for having permanent magnets in the rotor. The cogging torque is always there. It reminds me of heterodyning tone you get on AM radio, similar to ear ringing tone.
 
I don't know what year it was added but I know our 2016 has (and states in the manual) a whining noise until about 19mph. It's to warn pedestrians. After 20mph it stops and we only hear normal road noises.
 
It is the motor. My 2013 had it and even my volt electric motor has a whine when traveling at highway speed. It is due to the speed of the motor and a need for more sound insulation. Some people can't hear it because they have lost hearing in that frequency range. I was able to hear it if I had the radio off. With the radio on, it drowned out the whine enough to not be annoying in the LEAF.
 
If it becomes unbearable, I'll swap your Leaf for my 1994 Honda Accord that has an exhaust leak. :lol: :lol:

Seriously though, if you have a LOUD high pitch whine develop, ensure to get it to the Nissan stealership to have them check out the reduction gearbox.
 
I can see how it can be bothersome. First week when I got my leaf, I was "hearing" this noise in my head while falling asleep. Then in soon went away. Now I have additional mechanical vibration type noise coming from driver side at speeds above 56 MPH. I think I may be a wheel bearing going bad. Its a 2011 Leaf.
 
I also have the reduction gear noise. It has been getting worse over the last 12k miles (started at 59k). It is now bad enough that my passangers almost always will ask about the noise.

I am pretty sure it is the recduction gear as I have already replaced the Wheel bearings, driver side axle and performed the TSB for clicking. I have replaced the reduction gear oil. It was black with plenty of particles on both magnetic plugs. Several others have reported the same.

It is a little surprising that a simple reduction gear would have any problem. At this truedelta web site, they report a 3% failure rate on the transmission. https://www.truedelta.com/Nissan-LEAF/transmission-problems-968

I have priced a new Reduction Gear at my local dealer at $1600 (not installed) or $300 from a salvage yard. Neither Nissan or the after market suppliers seem to have a "rebuild kit" for the reduction gear.

Before going after a replacement, is there any experience from the forum with this problem or are there other recommendations?
 
I could give the full synthetic and additive a try this weekend. I find plenty of options, is there a brand you like for each?

I find this product for the oil: https://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-product/transmission-fluid/automatic/signature-series-fuel-efficient-synthetic-automatic-transmission-fluid/

And this for the additive: https://www.powerpunchinc.com/Gear_Oils_s/1817.htm
 
Durandal said:
If it becomes unbearable, I'll swap your Leaf for my 1994 Honda Accord that has an exhaust leak. :lol: :lol:

Seriously though, if you have a LOUD high pitch whine develop, ensure to get it to the Nissan stealership to have them check out the reduction gearbox.


I seriously doubt that my, new to me, 2015 S with 14K on it has a reduction gearbox problem, but does anyone know if that would be covered under the CPO warranty? Getting mixed opinions from the dealership that sold me the Leaf (Nissan Dealer) of what the CPO actually covers and does not. I will check to see if it goes away above 20 miles an hour.

Three days of ownership and I love driving it!

Thanks all; without the help of this forum, and the knowledge of the owners in it, I would not have felt comfortable even thinking of a fully electric vehicle. My trade was a 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser! Couldn't go from too much of one extreme to another! :lol:
 
EVandPV4Future said:
I also have the reduction gear noise. It has been getting worse over the last 12k miles (started at 59k). It is now bad enough that my passangers almost always will ask about the noise.

I am pretty sure it is the recduction gear as I have already replaced the Wheel bearings, driver side axle and performed the TSB for clicking. I have replaced the reduction gear oil. It was black with plenty of particles on both magnetic plugs. Several others have reported the same.

Your gearbox may well have an issue, but for the perspective of other readers you will always find plenty of particles on the magnetic drain plugs whenever you drain a gearbox for the first time, even after just a couple of thousand miles. So if your gearbox is quiet and you go to change the fluid and find this, don't freak out.
 
Nissan Leaf 2015
High pitched noise when you are driving does it go if you open the door (not whilst in motion just sat with the engine on!)

This happened to me for a while it was driving me nuts and I noticed a button next to map lights (above rear view mirror when I pressed that in it disappeared. Don't even know what that switch is for. Don't care, high pitched noise has gone!

Don't know if that's what you are talking about but it may be the case for someone??
 
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