Whistle Above 65 mph, Not Wind Noise

Took my truck to dealership today...

Wind noise is back after being quiet for 6 months from the driver window runner after my previous appointment two weeks ago when they did oil change and alignment... Which doesn't make sense as there's nothing around the window area they needed to touch.

Also did a long test drive with a tech and showed him the whining noise when driving above 76mph (not whining noise exactly but more like "woooo" noise when pressing the gas pedal). They're keeping my truck for a few days to diagnose that and see if other trucks have the same "woooo" noise when accelerating above 76mph.

Will report back...

 

Hi, I took my truck to dealership for the same issue as you had - whining noise above 76mph, and after confirming the noise, dealer suspects it may be a differential and considering replacing it.

Dealer checked this forum and saw that you had differential on your truck replaced. Is the noise still gone or came back?

My dealer also asked if i could reach out to you since you're the only one who reported differential replaced and the whining noise gone - and if you could please share your VIN number so they can confirm that differential was replaced and the whining noise was indeed fixed on your truck. If you don't mind, please PM me your vin.

Thank you in advance!

 

Where is said dealership? What great service. I think everyone on the forum will be taking their truck there. They seem open to input and not just saying "NO". Good for you!!

 

San Francisco Toyota

Thanks to @M160 for sending me his vin! Hopefully it'll help to get differential replacement approved. I'll keep you all updated.

 

Just stay on top of them, tell them you are not going anywhere until it is fixed! Did you file a case with Toyota?

 

took mine in today for this today. Service Advisor and tech asked if I had used my truck with just over 1,100 miles off road or towing. Confirmed just driven on local streets and highways. They agreed that the whine is not normal and appears to be rear diff related. He said they are working on the “cascade” to get it resolved. Thanks for sharing. This thread helped a lot so far. More to come…

update: mechanic found metal shavings in the diff oil. Looked terrible for a truck with 1,100 miles! Diff has to be replaced and Toyota taking care of it. Bad news is there are no parts, so they will let me know how long it will be. Toyota wants many pictures and investigation to determine what went wrong. The whine noise eerily reminded me of a Suburban we had where the diff made a whine and eventually lock3d up. So glad it happened now vs somewhere in the middle of Texas on a trip to somewhere. The saga begins…

 

Hope this doesn't end up like the 3rd gen Tacomas. Pretty much all of those whine at some level except between 50-60 (2016-2020 at least). Mine used to whine louder than the radio set at 30+. Bought the TSB parts as Toyota denied it for my model (SR5 vs TRD). It helped some and now i rarely notice the howl. Deemed a harmonic characteristic of the rear diff transferring through the leaf springs and into the cab via cab mounts.

 

@Kap1 any update on yours? Looks like I’ll be in a loaner for a while. I should know more tomorrow.

 

I'm picking up my truck tomorrow and will report back. Rear differential was replaced. Part was received within a few business days and wasn't on backorder.

 

Got an ETA from parts manager at my dealer that parts are due Friday, Feb 16th which isn’t too bad. After “cascading” the issue, they were able to escalate the order. I was also advised that after they install the new diff, they will drive the s___ out of it to make sure all is right! Which of course takes time.

Hope yours is fixed now @Kap1

 

Mine isn't fixed. The whole rear differential was replaced but it whines at 76mph while slightly applying gas exactly as it did before diff was replaced.

So in my case, it's either:

1. Defective diff was installed which makes same sound. Or

2. Issue was mis diagnosed and something other than the diff makes that whining sound.

Didn't had a chance to go back to the dealer yet for next steps.

 

Sorry. Was hoping for you that it was. I saw the diff fluid from mine today. Full of shavings and real dark. Mine was whining at 35 and just got louder as I got to 80. Hope they get it fixed for you!

 

It is the rear differential, you just got another bad one, I guess it is a hit or miss, I am sure Toyota knows about the problem but doesn't care to invest money into fixing the issue at the core! Mine now wines when I let the foot off the gas at around 45mph! The market is bad otherwise I would get rid of it right away and buy something else!

 

Yes it's possible that it's another bad replacement differential that I got.

But shouldn't it make slightly different noise? Or whine at slightly different speed than before?

It whines exactly exactly as before at 76mph on the dot.

A coincidence? Or maybe there's another part that could be causing this whining and the issue is not a differential?

 

Diff whine has been an ongoing debacle with the 3rd gen tacomas from the start. I just sold my '18 w/ 100k miles, whined a little since i bought it @ 25k miles. Towed every weekend, daily commuter, etc.

The dealer doesn't mind doing your warranty diff swap bc they get paid for it, but it's really a non-issue. Half the time, the 3rd gen taco's that got a warranty diff swap said it whined as much as the original, sometimes worse.

You'll help your sanity if you either sell the truck or turn the radio up

 

Mine started at 76 and it got really bad at 78 and above, it is the same issue! The loaner they gave me had the exact same problem too!

 

Well, got her back today! No whine and drove on city streets and highway (45MPH - 85MPH). Time will tell, but I could actually hear the radio and hum of the tires. Very happy to have my truck back!

 

Congratulations!
Did they replaced the differential? Anything else?

 

Receipt says...
Loud whine noice while driving high speeds
Traced to rear differential making while noise and found metal shavings in diff fluid
Parts listed:
410211 Differential Carrier Assembly
41110-0C090 Carrier Assy, Differ
421181-0C010 Gasket, Differential
and gear oil, LT 75W-85
Also told me at 5,000 mile service, they will change gear oil again, no charge

 

I had same parts replaced, but mine still whines exactly the same as before. Will be taking back to dealership in the next week or so

 

wow. Well keep in touch. I hope they figure yours out too (and hope mine lasts)

did they find shavings in your truck’s diff gear oil? Mine was very dark and full of metal shavings.

 

Add me to the new differential club. Truck currently has ~300 miles on it and had a whine from 74 mph and up. Dealership was fantastic in diagnosing the issue and opened a tas case. However , the differential assembly is on backorder and I am being told it might possibly arrive the end of march.
Love the truck and hoping this fixes the issue.

 

I was told same about backorder but when Toyota saw pics of the metal shavings in the diff gear oil, somehow they expedited the carrier assembly. Total time was two weeks down time. Good luck.

Also, mine whined all of the time. I rolled down the back window and could hear it at 30mph, just not as load as when going 75-80mph.

 

Maybe it's a good thing if your new diff is on the backorder... Maybe that means you'll be getting a newly manufactured one and not one from local distribution warehouse. Mine new diff arrived within a few days, and it whines exactly like my old one

 

I’ve had the same issue, June 23 build. Mine comes in around 50-55, goes away until 75 then gets louder. I read somewhere on here that a transfer case was replaced so got me thinking. I engaged 4wd at 50 mph today and while engaged it would whine whether I had the throttle pressed or not. Previously it would go away if I too my foot off the pedal. Not sure what to make of that

 

Do you happen to have camper shell installed on your truck? My whine almost wasn't noticeable when I took off the shell. Seems like camper shell amplifies all noises from the below in my case.

 

Posted this in another thread, but i added it to my ticket of things to check out when i drop off my truck monday for its next service. I can hear mine faintly 42-45 mph around town, and 76 on the dot it starts on the highway with throttle applied only. It does kind of go away as i get above 85 though.

 

My whine also starts 76mph on the dot, after rear diff was replaced, it's now also can be heard around 40ish

 

Im not hopeful on anything being resolved. I had diff whine on my taco and got a shrug from the service advisor and said they all did it. Just want to start a paper trail i guess.

 

Same thing with my 2018 Tacoma. Was really loud and annoying at first. Still noticeable but I’ve learned to live with it.