Intermittent howling noise 2000 Leganza Automatic trans

[Erie Jim]

This sound like a dog howling at the moon when it happens. It happens on the open highway (65mph etc) for no apparent reason, lasts a few minutes then goes away. The other times are in town driving and braking hard or turning sharp left from a stop sign. When I pull over and wait a minute or two it goes away. It's very annoying. The fron brake pads are grinding also. I'm getting that looked at next week. Any ideas short of calling an exorcist and casting the demon out?

[BosnianLanos]

Strange. The demon may be your wheel bearing. Hmmm. CV joint clicks (when screwed up) so I don't think thats it. Might be rotor but it happens at 65 mph so it doesn't happen when you are braking. Can't be tires because its intermittent. I'm maybe 80% sure they are your wheel bearings. I have had both crap out on me on my Lanos. But due to high mileage. For me I went to the junk yard and got a whole bearing housing (shock, bearing, etc...) for around 50 bucks (less than new bearing). So it was an easy fix, but may be harder on a Leganza. I think wheel bearings might be the problem but don't quote me on it. There is a way to check...but kinda "unsafe" though so I don't recommend it...

[Erie Jim]

I don't know much about the braking system. Could the ABS be kicking in for some reason and locking the caliper on one wheel? It sounds like it's coming from driver's side front. As soon as I come to a dead stop, it stops, then as I start moving, it howls again.

Thanks

[BosnianLanos]

I don't think thats possible, if something was wrong with the ABS system, it would shut itself off and your ABS light would come on in your console. Besides, if it was pushing only one of the calipers it would cause your car to veer to the left or right, depending on the "afflicted" caliper. Maybe since your brake pads grind, you already warped your rotors, but I doubt it. I'm stickin' with the wheel bearing idea.

[Wolf-Spirit]

you keep saying it stop when you stop?... and you brake pads are worn? yust a wild geus but maybe those warning letals on the brake pads are making it? sounds a bit like what you are saying... when it happens if you hit your brake hard for a very short time does it change/go away?

also something that yust hit me look at your alternator is it charging properly? cuase when the diodes die (1 or more) it also starts to howl... even though it should do it constant then i think

[Erie Jim]

Thanks for the replies and ideas. I never thought of the alternator because the howling stops when the car is stopped and the engine still running. The caliper idea was a shot in the dark because I know zero about ABS. The car only has 42,000 miles on it and has been regularly maintained so I never considered a bad wheel bearing and it doesn't pull when it's making the noise. I even checked all the fluid levels and all are fine. Anyway I have an appointment this week to have the brakes looked at. Maybe I'll have them pull a wheel and check the wheel bearing too.

I'll post the results, no matter how it goes.

Erie Jim