MK7 2.2 TDCI - Driving with whining transmission for a month

[Enlarging2200]

I own a 2013 MK7 2.2 TDCI Manual with 180 000km on it.

I noticed a whining/whistling transmission (details below), but the symptoms appear and disappear depending on the mood of the car.

When present

it's a high-pitched sort of whirring/whistling noise.
It's there in any gear, higher with speed.
The noise stops when in neutral or depressed pedal, even when driving at higher speeds down a hill.
First appeared about a month ago, immediately stopped. Appeared again last week, then this morning. Didn't hear anything this afternoon.

I drove by my mechanic, who told me these cars tend to have transmissions fail and that I'm welcome to bring it in, but he may be unable to find and fix the issue due to the coming-and-going of the noise . He advised me to go to the ford dealer shop. Supposedly the guy there is an ACE, worked on hundreds of such transmissions and is my best shot in the region.

The Ford dealer doesn't have a spot for about a month and my second vehicle is a scooter the lady uses to go to work

Given those symptoms, what would you do?
I can rent a car for a month and drop it at Ford, but money is tight.
Or would you drive it for another 500-ish KM / 1 month until the Ford guy is available?
Or do I need another mechanic to go on on a noise-chase and then decide?

Thanks for your views!

[tranmx2]

Did you check the inlet / exhaust systems for a hole/split?
Is the turbo working correctly?
Do you have Forscan?

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I did not check the intake or exhaust, would not know how to do that correctly.
Same for Turbo.

I don't have Forscan but would be willing to invest if it saved me time and garage money.

I assumed transmission because
no gear locked = no noise
the shop guy assumed transmission too (admittedly, I gave him the idea)

[metalworker0]

if it was me i would drop the oil from the box and inspect it ..if you don't see glittery bits ..you have not to worry so much, if you do see them, change the oil and do your 500 miles with it until you get it to the mechanic - changing the oil will give more time if the gearbox is the cause.

all the best.mark

[knobby1]

I did not check the intake or exhaust, would not know how to do that correctly.
Same for Turbo.

I don't have Forscan but would be willing to invest if it saved me time and garage money.

I assumed transmission because
no gear locked = no noise
the shop guy assumed transmission too (admittedly, I gave him the idea)

Whistling noise could be a split boost pipe, worth checking. The gearboxes are usually quite robust unless abused.

Lord Knobrot

[Enlarging2200]

if it was me i would drop the oil from the box and inspect it ..if you don't see glittery bits ..you have not to worry so much, if you do see them, change the oil and do your 500 miles with it until you get it to the mechanic - changing the oil will give more time if the gearbox is the cause.

all the best.mark

Thanks !! Is that the engine oil or the oil from the gearbox?

[Enlarging2200]

I did not check the intake or exhaust, would not know how to do that correctly.
Same for Turbo.

I don't have Forscan but would be willing to invest if it saved me time and garage money.

I assumed transmission because
no gear locked = no noise
the shop guy assumed transmission too (admittedly, I gave him the idea)

Whistling noise could be a split boost pipe, worth checking. The gearboxes are usually quite robust unless abused.

Lord Knobrot

Thanks!
Wouldn't that mean a noticeable loss of power? That's not my case.
Wouldn't that also be constant? In my case, it happens only sometimes. Shutting off the car, getting back in half an hour later often times stops the issue.

The noise is like a loud kettle, as I said only when in gear and louder with acceleration.

[metalworker0]

i meant the gearbox oil

The only time ever I've had a loud kettle noise was when i was driving a car with a head gasket problem, Hillman Avenger 1500, i knew it had failed, but i just continued to drive it for weeks, as there was an emergency on at work, had to work loads of hours and weekends etc ..and the pay just for one weekend far exceeded the value of the car ..was only 4 miles to work and i just got away with it for a long time ..probably 6 months.

2 miles into each trip the whistle went off for 10 seconds or so , probably as the thermostat opened.

all the best.mark

[knobby1]

Thanks!
Wouldn't that mean a noticeable loss of power? That's not my case.
Wouldn't that also be constant? In my case, it happens only sometimes. Shutting off the car, getting back in half an hour later often times stops the issue.

The noise is like a loud kettle, as I said only when in gear and louder with acceleration.

Not necessarily, the boost pressure only increases when engine is under load, black smoke during acceleration is usually the result of split boost pipes.

Lord Knobrot

[andz327]

Does the noise come on or change at all when your going round left or right hand bends?????
5spd or 6spd box ????

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[Enlarging2200]

Does the noise come on or change at all when your going round left or right hand bends?????
5spd or 6spd box ????

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

It's not affected by bends or turning the wheel at all. It's not a wheel bearing, different sound (had one changed and all inspected recently ).
The only thing that affects it is if the car is in gear or not.

Haven't heard anything this week though

[metalworker0]

whats the mileage ..if its done a very high mileage it may be something in the box that is on its way out .

all the best.mark

[metalworker0]

never mind answering that you say the mileage in first post .which is the equivalent of 111 thousand miles...which is low for a box.
an oil change may work wonders though

all the best.mark

[andz327]

Does the noise come on or change at all when your going round left or right hand bends?????
5spd or 6spd box ????

Sent from my SM-G990B using Tapatalk

It's not affected by bends or turning the wheel at all. It's not a wheel bearing, different sound (had one changed and all inspected recently ).
The only thing that affects it is if the car is in gear or not.

Haven't heard anything this week though

You never replied if 5spd or 6spd.... 6spd is prone to problems and not as sturdy as 5spd

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[knobby1]

You never replied if 5spd or 6spd.... 6spd is prone to problems and not as sturdy as 5spd

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Aren't "all" Euro-5's 6 speed whether FWD or RWD our mucker..??

Lord Knobrot