rhythmic hum from engine at highway speed - Toyota Yaris Forums

rtom · 08-21-2010, 09:17 AM

Does anybody else hear this?

My manual transmission 3-door LB with about 11000 miles on it is making a humming sound that modulates with a cycle time of 3-5 seconds. I don't know the right musical terms, but here's an approximation:

HUMMMMMMmmmmmm HUMMMMMMmmmmmm HUMMMMMmmmmm

where the all-caps means louder and small-caps means less loud. It's a vibration of some kind that is coming from the front of the car, probably the engine or transmission, and it only occurs under load and at 55+ mph. If I push in the clutch, it stops.

I know funny little noises can be very hard to diagnose, but thought I would ask. I don't think I heard this when it was new.

Also, after the second oil change it is less loud.

R2D2 · 08-21-2010, 09:51 AM

Mine has done that since the day I took delivery. Just as you say it only occurs at 55 plus. I have an auto which I suspected had something to do with it, but apparently not. Not a big problem for me but I too found it interesting.

craigq · 08-21-2010, 02:31 PM

My automatic sedan also has the 'highway hum'. I can't recall if it has it with the winter tires on or not. Still using the OEM Potenzas for the spring/summer/fall...

*Astroman* · 08-21-2010, 03:54 PM

What tires do you have? Mine did that at first with the 15" goodyears, stopped when they wore down a bit and now I only use the stockers in the winter.

Yaris Hilton · 08-22-2010, 01:37 AM

Most likely hum from two tires that are of slightly different diameters, or rotating at slightly different speeds from a slight curve of the road, so the hum is slightly out of synchronization, alternately reinforcing and cancelling.

brg88tx · 08-23-2010, 06:12 PM

my auto sedan does this too. imo it's not from the tires. i think it's from the engine or transmission.

Yaribusa · 08-23-2010, 07:22 PM

I have about 500 miles on the new Yaris, and I noticed this last night. Mine is a 2010 3dr Manual and I noticed it at about 55 MPH. The noise did go away when I engaged the clutch. It kind of reminded me of a small airplane, but it was not loud enough to be an issue at all.

ajae · 08-25-2010, 11:48 PM

I have the same hum on mine as well. I don't always notice it, so I wonder if it's some kind of resonance being set up somehow in the engine/tranny/torque combination. 75,000 miles on my '07 Yars.

08-21-2010, 09:17 AM	#1
rtom Drives: 2010 Yaris 3-door liftback MT Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 47	rhythmic hum from engine at highway speed Does anybody else hear this? My manual transmission 3-door LB with about 11000 miles on it is making a humming sound that modulates with a cycle time of 3-5 seconds. I don't know the right musical terms, but here's an approximation: HUMMMMMMmmmmmm HUMMMMMMmmmmmm HUMMMMMmmmmm where the all-caps means louder and small-caps means less loud. It's a vibration of some kind that is coming from the front of the car, probably the engine or transmission, and it only occurs under load and at 55+ mph. If I push in the clutch, it stops. I know funny little noises can be very hard to diagnose, but thought I would ask. I don't think I heard this when it was new. Also, after the second oil change it is less loud.

08-21-2010, 09:51 AM	#2
R2D2 Crazy Oil Sniffer Drives: MM 09 Yaris 5 Dr LB "Click" Join Date: May 2009 Location: ME Posts: 498	Mine has done that since the day I took delivery. Just as you say it only occurs at 55 plus. I have an auto which I suspected had something to do with it, but apparently not. Not a big problem for me but I too found it interesting. __________________ "The howl was the sound of God’s casting pot, the morphing of my cells into shape, the forming of oceans out of molten premordial plasma. And I could feel it. I could cry for it. I could cry with it." -The Fitful One

08-21-2010, 03:54 PM	#4
Astroman Modded Moderator View User's Garage Drives: 07 Toyota Yaris, 71 Galaxie Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 3,670	What tires do you have? Mine did that at first with the 15" goodyears, stopped when they wore down a bit and now I only use the stockers in the winter. __________________ Please visit my online store for computer stuff and Official Yarisworld decals!

08-25-2010, 11:48 PM	#8
ajae Drives: 2007 Yaris 5-door hatch Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fraser Valley Canada Posts: 11	I have the same hum on mine as well. I don't always notice it, so I wonder if it's some kind of resonance being set up somehow in the engine/tranny/torque combination. 75,000 miles on my '07 Yars. __________________ AJAE 2007 Yaris RS Hatch, Eibach Springs and Borla Exhaust Canadian Dealer options 1981 BJ42 LandCruiser all stock Love my toys! Last edited by ajae; 08-26-2010 at 01:37 AM.

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08-21-2010, 02:31 PM	#3
craigq Drives: '07 Yaris, '12 GLI Join Date: May 2007 Location: Ottawa Posts: 100	My automatic sedan also has the 'highway hum'. I can't recall if it has it with the winter tires on or not. Still using the OEM Potenzas for the spring/summer/fall...

08-22-2010, 01:37 AM	#5
Yaris Hilton Half a Bubble Off Plumb Drives: 2009 Yaris Sedan Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bristol, Tennessee, USA Posts: 1,593	Most likely hum from two tires that are of slightly different diameters, or rotating at slightly different speeds from a slight curve of the road, so the hum is slightly out of synchronization, alternately reinforcing and cancelling.

08-23-2010, 06:12 PM	#6
brg88tx Drives: 07 Yaris Sedan, Auto Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: SE Texas Posts: 327	my auto sedan does this too. imo it's not from the tires. i think it's from the engine or transmission.

08-23-2010, 07:22 PM	#7
Yaribusa View User's Garage Drives: 2010 Yaris 3 Door Manual BSP Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 16	I have about 500 miles on the new Yaris, and I noticed this last night. Mine is a 2010 3dr Manual and I noticed it at about 55 MPH. The noise did go away when I engaged the clutch. It kind of reminded me of a small airplane, but it was not loud enough to be an issue at all.

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