Hello everyone. I'm trying to help my dad who is having trouble with his 2000 Bonneville SE. Lately the car has had a loud whirring noise (sorry that'* the best description I can give of it) that can be heard coming from the front of the car when traveling 30+ MPH, the noise increases with the speed. It does it in all gears, even if you put the car in neutral going above 30 MPH it will still make this noise. The car does not have any harsh shifting to it either. We jacked it up and looked for the obvious such as anything rubbing, but we didn't see anything. We have rotated the tire and the noise is still there. This car only has 40,000 miles on it and is not driven hard at all. We are completely stumped at what could be causing this, but fearing the worst case being transmission related. Can anyone help me out here on what is wrong?

I don't know if this is possibly related or not, but a while back the car set a multiple misfire code.

Sounds more like hub bearings, a known issue. I think 40k is a little early for the noise, but then again, it'* early for any other noise (other than tires). I think the best deal going is at www.intense-racing.com, part number UNC-FHB.

See the Sticky of Common Problems in this section at the top.

Quick test: Jack up the front of the car, with the front wheels off the ground. Grab a tire at the top and bottom (leave the lug nuts on!), and wiggle it as though you were trying get it to come of if it were stuck on there. You'll most likely feel some movement that shouldn't be there. Try it on both sides.

I agree with a wheel bearing being the culprit. Will the sound go away if you turn the wheel briefly to one side or the other?

It doesn't sound like this does it? I sure hope not
http://www.flurl.com/uploaded/2000_S...ine_35145.html

By the way, for the code, try cleaning your battery cables (under the boots) and make sure a plug wire isn't contacting the O2 sensor wire harness. If that doesn't do it, check your coil packs. The plugs/wires themselves could be at fault too.

I haven't tried that, I'll be sure to check that. Not doubting anyones info at all, but is wheel bearing failure common in the 00+ Bonnevilles? 40,000 miles just seems way to early to me.

No it doesn't do that. I guess that is the Bonneville tranny death sound, right?


Thanks for the help so far everyone, keep the suggestions coming.

Try my test above, and see what you get. Of the possiblities, I'd be hoping that was it!

As for that part, yes, that'* why it'* in the Common Problems sticky at the top of this section. You have to buy the whole hub bearing and VSS as a unit, as sold in the part number I mentioned.

I'll be sure to try that in a little while also. Thanks Hopefully that is what it is.

Just incase this provides more info, the fluid is pink and does not have a burnt smell. Just to take extra precaution, I think we will also change the transmission fluid on the car just to be sure there is no shavings in the pan. What is the torque specs on the pan bolts?

This definitely sounds like a wheel bearing hub problem. Wheel bearing hubs cost about $150/side and many places will do it for 30 minutes labor. It is VERY wise to replace both sides at the same time just as you would replace your brakes on both sides at the same time.

FYI, I just replaced a bad hub on the passenger'* side. The sound did not change pitch whether I turned right or left.

If you listen real closely, it will change sounds when you turn one way or another. That'* how to tell what side is bad, but it'* best to replace both sides at the same time. In my case, from doing the turning side-to-side test, i knew my drivers side was bad because that'* where the noise was coming from. Got the car in the air and the passenger side wheel had play from the bearings, even though i couldn't hear anything. So, it'* always best to check/replace both sides.