Sorento Whining Noise (no, it's not the kids in the back!)

[Brian_374234561]

Hi
Our 2009 Sorento Titan has started over the last few months to whine at low speeds. It's not a wheel bearing (as I had that replaced just in case), so it's something else going on. The car drives excellent with no worries, but the whining has definite got louder as I rarely drive the car so it's noticeable today. Any obvious things it could be? Plenty of thoughts about diffs and gearboxes on Google (bad move) and I guess I wont really know unless I get Kia to look at it. It's only done 33k miles, 2.5 Crdi Auto box. The noise increases and decreases with more speed/less speed. If I take my foot off the accelerator and roll, it makes the noise still so it's not the engine.
I'm a bit worried it's the start of something big - just as we're off to France in 3 weeks, so need to sort it beforehand.
cheers

Brian

 

[john2000]

Hi there my Sorrento was doing something similar until my mechanic friend got underneath and disconnected the drive shaft and tightened a large nut around 38 mm ish on rear diff and it stopped the noise . Have you tried uksorento website lots of info on there and the guys are very knowledgeable.

 

[otherclive]

Have you changed tyres recently. My 04 whined when I put the rear tyres (Avon) to the front and fitted Yokohama to the back. When I then had the same tyres all round the whining went.

 

[Brian_374234561]

thanks for your comments and suggestions. I've had the car into Kia today and the noise is coming from the rear axle. Kia wont/cant touch it as it's a 'specialist repair'. All they've said is that it needs stripping down, investigate where the noise is coming from and rectify. It's about 5 hours labour apparently. Despite the car being just over 4 years old with only 32k miles on it, Kia dont wont to know in terms of support. If the car was less than 3 years old, the problem I guess would be theirs to sort, but as it's not, it's down to me. I've found a specialist near basingstoke who has agreed to drive it tomorrow to see if he thinks it's about to go terminal or will last our holiday in 2 weeks time. He cant do anything until 3 days before we go away, so I may have to run the risk and crank up the stereo to drown the noise out! Rapidly losing faith with this car and Kia. Looks like I've bought the Friday car again, as everyone else says how great their Sorento is!

 

[GeorgeandAde]

Not sure if its any consolation to you Brian,but ive just part exchanged my "57"Titan Auto for a "57"CRV.
Kia was a fantastic towcar and a pleasure to drive but too thirsty.(24-27 around town)
Decided it was uneconomical to run it for 48 weeks of the year to work and back.
3 days before I part exchanged it.....the "transponder" in the ignition key packed up.
Wouldnt start and had to pay £135 for a new one the day before part exchange took place

 

[seth1]

Before i done anything i would pay 80 odd pound for an oil sample out of the rear diff to be done.

 

[woodsieboy]

Not sure if it helps but just had our Shogun serviced and after advice from other owners had all the gearbox oils and axle oils changed,the difference is amazing the transmission is so much quieter,and the mechanic that did the service showed me the old axle oil,complete with metal filings that were clinging to the sump plug,he thought the oil had never been changed,I thought the transmission was just whining as it had always done,might be worth getting the oil changed and see if it makes a difference,and it would be less than £80.

 

[otherclive]

If yours has a limited slip differential it could be that causing the whines and the suggestion for an oil change is a good one. I'd use fully synthetic LSD oil of the correct viscosity range. Motul and Fuchs make good oils I used them in my Sorento and still do in the elderly Pajero too.

 

[Brian_374234561]

Had the car checked by BK Transmission in Overton - great guy and very helpful. The diagnosis from a road test is it's probably a bearing inside the rear axle in it's early stages of wearing out. He wont know for sure of course, until he gets it in and strips it down. Kia dont want to know, they dont do these types of repairs. I can get the car fixed, BUT not this side of going away. He also advised not to tow - I'm not technical, but if the bearing is in its early stage of wearing out and I have the choice of holiday or no holiday, what on earth do I do? I cant find anyone else to fix it although i will continue calling round tomorrow. Any thoughts or advice please?
Cheers
Brian

 

[Brian_374234561]

Had the car checked by BK Transmission in Overton - great guy and very helpful. The diagnosis from a road test is it's probably a bearing inside the rear axle in it's early stages of wearing out. He wont know for sure of course, until he gets it in and strips it down. Kia dont want to know, they dont do these types of repairs. I can get the car fixed, BUT not this side of going away. He also advised not to tow - I'm not technical, but if the bearing is in its early stage of wearing out and I have the choice of holiday or no holiday, what on earth do I do? I cant find anyone else to fix it although i will continue calling round tomorrow. Any thoughts or advice please?
Cheers
Brian

 

[seth1]

The reason i refered to an oil sample was for the fact it would tell you what is actually failing inside the axle instead of a stab in the dark.In the profesional world its the first thing that is done.Infact some manufacturers wont look at the job with out one.(Detroit Diesel)

 

[otherclive]

If you are covered by a good breakdown policy such as CC or C&CC I would go but make sure the oil is drained and changed first and keep your towing speed down. But there's the risk it could fail abroad in which case your options would be repair which could be very expensive or repatriation. Either way it will cause disruption to the holiday and/ or expense for repairs over which you may not have much control. But it's really your decision as we all see risk differently.

 

[Brian_374234561]

The car was serviced in April with full transmission fluid drains. I would like to think that Kia would have checked it then for debris, but I've lost confidence in them as they originally said the whining noise was a wheel bearing. It's going in tomorrow for the repair but no guarantee we'll get it back in time. I have good breakdown cover so if we take the Kia I have a back-up plan. I have a company car (not for towing) and a colleague has come to the rescue as Plan B and offered me his Touareg as a swap for my 5 series - so hopefully one way or another we will be going on hols. Once we are back though, the Kia is going and I'm changing my company car and getting something that can tow. The missus will get a cheap run around instead to balance the extra tax on a company tow car. Jeeez, what a pain in the derrier so close to our hols :-(

 

[woodsieboy]

Hi Brian
Good to know you will be going on your trip one way or another,I agree it is a pain when things go wrong, but in the scale of things has the Kia persistently let you down,if not you may be better to get it repaired and keep it,we had a similar decision to make with our Shogun,we have had a recent run of repairs,but previously have had 8 years use and only spent out on tyres,pads etc,for now we are keeping it.As for the Kia dealer I would look for an independent specialist.

 

[otherclive]

Good to hear that you have a plan to ensure your holidays. Have a good time.

 

[Brian_374234561]

Car is back now from Newbury Transmissions who were excellent. The 2 bearings around the pinion were worn but they remarked on how good a condition the rest of the components were in the axle. They think the bearings were overtightened on assembly at the factory as they were tight to get off. All I know is I have an £745 bill to pursue from Kia now. Have been in touch with them who have said they would only contribute if the work was done by a Kia Dealership! But the dealership wont touch this sort of repair so Kia UK are questioning the dealer now! All I know is a car with 32k miles and a FKSH should not have failed and I'm majorly out of pocket.
Watchdog/What Car here I come if I dont get a satisfactory contribution from them!!