Hi Folks, new member , new owner.

I've just bought a 2007 HSE TDV8 3.6, with full service history, very tidy and 242000 kms (I'm in Switzerland).

Driving home after picking it up I noticed a loud intermittent whistling which sounded like it was coming from the rear of the car. Sounded like a high frequency cross between a referees whistle and chirping crickets. Car was driving fine, no loss of power, and no warning lights.

Sound intensity seemed to be constant and not related to speed, but I'll check that again when it happens again.

Speed was between 55 and 75 mph. Temp around 6 degrees, damp.

I turned off radio, heater blower etc and still there. Driving to work this morning, I noticed that it would stop consistently everytime I put slight turn right pressure on the steering wheel. Could this be a clue?

I couldn't do anything else to turn it off/on.

Power steering pump??

I didn't hear it on the drive home. Approx 15 miles.

I have looked through the forum and elsewhere on line, and there are several cases of a whistle from turbo and cracked manifolds. I'll check mine the best I can.

It did sound as if it was coming from the back but that could be deceptive.

As I'm just about 24 hours into ownership, I really don't want a major fix on my hands, not that any of us do I know.

Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

EDIT: Driving home this evening, the whistling started and it stayed constant regardless of speed. I turned the steering wheel gently left and right, and that did seem to switch the whistle on and off. Does that point to something on the wheel? Bearing?

Many thanks.

Update:

For different reasons (oil leak related) I had the whole underside of the car cleaned, and the whistling disappeared.

A happy unintended consequence of that.

Spoke too soon. It's back. Not as loud or frequently, but it's back.

Warped exhaust manifold, allowing gasket to fail and probably snapped studs for the manifold. That’s what mine was when I had one👍🏽

Bazm wrote:

I noticed that it would stop consistently everytime I put slight turn right pressure on the steering wheel.

chugga90 wrote:

Warped exhaust manifold, allowing gasket to fail and probably snapped studs for the manifold. That’s what mine was when I had one👍🏽

JayGee wrote:

Bazm wrote:

I noticed that it would stop consistently everytime I put slight turn right pressure on the steering wheel.

A seized rear brake piston or caliper slider will cause this esp as it goes away with steering input as it will change then load / clearance on the contacting surfaces. Feel each rear wheel for temp differences after a run and also the appearance of the disk surfaces for any heat damage. Remove the wheel and calipers and check the action of the sliding pins and piston as a further check.