Hey guys

This morning my 240 had a strange whining sound while driving.
It sounded almost like a police siren off in teh distance, it changed tones as you accelerated and also as it changed up and down through the gears. It started when you got up to about 15mph and remained noticeable until you got to 50mph.

It seemed to me to be tranny noise as it changed tones with gear shifts and engine speed, but sounds more like its coming from engine comapartment. I did check tranny fluid and its at max and looks clean.

The car is a 1990 240DL, with around 150K miles.

Any suggestions on what to check?

Thanks

2 of mine do this when cold. Carrier bearing - center of drivesgaft. I grease them. If they get to where they whine when warm time to replace.
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a few 1985-92 240s & 245s - parts cars & drivers

Hi,

In my 93 240 sedan with 110k mikes, I had a whining noise coming from the engine compartment. I could only hear it at 15 to 30mph. My guess is that it was making it at other times, but I could not hear it.

I had a professional mechanic tell me that it was the wheel bearing. I had him repack the bearing and he said that if that did not kill the noise that I needed to replace the bearing.

Since repacking the bearing, I have driven over a few hundred miles and I have listened for the problem. All is good so far.

Hopefully you have a simple fix.

Kreg

I had the exact same noise for a few days about a month ago and inquired on Brickboard. A couple of people were sure it was the driveshaft center support bearing. So, in going through the archives, I came across the suggestion you can shoot grease into the bearing and, depending on the damage, remedy the problem, at least until you get a permanent fix. I went under the car with a grease gun fixed with a plastic pointed applicator nozzle scalped from a tube of glue. The auto store sells a grease injector needle that would also work great. Usuing a small screw driver I peeled back the rubber on the bearing that keeps dirt out of the raceway(from the rear side of the support)exposing the bearings and injected three squirts of grease into the raceway. Much of the grease came back out, so I wiped it off and tried to push back the rubber raceway protector as best I could. Been driving for a month and no return of noise.

Center support bearing. My 245 has been doing this for about 3 months.

whats involved in fixing it?

any danger in leaving it like this for a while?

There's a thread here regarding the procedure. Didn't look too difficult. I've had that whining noise off and on for the last 50k miles... BlackBooty '91 245 and it's no worse than a couple years ago. Damp cold weather will bring it on until the parts heat up.

thanks for all your comments guys

I bought a needle attachment for grease gun and will try to pack some in.

The jet engine is a pretty accurate description for the way it sounds....

I like to drop the carrier bracket, peel back the damper, pry the cap off, and pack it with grease. I've had success drilling a hole in the bearing cap too but I like to see the bearing, press grease in, ...

There are some horror stories here about bearings going and taking some other parts with them. I've had good luck greasing them and I only replace the bearing if it starts whining in the warm weather.
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a few 1985-92 240s & 245s - parts cars & drivers

I'm no expert, but I've heard the same in my car and it was the drive-shaft center support bearing. Though if it sounds like it's coming from up front...

Anyway, it sounded like a diminutive jet engine in my car.