In my 82 240d auto, I hear a new whine that increases with speed and does not occur at a standstill
The trans shifts fine, fluid is up to normal level.
Diff fluid has been changed recently
Any ideas about tracking this down?

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

Maybe center bearing? Can you tell what area (front, rear, one side vs. the other) it's coming from at all?

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Center bearing has been replaced and the sound seems to be "everywhere" in that it is not obviously coming from anywhere in particular

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

I had the same problem on my 300 D and it turned out to be a wheel bearing.

If you have a place where you can drive along a wall, maybe a building at the back or side of a strip mall or something similar, open the windows on the passenger side and then drive with that side towards the wall. The whining will echo off the wall and be louder if it is coming from that side of the car. Turn around and do the same for the driver's side, with the windows on that side open. If the noise is coming from one side or the other, you should be able to tell from the echo.

You can also set up an inexpensive mechanics stethoscope (I just saw that Harbor Freight is selling them for $2.49) with a long length of tubing and tape the tubing to the fender, pointing right at the hub on each wheel, successively, and you should be able to identify where it is coming from.

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85 300D 75K Anthracite Grey 0-60 in 13 seconds **For Sale**
84 300D 333K Black (The Velveteen Rabbit) 0-60 in 14 seconds
00 Toyota Sienna 208K (Sold)
15 Subaru Outback 43K
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98 Ford Taurus 100K (Gertie - Was Grandma's - drove it to church and shopping - really) Daughter's car now.
30 Model A Ford 2 Door Sedan (Sold) 0-60 in . . . Never reached 60

Double check the work recently done - no disrespect to you or the mechanic that did the work but sometimes things get missed. We're only human.

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1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Ever check the rear end differential fluid level? It is probably not the problem but should be checked anyways especially if never done. More likely a howling bearing though.

Good ideas from all and to be fair I need to take some time and go over the car but life seems to get real busy for us this time of year and then there is the little issue of WINTER. THANKS

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

Finally got the Benz in the shop and jacked up. I blocked up the rear wheels and did a driveline inspection that revealed no problems but I did find the left rear wheel had <1/8" play when grabbed at 12 and 6 oclock and < 1/16" at 9 and 3.
A wheel bearing seems a likely suspect.
Since this is only at the "whine" stage, do I have a bit of time before it reaches the "howl" stage and more imminent destruction or does it need to be addrssed sooner than later.
I know rear wheel bearings are an involved job so if it can be postponed till spring that would be a plus.
This car is my winter DD is mostly local travel with minimal highway runs.

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1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

That sounds like a lot of play for a rear wheel bearing to me but then I'm comparing it with the designed limit of 0.04mm to 0.06mm - and I know you are feeling the play away from the centre of the hub...

Is there anyway of measuring it as shown in the DIY below? So that you know...

PeachPartsWiki: Replacing the Rear Wheel Bearings

Alternatively ask someone like vstech for his advice - he's lived with dying bearings before.

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Could the speedo be the cause of the "whine" I have been tracking?
The whine follows road speed and speeds up and slows down accordingly. I rolled with the trans in neutral and it still whines.
BTW, I pulled the left rear wheel and was able to tighten the axle bolt down some more and that seemed to tighten things up.

__________________
1981 240D 143k 4 spd manual -SOLD

2004 VW Jetta TDI 5 speed 300k -still driven daily

Could be.