Humming sound whenever car is at higher speeds. Anyone had this happen before or know what it could be?
Does the noise change pitch as you change speed?
What happens if you shift to neutral while moving? does the noise change? What about if you touch the brakes? What if you turn a corner?
Does it change as the transmission change gears?
Model year? miles?
Could be a wheel bearing going bad. See a mechanic ASAP
No. It stays the same. I haven’t tried switching to neutral, if I brake the sound stays the same. It doesn’t really change. Just is in and out as I’m going a good speed. Usually highway driving 45-70 mph
thanks. Can you change one on your own or no?
Depends on the car. What are you driving?
Honda Ridgeline "13
There are some tests for a bad wheel bearing. Such as jacking up each wheel and spinning it by hand, checking for looseness, or any sounds or roughness.
These are non-servicable sealed wheel bearings on all 4 wheels… The only option is to have the bad one pressed out of the hub and the new one pressed in.
Yes, this could certainly be the effect of a bad wheel bearing, which behooves the OP to visit a competent mechanic’s shop. However, because many tire models have a tendency to become very noisy when the tread wears to a certain point, the noise might simply be coming from the tire treads.
Because the noise seems to be coming from the front of the vehicle, I have to wonder if the tires have been consistently rotated, as per the Honda maintenance schedule.
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+1 to @VDCdriver
Rotate the tires and see if the noise follows the tire. If it does, replace tires. If it doesn’t suspect a wheel bearing. It will get worse and far more obvious.
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The typical wheel bearing will be described as a “growling” or “roaring” noise that get louder the faster you go. Sort of like driving on a road that has a really rough surface texture. Humming, growling, roaring, folks listening could disagree on the terminology for the same sound.
For what most people would call humming noises that remain when you shift into neutral and coast, my first suspect would be a tire problem. Take a look at all the tires, paying att’n to any unusual tread wear patterns. Sometimes the tread will just be plumb worn out and the humming noise is caused by the wear bars poking through.
If the vehicle was a 1973 Mazda RX3 the sound would be normal according to the old TV commercial. “The Mazda goes hummmmm”.
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