# Loud buzzing noise while accelerating?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/loud-buzzing-noise-while-accelerating/90524>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** volkswagen, passat\
**Created:** [July 7, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loud-buzzing-noise-while-accelerating/90524 "2015-07-07T03:01:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![99passat\_noise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/f1d935/32.png) [@99passat\_noise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/99passat_noise)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 3:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loud-buzzing-noise-while-accelerating/90524/1 "2015-07-07T03:01:00Z")

</div>

Really confused… I have a 99 VW Passat, it is making a loud buzzing noise as I accelerate to speeds above 20-25mph. The noise sounds like a baseball card in your bike spokes (or a room fan) does. The noise disappears when I push the clutch in. Here’s the really weird part: when revving the engine as it’s parked in neutral, there’s no sound.

What the heck is going on?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![insightful](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/insightful/32/2732_2.png) [@insightful](https://community.cartalk.com/u/insightful)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loud-buzzing-noise-while-accelerating/90524/2 "2015-07-07T03:14:11Z")

</div>

Maybe exhaust system…crawl under, and with a gloved fist, pound on all the parts of the exhaust you can reach.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 3:23am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loud-buzzing-noise-while-accelerating/90524/3 "2015-07-07T03:23:49Z")

</div>

The noise might be from a buzzing heat shield on the exhaust system.

Heat shields can make a buzzing noise when the engine reaches a certain frequency or hertz.

Tester

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![99passat\_noise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/f1d935/32.png) [@99passat\_noise](https://community.cartalk.com/u/99passat_noise)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2015, 3:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/loud-buzzing-noise-while-accelerating/90524/4 "2015-07-07T03:38:50Z")

</div>

Interesting… so when hit it should rattle or be loose? Thanks.