High pitched turbo like whine following rpms - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

Nfsundrgrnd · 02-14-2021, 05:50 PM

So I am trying to figure out what's going on with my car. I have a 2013 sport Tech BRZ and today, a loud high pitched turbo like whine/whistle that follows the rpms appeared. My car also randomly shut off right before I noticed the noise while parked on a inclined driveway. I have heard that this could be my alternator dying but I haven't had any issues other than that so it would be hard to pin it on that. Here's a link to a video with the sound.

It's very high pitched and you can hear it come in around the 8 second mark. If you have any ideas on what this is please let me know!

soundman98 · 02-14-2021, 06:54 PM

i don't hear anything in the video.

what mods are done to the car, both mechanically or electrically?

Nfsundrgrnd · 02-14-2021, 07:07 PM

The car has an aftermarket head unit and it seems that there's wiring for a sub going to the trunk. Other than that the car has a cat back exhaust and coilovers. The video doesn't capture the noise the best but around 10 secs you should hear a faint high pitched turbo like sound.

soundman98 · 02-14-2021, 07:23 PM

so you didn't install it? but it just started randomly?

the whine is a ground loop. it means that there's either a bad ground, or more than one component to the audio system and there's a voltage potential between the grounding points of the components. it shows itself by presenting an audible tone as voltage swings between the different grounding points.

pull out the head unit, make sure that the black wire in the head unit wiring harness is connected to solid metal within the dash.

it might not hurt to disconnect the sub wiring as well if you're not using it, or inspect the unused rca cables metal ends for touching metal where they shouldn't.

Nfsundrgrnd · 02-14-2021, 07:29 PM

Yeah I bought the car as is and the noise just started today. That is great advice tho, I will pull the head unit out tomorrow and I'll update on the situation.
Thanks!

jflogerzi · 02-14-2021, 10:45 PM

I am guessing feedback from the audio setup. Engine sounds normal to me

Nfsundrgrnd · 02-15-2021, 10:40 AM

Alright so plot twist, I checked everything out and nothing changed, so then I started looking at other sources for the noise.

I think it might actually be an exhaust leak. Don't hear it in the engine bay but it's at its loudest underneath the car.

Opinions?

soundman98 · 02-15-2021, 10:31 PM

time to put it on jackstands and look the exhaust over

radroach · 02-15-2021, 11:02 PM

yes I can hear it, sounds normal.

02-14-2021, 05:50 PM	#1
Nfsundrgrnd Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Drives: 2013 WR blue sport tech BRZ Location: NB Posts: 83 Thanks: 22 Thanked 22 Times in 18 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	High pitched turbo like whine following rpms So I am trying to figure out what's going on with my car. I have a 2013 sport Tech BRZ and today, a loud high pitched turbo like whine/whistle that follows the rpms appeared. My car also randomly shut off right before I noticed the noise while parked on a inclined driveway. I have heard that this could be my alternator dying but I haven't had any issues other than that so it would be hard to pin it on that. Here's a link to a video with the sound. It's very high pitched and you can hear it come in around the 8 second mark. If you have any ideas on what this is please let me know!

02-14-2021, 06:54 PM	#2
soundman98 ProCrastinationConsultant Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: '14 Ranger, '18 Tacoma 4Dr LB Location: chicago-ish Posts: 11,330 Thanks: 35,240 Thanked 13,673 Times in 6,781 Posts Mentioned: 98 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	i don't hear anything in the video. what mods are done to the car, both mechanically or electrically? __________________ "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time"

02-14-2021, 07:23 PM	#4
soundman98 ProCrastinationConsultant Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: '14 Ranger, '18 Tacoma 4Dr LB Location: chicago-ish Posts: 11,330 Thanks: 35,240 Thanked 13,673 Times in 6,781 Posts Mentioned: 98 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	so you didn't install it? but it just started randomly? the whine is a ground loop. it means that there's either a bad ground, or more than one component to the audio system and there's a voltage potential between the grounding points of the components. it shows itself by presenting an audible tone as voltage swings between the different grounding points. pull out the head unit, make sure that the black wire in the head unit wiring harness is connected to solid metal within the dash. it might not hurt to disconnect the sub wiring as well if you're not using it, or inspect the unused rca cables metal ends for touching metal where they shouldn't. __________________ "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time"

02-15-2021, 10:31 PM	#8
soundman98 ProCrastinationConsultant Join Date: Sep 2013 Drives: '14 Ranger, '18 Tacoma 4Dr LB Location: chicago-ish Posts: 11,330 Thanks: 35,240 Thanked 13,673 Times in 6,781 Posts Mentioned: 98 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	time to put it on jackstands and look the exhaust over __________________ "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time"

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02-14-2021, 07:07 PM	#3
Nfsundrgrnd Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Drives: 2013 WR blue sport tech BRZ Location: NB Posts: 83 Thanks: 22 Thanked 22 Times in 18 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	The car has an aftermarket head unit and it seems that there's wiring for a sub going to the trunk. Other than that the car has a cat back exhaust and coilovers. The video doesn't capture the noise the best but around 10 secs you should hear a faint high pitched turbo like sound.

02-14-2021, 07:29 PM	#5
Nfsundrgrnd Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Drives: 2013 WR blue sport tech BRZ Location: NB Posts: 83 Thanks: 22 Thanked 22 Times in 18 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Yeah I bought the car as is and the noise just started today. That is great advice tho, I will pull the head unit out tomorrow and I'll update on the situation. Thanks!

02-15-2021, 10:40 AM	#7
Nfsundrgrnd Member Join Date: Feb 2021 Drives: 2013 WR blue sport tech BRZ Location: NB Posts: 83 Thanks: 22 Thanked 22 Times in 18 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Alright so plot twist, I checked everything out and nothing changed, so then I started looking at other sources for the noise. I think it might actually be an exhaust leak. Don't hear it in the engine bay but it's at its loudest underneath the car. Opinions?

02-15-2021, 11:02 PM	#9
radroach Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: car Location: usa Posts: 2,162 Thanks: 1,028 Thanked 867 Times in 530 Posts Mentioned: 35 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s)	yes I can hear it, sounds normal.

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