Noise
 

Well..i now have this odd noise coming from the front end. Sounds like something is whipping against something else. Checked belts, and tires. Noise is independent of direction but seems louder when accelerating, however, the speed of the noise doesnt change. Checked the Front diff fluid, it was low, and have filled it. Problem still there. Any ideas...and can i get home alright....1.5 hour drive?

I think I had the same problem!!!!
 

Is it very cold where you are? Anyway, yesterday when it got very cold here I heard a bip-bip-bip-bip plasticky noise coming from the front -- like a piece of a belt was hitting inside the front plastic belt covers. This was after driving 120 miles. So I took it to my local honest mechanic who made the noise disappear just by applying light pressure on that cover. No more noise. He says no worries...

I wonder if a clip or screw gets loose or its looseness is exaggerated by the cold and thise allows some play in the cover. Anyway, if this is your issue, I hope thise helps...

Others porbably know much more, so we'll see who else replies.

def not that..pretty sure its the front diff....im worried about getting home :(

Mike, if it is the diff don't sweat it
 

I've had one fail. It sounds like a wheel bearing going bad. If you have fluid in it you'll be fine for the drive home, but if you can hear it whining, you will need to have it replaced.

Todd

its not a wheel bearing...doug checked it out too...he also thinks its the diff....

its not really a whine..more of a thump..thump..thump..thump..thump...

whats the cost to repair?

if it is the diff, then it's expensive - tranny has to come out and apart. the thump comes from teeth missing in the ring & pinion. in my case a part of the aluminum case broke off and got caught in the teeth. had to source new gears and a diff housing. this thump is pretty unmistakable and is heard at any speed, even just idling in drive/reverse across a parking lot.

Re: Noise
 

Mine may be in the early stages of this also. I get the thump...thump....thump....etc as the car slows down below 20 mph an it's not always there.

when my front diff broke the steering wheel would jerk like crazy going at slow speeds. I thought that it was a cv joint that broke, that's what it felt and sounded like to me. It was a thumping sound, but very very loud. like someone taking a hammer to either your engine or tranny or something big solid and metal.