Whistling sound in new Leaf

[stevebraskin]

Why does my new (450 miles) 2013 Leaf make a "whistling" sound sometimes at low speeds?

 

[DeaneG]

Are you referring to the built-in noisemaker which alerts pedestrians?

 

[kovalb]

Are you referring to the built-in noisemaker which alerts pedestrians?

The way to tell if this is it is to put your windows down. It will be much more noticeable. I call it more of a whoosh with some whistle in it - a whoostle? It is only on up to 19 mph, and goes away when stopped. NHTSA is looking to make a regulation that would make it louder and require it to be on even when stopped. They also want to require their own sound, which is kind of a cross between a dishwasher, vacuum cleaner, and diesel engine.

 

[ksnogas2112]

With the windows down you can also hear the thrum thrum whoosh sound echo off the curbs but very noticeable echoing off restaurant walls when you use the drive thru.

 

[DaveinOlyWA]

my Pedestrian warning whiner sounds like whistling. for me its easy to tell. I simply turn it off to see if the whistling stops.

 

[eclecticflower]

my Pedestrian warning whiner sounds like whistling. for me its easy to tell. I simply turn it off to see if the whistling stops.

Yeah, we can't do that on our 2012s and 2013s...

 

[Foible]

I'm at about 2500 for mileage and I'm wondering if I can hear a high pitched whine from the motor. This isn't the alert noise and it happens at speeds higher than 19 mph. I have better than average hearing in the high ranges and I also have a problem with some home electronics having a hum even when they're supposedly off. (I'm looking at you, Sony TV)

I'm getting a bit of sympathetic buzzing from the plastic dash parts when I'm on a rough enough road to generate loud tire noise, I expect this one will only get worse over time.

Like I've said before about this car, these issues are minor. I would never even hear this stuff over the noise of a gas engine but the Leaf is so quiet I can count the pebbles stuck in the tire tread.

 

[dgpcolorado]

I'm at about 2500 for mileage and I'm wondering if I can hear a high pitched whine from the motor. This isn't the alert noise and it happens at speeds higher than 19 mph. I have better than average hearing in the high ranges and I also have a problem with some home electronics having a hum even when they're supposedly off. (I'm looking at you, Sony TV)

I can easily hear the whine at high speeds (rpm). But I usually have the audio system on (USB stick with a music folder) so I don't notice it much.

I'm getting a bit of sympathetic buzzing from the plastic dash parts when I'm on a rough enough road to generate loud tire noise, I expect this one will only get worse over time.

Like I've said before about this car, these issues are minor. I would never even hear this stuff over the noise of a gas engine but the Leaf is so quiet I can count the pebbles stuck in the tire tread.

Yes, I also hear the pebbles in the tread; I pick them up on the dirt/gravel road I live on and then they click for awhile on paved roads until they get dislodged. Same with my ICE car, just easier to hear in the quiet LEAF.

 

[garsh]

Yeah, we can't do that on our 2012s and 2013s...

Well, some of us can.

 

[eclecticflower]

Yeah, we can't do that on our 2012s and 2013s...

Well, some of us can.

Sure, garsh, if you're like Tim "The Toolman" Taylor ("I rewired it!")! :lol:
Can't say that I am...

 

[vrwl]

Yes, I can hear the high pitched motor whine (not pedestrian notification noise) at all times and all speeds. I guess I have better hearing at the high end of the spectrum as well, because my husband says he can't hear it at all.