strange low humming sound ... not tires ..

[gem2005us]

Hi All,

My poor 2004 GT 2.4 liter Turbo needs much TLC. I'm disabled and on a fixed income. I have a tensioner that needs to be replaced (has made sounds for quite a while with starting and in the rain) and also the timing belt. Most of you know ... parts about $500.00 but the work can be 8 hours - and so I've quotes up to $1500. I've saved about half that. I'm already at 125,000 and I know should of been done sooner. So meanwhile I had a front caliber stick and so had replaced and all brakes good. Now am getting a low humming noise coming from under steering area (not the tires) that sometimes gets louder and can hear from 35 - 40 miles per hour. Does anyone out there have ideas of where to begin on what this might be. Car runs smooth and I do alot of freeway driving but on a country road tonight at 35 miles per hour heard again. Car is not pulling or anything. Sounds almost like an old fashion muffler going out but in manual that came with the car I can not find it listed. Help. Any ideas out there?

[SCBluePT]

Does it get louder when you turn?If so,it could be a wheel bearing.

[CREWZIN]

Not sure about the humming. We could take guesses but it would still have to be looked at by a mechanic. The big thing is the timing belt. You already know your way past the time it should be changed and it could go at any time leaving you stranded. A lot of us use RockAuto Auto Parts for parts on-line. The kit for the timing belt is about half the price of the $500 you quoted and if you can, drive around (hate to ask you to do that) and get estimates on the labor to do the job. We have people come to the forum with estimates as low as $600. Mine from the dealer was $1000 but still another $500 lower that what you said. Also you really want to try and find a mechanic that's done it before. Lots of owners have come back with a rough idle and had to go back and have it done again because the timing was one tooth off. It's not a easy job. Ask questions before you pick a place to have it done. Good luck.

[monitor51]

Pending an answer to the turning question, I'm gonna pull the trigger early and vote wheel bearing.

[CREWZIN]

Usually the front bearing problems don't show up at speed (he said 35-40 mph) so you hear/feel it more as low speeds when turning when the weight transfers from side to side and more pressure is put on the bearings.