Car experts pleeeeeease

Our Nissan Bluebird 1996 is making a funny noise. At first it sounded like loud "tyre" noise, but has got a bit worse the past couple of days. The noise level increases as the car increases speed and decreases the same. When travelling on open road, the noise is constant and at the same level, which has got louder.
OH is thinking the dif, as the noise seems to come from under the central area of the car, as opposed to the engine.
Any thoughts/suggestions please?? If it is the dif, are we likely to continue to do damage by driving it and at what point will it give out on us? It starts first time, every time and in all other respects, is going well, except for this noise. Could be it just needs something simple? or is it likely to be a very expensive exercise. Really need it to hold on until we sell up here.

Once upon a time my Nissan Skyline started making a funny noise, which increased with speed. Naturally, I ignored it [] One day, it got really loud and I called AA. The tyre guard (or whatever it's called, the bit that stops the tyre throwing mud into the engine [][]) had lost a clip...apparently it's quite common. The plastic was touching the side of the tyre which was making the noise. It's cheap to fix so check that first

Another similar noise could be the brakes - when they wear right down, it starts making a scratching sound that is there even when you're not braking.

Note: if you're not a born-and-bred Wellingtonian, this will happen more quickly than you expect when driving around Wellington![]

It could also be wheel bearings

Thanks for the suggestions so far - keep them coming.

Don't think it is the brakes as they had work on them for the last warrant and the expert opinion was that they were fine.

will check out the mud guard idea, although OH insists he has had a look under the car, but I am sure he wasn't looking at those.....

Front wheel drive? drive shafts if from the middle of the car,,
wheel bearings if on one side of the car,,

Your model is prone to steering rack problems. May pay to check there for starters.

tis no use speculating, we can keep guessing here until we turn blue.

Get yon vehicle to a friendly mechanic or country garage, put it on the hoist and ask the mechanic to take a looksee - but after you take him for a short drive to listen for the noise.
He'll probably go 'aha, I bet it's your ... [insert problem here]', verify it on the hoist, then give you options on fixing it.

wyseyes;279649 wrote: tis no use speculating, we can keep guessing here until we turn blue.

Get yon vehicle to a friendly mechanic or country garage, put it on the hoist and ask the mechanic to take a looksee - but after you take him for a short drive to listen for the noise.
He'll probably go 'aha, I bet it's your ... [insert problem here]', verify it on the hoist, then give you options on fixing it.

+1 here

not quite enough info to make an informed guess, so wild guesses are the order of the day on here. Your mechanic is the one to see for an unexplained nose.

You don't mention if it is increasing and decreasing with speed or with engine revs, for one.

As K303 says, if it increases in pitch, then it is originating somewhere mechanical. If it simply increases in volume, it could be something related to wind noise and be as simple as a missing clip on covers or monsoon shield etc or a foreign body caught up somewhere.

Do as Wyseyes suggests.

Checked for mudguards this morning - doesn't have any.

Will book it in with the garage for next week.

The noise seems to increase in volume, but not pitch. Today, it was a lot quieter than it was yesterday, but still there. It tends to quieten as soon as you take foot off accelerator, and come back when you put foot back on.
Some days, it is quite quiet and almost not noticeable, but other days it is quite loud and very obvious. Seems to make no difference if only travelling a short distance, or longer.

Kiwi303;279666 wrote: Your mechanic is the one to see for an unexplained nose.

Kate, we need a 'spit coffee through your nostrils' smilie, please.

Or, a 'spit coffee through your unexplained nose' smilie. Please.

That reminds me....I have more smilies and I was waiting until we moved server to load them. Now......where did I put them???

ronnie;279784 wrote: Checked for mudguards this morning - doesn't have any.

That's odd, I thought that having uncovered wheels was not permitted here. Sure you don't mean mudflaps?

ronnie;279784 wrote: The noise seems to increase in volume, but not pitch.

May be a slipping fan belt. Wait until your mechanic gets his unexplained nose into it[]

Chocolate fish to those who mentioned wheel bearings.
Had it booked in for earlier this week, but got cancelled out due to the entire garage staff being sick.
Upon hearing the noise this morning, and having the car up on the hoist - the diagnosis was a shot wheel bearing. So bad, he would not let us drive the car in case the back wheel actually fell off [:0][:0][]
Parts ordered and repairs set down for tomorrow so that will empty out the cheque book nicely.[xx(]
But at least the car will now be a lot safer to drive
Luckily, MIL lent us her car for the duration - not sure how we were to get home other wise[}]
Luckily this car has not cost us much at all thru its life with us - even with the high mileage we inflict upon it.