When your car makes a high-pitched singing or whining sound while you drive at high speeds, it is helpful to do your own troubleshooting. Listen carefully to figure out where the sound comes from.
Sometimes the engine will emit a high-pitched whining sound when you increase your manual car's speed but neglect to shift out of a lower gear. Though a few seconds of this will not cause major damage, be careful to shift gears when you hear it. This sound means that your engine is overtaxed.
If you hear a sound coming from the rear floor of your car at high speeds, Tom and Ray Magliozzi of Car Talk explain that you could have a jammed brake calliper. In other words, they say, you are driving with the brakes "slightly on," which creates a whining sound when the brake pad comes into contact with the disc. This sound is louder at high speeds because heat causes the parts to expand. Have your brakes repaired when this happens.
If the sound stops when you rest your foot on the brake but gets louder when you accelerate at high speeds, you probably have a differential whine problem. The Magliozzi brothers note that this can continue for long periods without causing major problems. They say that you can likely control the sound by adding oil to the differential.
