Congratulations of your new purchase. In my 2011 Cayenne S I had the annoying whine/hum. Initially I thought the power steering reservoir was empty. I took it to the dealer twice. The mechanics filled the PS reservoir, claimed the whine is normal.
My observations related to the whine/high pitched hum:
1. Highly pronounced just as you start the engine., neutral.
2. Engage the transmission, the whining continues on first second and third gears.
3. By the time you are in the fourth gear, whining is less audible.
4. When the sixth, seventh gear is engaged the whining is not audible.
5. When stopped for a traffic light and transmission is in 1, whine audible, when you proceed after the light, the whining audible to gear 4.
6. After half hour of street driving whining noise level is much lower even when vehicle is stationary.
7. If you get on the highway just as you start your vehicle and on 6th 7th or 8th gear no whining.
Prior to visiting your Service Consultant, document the following observations:
1. Highest pitch occurrence on gears 1,2,3,4 and related RPM and speed.
2. Time or mileage to reduce whine or whine to be less audible.
If you have whining at 5, 6, 7 or 8 gear ranges, you may have a problem. Please keep us informed of the dealer response related to the whining problem. Good luck.

 

2013 GTS 5000 miles

I too hear the whining sound, but only in a closed area like an indoor parking garage. I also hear the cooling fans in an inclosed area. That said, I really never hear either noise on the open road. I'll try to pay more attention.

 

Thanks peppercay, you just did a surgical dissection of the noise, what I have is exactly what You described.
Just took my GTS to the dealer yesterday. Several members of the sales and service personal said (independently) that the noise I have is "normal" in all 8 cylinder cayenne's. If that turns out to be correct, big change for me coming out of a X6 50i which was very smooth and hardly hear anything but the engine.
I don't feel very comfortable with the dealer opinion. I did NOT have that noise the first few weeks of use. We agree to keep the noise under observation.
I haven't noticed any issues with engine performance and driving feel.
The noise is annoying, I'll be cranking up the volume on the Bose system in the mean time.

 

I too have "whine" and as described by Peppercay in my 2013 S........as yet not been to dealer to vent but would expect a six figure vehicle not to have this annoyance!

 

Just bought a CPO 2011 Cayenne S. Love it, but I also hear the same whining as described by peppercay. Anybody have any further answers Sound like Porsche is saying 'get used to it.'..

 

Dude i think its too much covered with the old mobile that's why this noise is happened in the engine if you change the oil than i sure your problem may be solved..

 

I have read that the whining noise is almost "exclusive" on V8 Cayennes with the PDCC installed. I did ordered my GTS with the PDCC. Do you have it on your S??
There isn't a switch to turn off this feature. Guess I'll never know what is exactly the cause for the noise. As far as I know Porsche has never address this issue.

 

v8 engine noise

apparently it's the power steering pump which is located at the rear of the engine. Similar problem on Panamera according to dealer and field service rep. So much for German engineering!

 

Could it be the torque converter or transmission?

apparently it's the power steering pump which is located at the rear of the engine. Similar problem on Panamera according to dealer and field service rep. So much for German engineering!

How do you know it's power steering?

I bought a used 2008 Cayenne Turbo with about 104k miles on it. Everything about it is perfect EXCEPT the **** whining noise. I have taken it to my dealer, and to my local German mechanic. The dealer says it's "normal" like most people here report. My local guy, however, took it to a Porsche specialist friend of his and put a stethoscope up to the various parts in the engine and both of them are 100% convinced it's the torque converter or something in the transmission.

The whining sound is primarily in the cabin, with the windows closed. It is the same at all RPMs when in neutral. Turning the steering wheel side to side makes no difference. Turning AC on and off makes no difference. It's a really horrendous sound. It makes me want to sell this perfectly good CTT.

I was going to have my local mechanic replace the entire serpentine belt and replace all the pulleys for about $900. He literally talked me out of it because he was so sure about his friend's diagnostic that it was in the transmission. So I tend to believe him, because why wouldn't he want the money to do the belts??

Anyway, any SOLUTIONS to this problem would be greatly appreciated so I know what direction to go next. Replacing torque converter and/or trans (which works fine) is a total no-go.

Thanks.

 

Hello all, I too have been dealing with this noise since May 2018 on my2011 CTT with PDCC and PVT with 75,500 miles. Over the past months, at the behest of Porsche service, I’ve had: 2 power steering units replaced, 2 new reservoirs with filter, all 3 idler pulleys replaced and a new belt all to no end. The noise is still there, worst after the last service trip. I was beginning to think it’s normal, then I took a ride in a Panamera Turbo and that noise was not present. Definitely wasn’t preset before, but it is exactly as described by the one chap on this forum. Has anyone had any further news or ideas?

 

HI there, did anyone manage to find out what the noise was, i removed by serpentine belt and the noise is still there. not sure its the PDCC as that runs of the belt?, any advice

 

hi there did you ever get o the bottom of the noise ?, i have the same issue any advice would be appreciated

 

Regarding the humming noise. I have the same issue as previously noted on my 2013 Cayenne. It was finally diagnosed. The center bearing is going bad. It is a $388.00 part and will take approximately 2 hours of labor. Mainly because the skid plates have to be removed and replace to access the bearing. The way to diagnose is to have the car on a lift and have the it in gear (someone needs to be in the car) to replicate the driving experience. I know it’s old school but that’s what it took.
Good luck