Odd intermittent groaning type noise from front of car

[Justin Smith]

I was hoping some of the esteemed members of this forum could help me identify a strange groaning type noise which has just started manifesting itself in my Auris (2013 VALVEMATIC ICON petrol 1.6, 49,000 miles).

The noise is not present all the time but it occurs even if the air con and/or the fan is off or the car is coasting in neutral (it's an automatic).
It only happens when the car is moving, and bumps etc do not seem to make it better or worse.
It does not appear to be dependent on the speed of the engine.

I have this nasty feeling, hopefully I'm wrong, that it's something to do with the transmission, which could be expensive..... ( ! )

 

 

 

[TonyHSD]

You need to record the noise and share. 

[Justin Smith]

1 hour ago, TonyHSD said:

You need to record the noise and share. 

I thought about that but it'd not be easy, mainly because the noise is generally hard to hear above road, wind and engine noise, but I'd also be driving at the time !