Problems, problems - please help

[Im6ft9]

I have about a million problems with my car, but two are particularly puzzling. Just some background:

The battery is old and will be replaced soon
The oxygen sensors are going bad, and I just got the replacements in the mail
The front driver-side wheel bearing is going out
I have an LS

- Now that that's clear, I'm hearing a noise when I'm at Interstate speeds, and it's varying with my RPMs, not my speed. It's a whirring noise that sounds like an electric motor, not so much like grinding. As long as I stay below about 65 I don't hear it, but once I get on the interstate at about 75 - 80, I hear the noise at about 1,500 RPMs, and it gets louder and higher-pitched as the RPMs go up to the 3k - 4k range. I should also add that once I reach those speeds, it comes in slowly; so, once I reach 80, I can put it at 3k and I barely hear anything, but if I rev the engine a few times, I'll hear it loud and clear, and it will be there until I stop next.

- One other problem I'm having is that the cruise control is shutting off by itself. If I'm coasting down a hill and my speed gets to about 4 or 5mph above what the cruise is set at, then it just turns off.

Any help with these problems would be greatly appreciated.

[richtazz]

your noise sounds like a transmission pressure control solenoid going bad. How did you determine the oxygen sensors are going bad (CEL on, scanner code, etc...)? A bad battery can cause all kinds of driveability issues, as your computer sends a reference signal to the sensors and reads the difference between the reference signal and the one returned from the sensor. Voltage fluctuations can cause the computer to get "confused" and mis-adjust fuel metering, timing and such.

[Im6ft9]

I initially brought the car in because the check engine light was going on, and the transmission was slipping. The shop told me that the O2 sensors were causing the check engine light, and that my battery and my left-front wheel bearing were going out. My check engine light has gone back off since it went on the first time, so maybe that's the problem with that O2 sensor. As I said, I plan to replace the battery, so I'll do that and see if the check engine light goes back on.

As for the solenoid, I forgot to mention (how, I have no idea) that my transmission is also shifting VERY funny, especially when I'm at around 40mph and I give it just enough gas to downshift. It hangs before it gets into gear. I change my fluid/filter very regularly (I've changed both twice since I got the car with 13k miles on it), so I'm certainly doing my part. Would that solenoid be causing that, or is my transmission going bad? How do I tell?

Thank you very much for your response. I really appreciate the help.

[Im6ft9]

Update: I just changed the battery. The old one checked out just fine, so I don't think that there was anything wrong with it. That being said, it was a 6-year-old battery, so I'm sure it didn't hurt to replace it.

[richtazz]

yes, your additional symptoms still point to a bad PCS.