The faster you drive your Sonic, the louder the humming noise gets. It can be assumed that both bearings were subjected to roughly the same stress and that the failure of the second bearing is imminent. I believe past 07' wheel bearings are covered under the 5 year/ 100000 mile warranty. Chevy Cobalt steering wheel controls not working - causes and how to fix it The smell of rotten eggs coming from the exhaust. I remember it the exact same way. But its more likely your Chevy Sonic has a suspension problem. 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Its very common on these cars for the mounts to wear out! If your Chevy Sonic is suffering from uneven tire wear, you should be able to pick up the noise while driving around 30 MPH with it getting louder as you accelerate. In some cases, a glitch in the infotainment system or onboard computer system can cause the steering wheel buttons to stop working in Cobalt. Tires are balanced with wheel weights when a new tire is installed. Weve also provided an audio sample of each issue to help determine whats causing the hum. SEE, I think it's a 15 pin plug and two wires change on the plug fro 95 to. We can expect some interesting, holistic, and pleasurable blogs with his flair for writing and his love for cars. The noise may also change depending on how fast youre driving or how much youre turning the steering wheel. All fluid levels are as they should be. Saved me some cash for sure. We always perform a final test drive after the work is completed to be sure the problem is resolved. Some all-terrain tires also make a lot of noise that is noticeable in the vehicles cabin. Unplugging the alternator from the wiring harness should stop the noise. Failure Date: 01/01/2018. Noise still therewater pump or other belt driven componentloose belt tensioner, lift belt off any pully so it hangs free from the crankshaft pulley and start enginenoise gone? Worn or damaged gears. Theyre generally normal wear items that will wear as the car ages. High impacts on the bearings also occur on uneven roads or when driving through potholes. These put a lot of strain and elevated friction on the bearings causing them to produce humming noises from the engine. Driving with a bad wheel bearing is very dangerous, especially if it is heavily worn. The wear of the rear axle reducer can be caused by a low oil level in the transmission or because the oil is worn, and if the transmission itself has problems. So, after starting the car you will hear the hum for 2-3 minutes because the pump tries to pump thick liquid. Drive your car at the slowest speed it takes to reproduce the humming noise. The contact stated that the failure occurred twice. It should change pitch with driving speed if that is the case. The noise is the vacuum pump turning on, completely normal and necessary. A humming noise can be caused by a number of different systems in your vehicle. Chevy Sonic bad wheel bearings symptoms, causes and diagnosis Grinding or humming noise in the cabin of Sonic from the direction of the affected wheel is one of the earliest signs of a bad wheel bearing. You can fix it by cleaning the convertor off the contaminants. Pulley: If the compressor pulley bearings are failing, they can make noises, generally a grinding, roaring or squealing noise. In rare cases, your exhaust bolts could be loose and cause hum noises when driving. We always let you know what the repair costs will be before proceeding with the repair. A whining sound when accelerating is almost always caused by a bad accessory attached to your Sonics engine. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. While you can go a thousand more miles, it can turn dangerous for everyone on the road. A professional mechanic can swiftly diagnose the humming noise issue for you. Chevy Malibu Forum is the best place for owners of the sedan to connect with the community and discuss MPG, mods, and more. 2007-2010 Pontiac G5. It's making a whirling/humming noise coming from the passenger side. Chevy Sonic diagnosis. Squeaky, Squealing Sound - YouTube 2008-2009 Pontiac Montana SV6, Torrent. Shop/Dealer Price. He is a car enthusiast; he loves cooking and listening to music, especially jazz. Chevrolet Sonic Noise from engine or exhaust Inspection Costs An expert will notice problems with your differential and have them fixed before they become worse. And the more unbalanced the wheels are, the louder the hum will be. But if the seals fail, water and dirt can enter inside the wheel bearing and contaminate the lubricant. Did the sound change as you moved the wheel? Even when cornering, you may feel the handling of the vehicle a bit off. The symptoms are somehow similar to a damaged wheel bearing, the noise increases when the car speeds up. Here are the most likely causes of a vehicle whining when starting: Your Sonics serpentine belt turns all of the engine accessories. Your email address will not be published. Check for your specific model year. Can you tell if the noise is coming from the front or rear? Off-road and winter tires are particularly noisy at high speed because of how much air passes through the aggressive tread patterns. The may change when youre turning the wheel, such as when youre parking. Worn bearings. Youre looking to change your Sonics load balance from one side to the other. The drivetrain includes the transmission. If it is even a little bit out of alignment, itll be enough to cause a whining noise. However you should not hurry in replacing the bearings as sometimes the symptoms can be caused by something else, for example tire cupping (type of uneven wear) can also cause humming noise inside the cabin. But it is not common to just hear the humming noise without any other symptoms: clunking noises, erratic shifting, etc. Other factors can also contribute to premature bearing failure on your Sonic, like driving with unbalanced tires or poor wheel alignment. If they are replaced at the same time, this saves time and money. If left unserviced, the bearings wear out faster and could cause damage to other parts. This wear may not be a cause for immediate concern, but any excessive wear is cause for concern. This could be a small leak in the exhaust system or air intake system. A humming sound heard at idle has to be something that moves even while the car doesnt. If they fail, hum and vibration may be heard in the operation of such systems, and they will need to be completely changed. In any case, it is advisable for laypersons to visit a workshop. See the wheel weight above? Youll likely see the spot where the wheel bearing was. I can really hear it well when I let go of the gas since the engine quiets down. There is an electric vacuum pump mounted to the firewall just below the brake booster. Prices may vary depending on your location. You can tell that the transmission is overheating if you notice a burning smell. The checking procedure is the same, but in some cases, it is necessary to use a stethoscope. Possible reasons for hum noise in the car. The most common reasons a Chevrolet Sonic engine makes a ticking noise are low oil level or pressure, an issue with the ignition system, or an exhaust leak. To clean the catalytic converter with sodium hydroxide, you'll first need to remove it from the vehicle. 15 causes of humming noise in the car If your exhaust manifold gasket is damaged or the oxygen sensor is loose, the noises tend to go away when the engine warms up. A humming sound heard at idle has to be something that moves even while the car doesnt. When locking the car, it doesn't make any noise indicating it has been locked. Therefore, all wheel bearings eventually fail. If the noise is only present while driving it is likely related to the drivetrain. It would be obvious when looking at the issue. You will want to check it for color and metal content. You can suspect fluid leakage and check for a trail underneath the car. Is the whining noise constant when you rev your vehicles engine? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If that is the case you may want to contact the dealer and find out. However, the noise resembles more of a crackle and it can also be heard when you are in a turn. Rob B briant Often you can hear the hum when starting the car after when cold because the oil thickens at low temperatures. A defective blower motor will make a continuous sound noticeable by the passengers in the vehicle. Usually it doesn't happen unless the car has been driven some distance and is completely warmed up, with or without the a/c having been used. Also, the noise is variable depending on the speed AND the duration of noise is also speed dependent (going slow, the thump is drawn out. CHEVY SONIC MISFIRES, RUNS ROUGH, But NO CODES, OBD2, DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. If the wheel sounds gritty and is hard to turn, you likely found the humming sounds cause. Therefore, all wheel bearings eventually fail. and can be more prone to cupping on a vehicle with worn suspension or imperfect wheel balance or alignment. When you first start your car, the serpentine belt may make a loud and long whining sound before going relatively quiet. Over the years, he claims a sturdy hold on his driving skills, along with a thorough understanding of cars. Reaction score. You can usually tell if a wheel weight fell off. If your car tires are unbalanced, the strain you put on the wheel bearings will take a toll on them. Humming noise in the car can be heard especially when driving and it can occur for various reasons. Off-road and snow tread tires are notorious for making a loud humming sound. Heres more from Atlantic Motor car on cupping. The first indication is the noise, which manifests in humming, squealing, or groaning sound, increasing with speed. The wear of the rear axle reducer can be caused by a low oil level . If one sounds gritty, that wheel bearing will likely need replacing. If you have a rear-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive car then the humming noise can be caused by a worn-out rear axle reducer, especially if the noise is heard from the back of the car. 2011 Malibu LTZ 3.6L V6 Red Jewel Tintcoat. Noises that are related to the drive belt will often get louder with higher RPMs but are not affected by vehicle speed. Another simple method of checking if you have a bad wheel bearing is by jacking up the car. These tires may use inferior materials (steel belts, which are less supportive of the tread, rubber which is more prone to uneven wear, etc.) Many car problems create the humming sound, and knowing which problem youre dealing with is essential to fix it. In most cases, leaking is the leading cause of low transmission fluid levels. Diagnostic Codes FAQ Heres what a bad wheel bearing sounds like: A bad wheel bearing can cause a humming sound. My Chevy Cruze 2014 has suddenly started having a humming noise, specially when accelerating between 35 and 60 miles, there seems to be no issue with the wheel bearing, I have just changed the water coolant outlet. These contaminants circulate throughout the grease and between the races and the bearings accelerating the wear rate. Chevy Sonic Humming Noise Getting Louder With Speed: How to Fix Even when driving your Sonic in a straight line, the bearings have to absorb high radial forces.