There are many reasons why your Chevy Sonic is making humming noise at high speeds. In most scenarios, if you encounter humming sounds when driving, there could be a problem with components such as bearings or transmission. However, it would be best not to ignore others as they indicate something is wrong with your car. With uneven tire wear, you may also notice: If your Sonics wheels are not correctly balanced, it can cause a humming noise when driving.
It is possible the humming noise youre hearing while driving your Chevy Sonic may not be due to a defect, but because of the type of tires youre using, especially if you started hearing the noise after installing new tires on the rims. Next, well bring the car into the shop and elevate the entire car. The most common symptoms of a bad wheel bearing in Chevy Sonic are grinding or humming noise, knocking or clunking noise when cornering, shaking steering wheel, body vibration, uneven or abnormal tire wear, play in wheel, and vehicle pulls to one side when driving in a straight line. You can usually tell if a wheel weight fell off. If the hum comes from under the car then the possible reason can be a worn universal joint shaft. 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. When driving, the speed creates additional forces. The following suspension issues usually cause cupping: If you find cupping on the inside tread of your Sonics tire, suspect an issue with the wheel alignment. I just bought a 2006 quad cab chevy silverado 1500 with 39500 miles. Did the sound change as you moved the wheel? It had what. Gear slippage is one of the symptoms of having low transmission fluid. If there's movement, see where it's coming from and fix the obvious stuff first. If only the rear wheel bearings are defective, the vibration is mostly felt from under the seats. The most common sign of bad wheel bearing is grinding or humming noise in the cabin from the direction of the affected wheel. These sounds become louder when accelerating. But if the seals fail, water and dirt can enter inside the wheel bearing and contaminate the lubricant. All fluid levels are as they should be. Transmissions.biz was formed in 2001 as a group of automobile enthusiasts who wanted a place to share knowledge. Gen 7 Problems/Service Issues/Troubleshooting, Gen 8 Problems/Service Issues/Troubleshooting. If it did, your car likely has a faulty wheel bearing. If they are replaced at the same time, this saves time and money. When your Chevy Sonics water pump goes bad, itll make a squeaking sound. The most common symptoms of a bad wheel bearing in Chevy Sonic are grinding or humming noise, knocking or clunking noise when cornering, shaking steering wheel, body vibration, uneven or abnormal tire wear, play in wheel, and vehicle pulls to one side when driving in a straight line. It can tell you a lot about the health of your transmission. Currently, he owns a BMW Z3 but cannot get his eyes off Aston Martin DB5. 2. Some customers may comment on a clunk or thump noise coming from the front suspension while driving over . Here is an excellent page with way more info on the subject. Unevenly worn tire tread can also cause humming noise in Chevy Sonic. The contact stated that the engine made an abnormal noise and the engine overheated. Sometimes it can take longer if the wheel hub is stuck, it then requires a lot of hammering or use of different tools and techniques to remove the hub. A bad serpentine belt is the most common reason a Chevy Sonic will make a whining noise. A professional mechanic can swiftly diagnose the humming noise issue for you. The noise is the vacuum pump turning on, completely normal and necessary. With that in mind, this page is divided by when you hear the whining noise and common causes under those conditions. Can you tell if the noise is coming from the front or rear? Diagnostic Codes FAQ
Save Share Reply Quote 1 - 5 of 5 Posts BadBowtie Registered Joined Apr 18, 2015 159 Posts The following suspension issues usually cause cupping: If you find cupping on the inside tread of your Sonics tire, suspect an issue with the wheel alignment. None of these components fail due to any fault of the driver. 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. If your Chevy Sonic is experiencing a whining noise, its is often going to be caused by something in the engine compartment. Less common cause is failing transmission. You can check it by driving at low speed on uneven roads or swinging the car. A humming noise can be caused by a number of different systems in your vehicle. Reaction score. If your Chevy Sonic has a humming noise at high speed, it can be distracting and, depending on the cause, dangerous. Harsh Shifting. If your Chevy Sonic is experiencing a whining noise, determining where and when the noise is happening is coming from is key to diagnosing and tracking down the cause. They cause the wheels to turn easily and at the same time absorb high radial and axial forces. It is to make sure that it is the source of the humming noises. In the case of any repairing work, we recommend you to use an official dealership or services provided by other certified specialists. Home Troubleshooting Chevy Sonic makes humming noise at high speeds causes and how to fix it. It can be assumed that both bearings were subjected to roughly the same stress and that the failure of the second bearing is imminent. 2014 1.4 L turbo Chevy sonic squeaky squealing obnoxious sound diagnosis. Often you can hear the hum when starting the car after when cold because the oil thickens at low temperatures. Save. So, after starting the car you will hear the hum for 2-3 minutes because the pump tries to pump thick liquid. Noises that are only audible at highway speeds may change when youre switching lanes or making a long, sweeping turn. Start by driving a few miles on the highway, and a few miles around town with the radio off and no one else in the car. You can know your catalytic converter is bad through these symptoms: While the above symptoms could help you know whether the catalytic converter is bad, you need to inspect it physically. Rob B briant A defective wheel bearing is a very common reason your Sonic will make a humming noise while driving. So we went ahead and ordered the Mount set and installed it in less than 10 minutes! It sounds like a truck, idling on the street in front your house. Dont forget to like and subscribe!
These sounds become louder when accelerating. Uneven tire wear can also happen if youve installed cheap brand tires in your Sonic. If parked but still running, the horn goes off every 2-3 minutes. Even when driving your Sonic in a straight line, the bearings have to absorb high radial forces. Then, soak the inside of the converter using a spray bottle. You can easily replace damaged bearings without seeking professional help. Checking it requires you to be under the car and some mechanical skills. Possible reasons for hum noise in the car. His previous avatars include an automotive professional, photographer, and journalist, and you will certainly experience the roundness of experience in his piece on this site. Here is the fix for this situation. For components like the power steering system and transmission, clean fluid can go a long ways towards ensuring these components last for the life of the car, if not longer! SEE, I think it's a 15 pin plug and two wires change on the plug fro 95 to. A bad wheel bearing or suspension issue are the most common causes of humming when driving on the highway in the Chevy Sonic. Chevy Cruz has a similar engine as well. This could be a. Mechanic's Assistant: Is it just the ABS light? The first indication is the noise, which manifests in humming, squealing, or groaning sound, increasing with speed. Leave a comment
A good place to start would be to check the transmission fluid. However, issues to do with the exhaust system are different. Clunking or rattling. Second sign is that the noise changes when cornering, which varies depending on the steering angle and thereby increases or decreases: a hum when turning left, for example, usually indicates a defective wheel bearing on the right-hand side and vice versa. The increased heat may break down and eventually expel the lubricant, leading to premature failure of the bearing. The most common sources of manual transmission noises include: Low fluid level. Chevy Malibu Forum is the best place for owners of the sedan to connect with the community and discuss MPG, mods, and more. To clean the catalytic converter with sodium hydroxide, you'll first need to remove it from the vehicle. It is more difficult to diagnose the condition of the wheel bearing for four-wheel-drive cars. Show example Chevrolet Sonic Whining sound when car is in gear Inspection prices. A defective wheel bearing can be the cause of humming noise in your Chevy Sonic. A noise you hear at idle and a noise you hear only while driving are two very different problems. If one sounds gritty, that wheel bearing will likely need replacing. Worn or failing synchronizer. Worn bearings. It should change pitch with driving speed if that is the case. If you turn on the AC and immediately hear a rattling noise, there are a few potential causes: Compressor: If your AC compressor is beginning to fail, it can make a rattling noise. It would be best if you did not overlook the humming noises coming from the engine. chevyguy8893 said: If the wheel has play when it is lifted up it will make narrowing the problem down really easy. 2011 Malibu LTZ 3.6L V6 Red Jewel Tintcoat. However, the noise resembles more of a crackle and it can also be heard when you are in a turn. These put a lot of strain and elevated friction on the bearings causing them to produce humming noises from the engine. Being a car enthusiast, Patrick has experience comprising of two decades in which he has ridden some of the meanest and strongest machines in the automotive industry. You will want to check it for color and metal content. 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. When the differential is faulty, you have a hard time going around a corner. . SEE, I think it's a 15 pin plug and two wires change on the plug fro 95 to. Wiggle the steering wheel back and forth. All these cause CV joint noise when accelerating in motion or making sharp turns. The whining noise almost comes across as a chip or chirp. A damaged power steering pump can also be responsible for a humming noise. If the bearing from the water pump is worn out this will trigger a hum in the engine compartment. You can suspect fluid leakage and check for a trail underneath the car. If you hear gears grinding while shifting a manual transmission, you may have a problem . 3. It takes away the enjoyment of driving your pride possession. Alternator whine is a product of a drop in voltage between the radio and the alternator itself. These vibrations intensify when you slow down or when you accelerate. A leak in the exhaust system can also cause the catalytic converter to overheat. If the cupping is on the outside tread, it still could be an alignment issue. We've also provided an audio sample of each issue to help determine what's causing the hum. If they are replaced at the same time, this saves time and money. You should also ensure youre using the correct type of oil. When these parts wear they will make noise. The first sign of faulty wheel bearing in your Sonic is obviously the humming noise. If the play is clearly noticeable and visible, then the wheel bearing is very likely defective. 2014 1.4 L turbo Chevy sonic squeaky squealing obnoxious sound diagnosis. This video is part of a series of videos here's the playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list. A humming noise is normal if youve recently replaced your Sonics tires with an aggressive tread. If you notice that the tires in your Sonic are wearing unevenly, for example losing more tread on the inside, this can also be related to a bad wheel bearing since it can disturb the alignment of the vehicle. In many cases, however, the noise builds up after a short time often after a few hundred miles. If your Chevy Sonic has a humming noise at high speed, it can be distracting and, depending on the cause, dangerous. See the wheel weight above? The worst case scenario for most parts is that too much wear will cause the part to fail. If the noise is only present while driving it is likely related to the drivetrain. Uncategorized This can cause a ticking noise as the object that is stuck rotates around the wheel and then touches the road. The tire pressure should be in line with the recommended psi. You can also use the method outlined above, where you rock your Sonic while its moving to see if there is a change in pitch. If you frequently drive your Sonic on bad roads with lots of potholes, drive over curbs with force or drive quickly around corners, the service life of the wheel bearings is significantly reduced. It would be obvious when looking at the issue. In this case, the nature and intensity of the hum will change. Damage to the wheel bearing is not easy to notice in the preliminary stages, as the noise is barely noticeable. Low Transmission Fluid Low transmission fluid in the engine can cause humming noises when driving. If the noise is only present while driving it is likely related to the drivetrain. Home Troubleshooting Chevy Sonic bad wheel bearings symptoms, causes and diagnosis. Here is the link to the part on Amazon for $40 less then I bought 2 of them for! Images in mirrors look distorted at high speed. Transmission gasket pan damage or failure. As long as you have the dipstick out, go ahead and check the transmission fluid color. A damaged alternator means that the normal voltage will not be maintained in the cars electrical system. Whining when starting can be frustrating to diagnose since you constantly have to start and restart your Chevy Sonic to duplicate the conditions that caused the sound to begin with. We always perform a final test drive after the work is completed to be sure the problem is resolved. All you need to ensure is that you have the necessary tools. You can easily know you have a failing wheel bearing because as you increase the speed the hum becomes much higher in intensity and under a variety of conditions: on a straight road, when turning when driving on roads with different surfaces. Bearing won't always have play yet it still is bad. Heres what a bad wheel bearing sounds like: A bad wheel bearing can cause a humming sound. You can diagnose the hoses by turning the steering wheel in one direction or another. You can test all four wheel bearings when the car is stationary. 2010-2012 Chevrolet Camaro. But its more likely your Chevy Sonic has a suspension problem. When driving, the speed creates additional forces. Damaged boot clamps Your CV boots are kept in place by boot clamps. You may notice the noise only happens at idle or only happens at highway speed. If your car tires are unbalanced, the strain you put on the wheel bearings will take a toll on them. Unbalanced wheels will vibrate when driving. You can also cross rotate the tires and see if the noise is changed. If its cupped badly enough, youll feel the unevenness. This could be a small leak in the exhaust system or air intake system. Air escaping through a leak can also cause a distinct humming noise. That is RIDICULOUS, Cheryl. If when you press the gas pedal a humming noise is heard, then, most likely, the release bearing is damaged and needs to be replaced. Once a good ground is restored, it should go away. Another simple method of checking if you have a bad wheel bearing is by jacking up the car. I have been working in the automotive industry for more than 15 years. On average, the cost for a Chevrolet Sonic Noise from engine or exhaust Inspection is $95 with $0 for parts and $95 for labor. Check out additional info on a bad or failing wheel bearing. The most common causes for humming noise in Chevy Sonic at high speeds are bad wheel bearing, uneven tire wear and using tires with large tread blocks. The catalytic converter is located between the muffler and the engine. Therefore, it is necessary to balance the wheels at a car workshop. An inner CV joint is a part of the transmission and its role is to send torque to the drive wheels. There is an electric vacuum pump mounted to the firewall just below the brake booster. He is a car enthusiast; he loves cooking and listening to music, especially jazz. Off-road and snow tread tires are notorious for making a loud humming sound. Is the whining noise constant when you rev your vehicles engine? You can do this by using a dipstick. If you found one or more damaged bearings, then you need to change them as soon as possible. Your Sonics serpentine belt is responsible for taking the motion from the crankshaft and turning all of your accessories. If the steering system has issues, you will likely hear humming sounds. Theyre generally normal wear items that will wear as the car ages. While there , Your email address will not be published. The most common causes for humming noise in Chevy Sonic at high speeds are bad wheel bearing, uneven tire wear and using tires with large tread blocks. Determining when the noise is at its worst helps pinpoint which side the failing wheel bearing or other drivetrain component is on. If it is even a little bit out of alignment, itll be enough to cause a whining noise. You can hear it when you're outside, but it. A defective blower motor will make a continuous sound noticeable by the passengers in the vehicle. Significant CV joint wear due to natural causes such as aging, and also caused by aggressive driving style. A whining sound when accelerating is almost always caused by a bad accessory attached to your Sonics engine. The catalytic converter is located in the exhaust system and converts pollutants and toxic gases into less toxic gases. Steering wheel vibration is most commonly caused by unbalanced wheels, therefore you should only consider bad wheel bearing in this case if the vibrations are accompanied by humming or grinding noise. The contact stated that the failure occurred twice. Prices may vary depending on your location. Driving with tires that have rubber made especially for colder seasons on a warm road can emit a humming noise. In this case, you should replace the hydraulic booster fluid with one that would not freeze in low temperatures, and it is also recommended to revise the pump to prevent its breakdown. Use the table above and noise recordings to make fixing your car easier. Many car problems create the humming sound, and knowing which problem youre dealing with is essential to fix it. If the wheel sounds gritty and is hard to turn, you likely found the humming sounds cause. Poor installation. If that is the case you may want to contact the dealer and find out. RECALLS! This is achieved with a grease filling that ensures adequate lubrication of the rolling elements over the entire service life of the wheel bearing. Take a look behind the wheels. We always let you know what the repair costs will be before proceeding with the repair. Low fluid levels cause friction in the transmission, causing them to overheat and generate the hum. As the load is taken off the bearing usually, the noise will change. They develop over time as the result of poor maintenance, abuse, or high mileage. The first thing to assess is where the noise is coming from. These tires may use inferior materials (steel belts, which are less supportive of the tread, rubber which is more prone to uneven wear, etc.) When we turned the car on it shakes everything! High impacts on the bearings also occur on uneven roads or when driving through potholes. The noise increases when driving at high speed while engaging in turns. The recommendation is to check the problem and replace the whole fluid, and not complete the old one. If you experience this issue check the wheel bearing first because this is the most common cause. CarSuperCare.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. 2008-2012 GMC Acadia. If they fail, hum and vibration may be heard in the operation of such systems, and they will need to be completely changed. Grinding or low-pitched humming sounds can be a sign of wear and failing parts. 2008-2009 Pontiac Montana SV6, Torrent. Here are some other things that can cause noise while at speed: You can do a few simple tests to figure out what is causing a humming noise while driving at high speed in your Chevy Sonic. Bad wheel bearings and bad tires have a similar sound. $110.24 - $117.94. Run your hand along the tread. Gear slippage means the gears will not engage and accelerate properly. If you are sure that the catalytic converter is the cause of the humming noises, you can either replace it or fix it without replacing it. Weve also provided an audio sample of each issue to help determine whats causing the hum. If there is, youre usually looking at a worn wheel bearing and not a bad tire. Or the atmospheric din of an airplane flying overhead, that never gets further away. 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. You can test all four wheel bearings when the car is stationary. Let the cat sit for 20 minutes or longer so the chemicals have time to work. It is normal operation. Tires that are cupped or scalloped have uneven tread wear across the tire. It may also be accompanied by the battery light, depending on whether or not it is putting out the proper voltage.