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. If there's movement, see where it's coming from and fix the obvious stuff first. The humming noise also intensifies when you accelerate. If you notice a humming noise that increases in intensity as the engine rises in speed, it points to a malfunctioning transmission pump or pump shaft. 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! A defective blower motor will make a continuous sound noticeable by the passengers in the vehicle. Brakes make a crunching or thumping noise when pressed when I start driving and takes a while to stop. 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. Humming noise is a symptom of an underlying problem with your Sonic, which must be resolved urgently for your safety and driving comfort. Driving with a bad wheel bearing is very dangerous, especially if it is heavily worn. Overheated transmission. 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. 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. Or does it not change with engine speed? The sound could almost be described as barking. Itll be deeper than the sound of a worn serpentine belt sounds. Different model years have different coverages. A failing alternator can also make your cars stereo hum while driving. Noises that are related to the drive belt will often get louder with higher RPMs but are not affected by vehicle speed. Mechanic's Assistant: Is it just the ABS light? However, it would be best not to ignore others as they indicate something is wrong with your car. A humming noise is normal if youve recently replaced your Sonics tires with an aggressive tread. A good place to start would be to check the transmission fluid. Driving with a faulty CV joint can cause your CV joint to be completely damaged. Then, soak the inside of the converter using a spray bottle. CHEVY SONIC MISFIRES, RUNS ROUGH, But NO CODES, OBD2, DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR. With that in mind, this page is divided by when you hear the whining noise and common causes under those conditions. Sometimes driving accentuates noises that are heard while idling. When the differential is faulty, you have a hard time going around a corner. However, if it stays constant as you rev the engine, it will be something else. A defective wheel bearing is a very common reason your Sonic will make a humming noise while driving. 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. If your Sonic has a worn wheel bearing, the sound will be slightly more high-pitched than a tire issue (you can play that sound below). To do this, you need to lift the car. Or, you can watch the video below. A bad wheel bearing can cause vibrations in the steering wheel of Sonic, particularly if the front wheels are affected. Or, you can watch the video below. If it causes this acceleration noise on Chevrolet Sonic, go to your auto technician. 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. 09' Malibu LTZ with brick leather interior. Checking this issue is easy, you just have to shift gear to neutral while driving, if the humming noise disappears, then the input shaft bearing is damaged and you should replace it at a car workshop because its a hard operation. Software glitch. So we went ahead and ordered the Mount set and installed it in less than 10 minutes! A rare case of humming noise, especially at certain engine RPM can be caused by the fact that the exhaust pipe is not fixed in its place, and will touch other car elements. It would be obvious when looking at the issue. But it is not common to just hear the humming noise without any other symptoms: clunking noises, erratic shifting, etc. 2008-2010 Pontiac G3, G6, Vibe, Wave. Off-road and winter tires are particularly noisy at high speed because of how much air passes through the aggressive tread patterns. 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. Save Share Reply Quote 1 - 5 of 5 Posts BadBowtie Registered Joined Apr 18, 2015 159 Posts Some all-terrain tires also make a lot of noise that is noticeable in the vehicles cabin. If a curve is then also driven through, axial forces occur. Had transmission rebuilt (Pro).My problem is that when it gets around 35, 8L90E Specs, Performance, and Identification, TH400 Transmission Specs, ID, and Common Problems, other serpentine belt section of this article, Chevy Silverado Whining Sound: Identification + How to Fix, Chevy Spark Whining Sound: Identification + How to Fix, Mazda 6 P0320: Meaning, Causes, & Diagnosis, Should stop a few seconds after cranking the vehicle over. It does sound like a wheel bearing from your description. 1. Under normal driving conditions, wheel bearings typically last around 100,000 miles. Tires are balanced with wheel weights when a new tire is installed. Images in mirrors look distorted at high speed. It can be hard to determine whether the humming sounds are caused by tire or wheel bearings. If your Chevy Sonic has a humming noise at high speed, it can be distracting and, depending on the cause, dangerous. Next, well bring the car into the shop and elevate the entire car. You can suspect fluid leakage and check for a trail underneath the car. You can have someone rev the engine for you as you check under the car. In any case, it is advisable for laypersons to visit a workshop. Damaged boot clamps Your CV boots are kept in place by boot clamps. Gear slippage means the gears will not engage and accelerate properly. Low Transmission Fluid Low transmission fluid in the engine can cause humming noises when driving. 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. All fluid levels are as they should be. But its more likely your Chevy Sonic has a suspension problem. Check the fluid level and fill it back up to the factory fill line. This could mean the car will no longer drive. Hum in a CV joint can appear because: Humming noise can also be caused by a failing input shaft bearing located in the transmission, so the noise will be under the car, the higher the speed, the louder the hum. 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. 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? Run your hand along the tread. Jack up each wheel and spin it freely. The symptoms are somehow similar to a damaged wheel bearing, the noise increases when the car speeds up. 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 had what. Most of the humming sounds become louder when you accelerate. You can tell them apart in most cases by doing this simple test on your Chevy Sonic: If you suspect a bad wheel bearing, jack your Sonic up and free-turn each wheel. It is to make sure that it is the source of the humming noises. The Online Portfolio of Mike Flynn. They develop over time as the result of poor maintenance, abuse, or high mileage. The humming noise can also appear in the hoses of the power steering hoses because of their improper placement, and this symptom can be heard when the engine is idle. The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. Possible reasons for hum noise in the car. Less common cause is failing transmission. Also, check out for leakage and tire air pressure. However, if your car doesnt have a transmission dipstick, you should have it checked by professionals. Over time, the catalytic converter can become damaged, overheated, or even have rust. Or, it could be a situation where it is having a hard time disengaging. It is important to know exactly where the humming sound comes from because this can indicate a serious problem with the car that needs proper repairs. The noise increases when driving at high speed while engaging in turns. Humming noises coming from your car engine when youre driving, idling, or accelerating indicate different problems and should be checked by a professional. Or the atmospheric din of an airplane flying overhead, that never gets further away. Youre looking to change your Sonics load balance from one side to the other. 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. When driving, the speed creates additional forces. They cause the wheels to turn easily and at the same time absorb high radial and axial forces. Prices may vary depending on your location. 7 /8. Off-road and snow tread tires are notorious for making a loud humming sound. Failure Date: 01/01/2018. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. If your Sonics stereo is making a whining noise, it is usually caused by an alternator whine condition. Significant CV joint wear due to natural causes such as aging, and also caused by aggressive driving style. Uneven tire wear can also happen if youve installed cheap brand tires in your Sonic. Whining sound when car is in gear Inspection. Bad wheel bearings and bad tires have a similar sound. Humming noise in the car can be heard especially when driving and it can occur for various reasons. 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. Chevy Malibu Forum is the best place for owners of the sedan to connect with the community and discuss MPG, mods, and more. The catalytic converter is located in the exhaust system and converts pollutants and toxic gases into less toxic gases. We are an open source collective powered by our users. We've also provided an audio sample of each issue to help determine what's causing the hum. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. You can usually tell if a wheel weight fell off. $99.99. With uneven tire wear, you may also notice: If your Sonics wheels are not correctly balanced, it can cause a humming noise when driving. Air escaping through a leak can also cause a distinct humming noise. You can hear it when you're outside, but it. Weve also provided an audio sample of each issue to help determine whats causing the hum. Generally, these issues don't show up suddenly. Driving your Chevy Sonic at highway or freeway speeds with humming noise is not only irritating, it can also be dangerous. However, how soon they fail depends on driving habits. The vehicle was taken to dyer Chevrolet (4200 us-1, fort, florida 34982, (772) 242-3116) where it was diagnosed that the engine cooling . Thanks for letting us know how you made out. Driving a car that makes noise from the engine is a nuisance. If they fail, hum and vibration may be heard in the operation of such systems, and they will need to be completely changed. Youll likely see the spot where the wheel bearing was. 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix. The recommendation is to check the problem and replace the whole fluid, and not complete the old one. We can expect some interesting, holistic, and pleasurable blogs with his flair for writing and his love for cars. Check out additional info on a bad or failing wheel bearing. But its more likely your Chevy Sonic has a suspension problem. A bad serpentine belt is the most common reason a Chevy Sonic will make a whining noise. Impacts of all kinds are much more damaging to bearings than the high loads. I can really hear it well when I let go of the gas since the engine quiets down. If the noise is only present while driving it is likely related to the drivetrain. So we found the solution! Did the sound change as you moved the wheel? Minneapolis, MN 55406, A humming noise can be caused by a number of different systems in your vehicle. Unbalanced tires. Tags Chevy Fix Humming Louder Noise Sonic Speed, P0000 is a rare OBD2 fault code that can affect the Acura RL. Unbalanced wheels will vibrate when driving. I have a 09 Chevy equinox fwd. 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. Its very common on these cars for the mounts to wear out! It seems like the humming noise you are hearing could be due to a bad wheel bearing on that side. Unevenly worn tire tread can also cause humming noise in Chevy Sonic. These vibrations intensify when you slow down or when you accelerate. In order to locate and diagnose links that are loose, you can hoist your car or use a jack to lift it. This wear may not be a cause for immediate concern, but any excessive wear is cause for concern. Driving with tires that have rubber made especially for colder seasons on a warm road can emit a humming noise. Can you tell if the noise is coming from the front or rear? Amazon, the Amazon logo, AmazonSupply, and the AmazonSupply logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.