Today, I noticed a relatively high-pitched buzzing sound coming from the engine area with acceleration. This happens when the accelerator is depressed, and also when the car accelerates when under the control of the cruise control. The car performs normally. No check engine light or other abnormalities are displayed. Does anyone have a clue about what could be happening?

Harlan

 

My first thought is a cracked and leaking flex pipe from the manifold to the exhaust system, thought number two is a broken airbox bracket.

Have someone rev the engine with the hood open, you may be able to pinpoint the sound's origin.

 

X2 what Mike said.

 

I will be taking it in to the better local Chevrolet dealer first thing tomorrow morning for diagnosis. I will report what they find.

 

I wasted 2 1/2 hours at the dealership this morning. Nothing was accomplished. The technician was a total loser. He removed the serpentine belt, and another technician (who has done better work on my car) brought it up to me and the service writer and showed me that it was cracked and needed to be replaced at $150 installed. I told the service writer I would pay for the replacement, she sent the information to the parts department, and THE TECHNICIAN PUT THE OLD BELT BACK ON. Only at that point did the technician have me test drive the car and show him what the noise was. 2 1/2 hours later, he hadn't started to take everything apart a second time to replace the serpentine belt - which may or may not have fixed the problem. I gave up and left. Service writer was sympathetic. I wasn't charged anything.

 

And that's the "Better" local Chevy dealer, oh cripes!

So sorry to hear you wasted your day for nothing it seems, any other service options in your area?

 

I am going to Firestone on Saturday, 4/22. They will replace the belt, because their price is significantly lower ($110 plus I got a birthday voucher for $20 off $30). They also will rotate/balance tires (which I bought from them) and align it under their lifetime alignment agreement. In other words, I needed to go to Firestone anyway.

On Monday 4/24, I will return to the dealer. I will drop off the car, and their mechanic who did better work in the past will diagnose the problem (assuming it's not the belt). I will also get my 100K spark plug, air filter, and coolant change since dealer's prices for those services are within 10% of Firestone.

I set it up that way to minimize the number of additional trips I will have to make after my wasted morning today. I called back and explained to the service advisor that between the technician's ineffectiveness and the lower Firestone price, they have lost the opportunity to do the belt replacement at all. The service writer said she was as frustrated by today's events as I was.

 

I apologize your visit to the dealership was less than satisfactory about your concerns with your HHR. I have further into the thread and saw that you are going to be returning to the dealership on Monday. Could you please, keep me in the loop about this?

Michelle, Chevrolet Customer Service

 

I don't know why a belt replacement would cost any more than $20 in parts and 10 minutes labor. If the dealer does not have the right tool, but Firestone does..... No disassembly is required for the serpentine belt, just the correct tool and 10 minutes. The "standard" serpentine belt tool won't work, at least on my HHR, but the GM dealer should have it in the "special tool" room.

Also, "whining noise" upon acceleration puts me in mind of alternator or water pump. Every serpentine belt with more than 20,000 miles can be shown to need replacing, they get some "cracks and fraying".

I think that you may be letting them sell you a "bill of goods". But, that's their job.

 

I should add, the belt tensioner. That may be what the "techs" were talking about, that part costs around $50 and is held on by 1 bolt, but needs a bit of expertise (like 45 minutes labor).