Since middle of May I have almost 10K on my HHR and am noticing a few things...nothing earth shattering but on of them has me a bit perplexed....

I know the Ecotec is not the smoothest or quietest 4 banger going but...

When the car is cold it sounds ok...I give it gas and the engine just sounds..well sounds like an engine....once it warms up it sounds more like a diesel..what I mean is that when giving it gas from a stop it has a clacking noise like a card in a bike spoke wheel...is this normal? I'm thinking of a few things it might be such as a exhaust leak or a bad belt or tensioner...just wondering why it only makes that noise while warm though

I think a few people including Black Rose had said that they had a belt problem or something or other...could that noise be a belt or is this just a normal noise of the Ecotec? (2.2)


Another thing that gets to me a bit is the sort of high pitched noise when moving like a wind noise...not sure if it the mirrors though...if so I tried covering the spot with my fingers where I remember some thread saying where it might be from to no avail..sounds more from the front of the car but it is all subjective. Not a high pitched whistle...sort of like those plastic tubes you whirled around in circle above your head when you were a kid...does anyone remember them?? Thats what it sounds like...wonder if it the actual seal on the windshield??


And lastly..sort of a rumbling noise from the back of the car while driving..not really loud but sure is a new noise...could be exhaust reasonating but noise is still there even while coasting



Nothing major, just wondering...that clacking noise is irritating though


Goose

 

Belt problem wasn't me. I had the A/C growl.

I do get a slight diesel-like sound which I think is the injectors. It gets a bit louder if I have the car in gear with the brake on. I can only hear it from inside the car. If I pop the hood I can't hear it.

I have the 2.4 w/VVT so it may have a slightly different sound. I do know the engine is noisy, especially under heavy acceleration.

The rumbling noise might be the Firestones.

 

It's a combination of injector noise and the timing chain. GM has noisy injectors and the chain is obviously louder than a belt, but much more reliable.

I too have noticed that strange wind noise when I'm driving at high speed through the Ozark mountains here in southern Missouri. I don't know if it's a combination of wind and air currents under the car or what, but it is strange!

No clue on the rumbling. May be the tires, who knows?

 

I have heard none of those noises(or if I have they have not been of concern to me). Goose I am not criticizing you specifically so please do not take this as such, but people generally listen too much and every little odd sound strikes the fear of god in car owners. If it is really a concern for an owner, bring it to the dealer and ask. Generally speaking if a noise is truly a cause for concern, you will know it. It won't be something barely audible. A car is a massive number of mechanical parts and electronics. There are going to be sounds. They will differ from car to car and manufacturer to manufacturer. Turn on your radio, your iPod or whatever you listen too in the car and enjoy the ride. I love my HHR!

 

I think you need to turn the radio up. I don't hear any noises!

 

We just passed 13,000 miles without any prior problems, but in the last month number of things have just appeared without any slow lead up.

1) A kind of whirring noise (a feel more than a noise) that is not engine related as it remains constant to the vehicle speed and doesn't flucuate with engine speed.

2) When the Moonroof is raised at the rear, mainly to let out the hot air on hot days, it gives a fairly loud (and never befroe heard and obviously wrong) clunk when reseating when closing.

I expect to get it in an checked, but had not seen any specific thread covering these (although I could have missed them)

 

I've been known to do this.

My previous 2 cars had engines that were succeptable to piston slap, so I was always listening to the engines for that tell tale sound....ended up getting a new engine from GM because of it.

Old habits die hard.

 

Yes they do...I once had to have an engine rebuilt and the tell tale sound was this loud ticking noise...ever since then I have scrutinized sounds...

I bring up the above because not sounds I have heard in the 3 HHRs I have rented previously...pretty logical questions I believe. On some of the HHRs I rented and on mine you can also hear a noise coming from the rear even while sitting in park..sounds like maybe a fuel pump? Didn't hear it in 2 of the rented HHRs but have in mine and one other.

There seems to be a big difference from HHR to HHR in noises, fit and finish etc



Have not seen the dealer because A) I need to schedule a whole day off and B) I'm hedging on doing that just to have my car sit at the dealer all day, have them look at it for maybe a hour tops and then give it back to me saying 'Ehh...all normal" Unless it is something glaringly obvious and they are going to make money on it, they won't go the extra mile to fix anything. I'm still wondering how they can eliminate wind noise...the TX HHR I rented was almost silent with 15K on it...mine sounds like the windows are cracked a bit sometimes..

Oh well..the fun of cars lol



Goose

 

The rumble noise could be resonation from the compact spare tire. I got some weird resonating rumbly sounds back there after I removed the spare to look things over, back right after I brought the car home (I do that, I'm always curious about how things fit together). The noise went away after I messed around and reseated the spare and the cover. I think it has to do with how tightly or not tightly the retainer nut is screwed down onto the cover or something.

Can't advise on the other noises, my 2.2 doesn't do it (yet). My wife's car does, but then it IS a diesel...

 

I will check that out...thanks LR



Goose