Driving with a bad wheel bearing is very dangerous, especially if it is heavily worn. 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. And when we press on the gas the car shakes and rattles and vibrated a lot! If the noise is only present while driving it is likely related to the drivetrain. When locking the car, it doesn't make any noise indicating it has been locked. Also, check out for leakage and tire air pressure. But its more likely your Chevy Sonic has a suspension problem. If it didnt change, its likely a tire-related problem. High impacts on the bearings also occur on uneven roads or when driving through potholes. Driving your Sonic with a defective wheel bearing can be dangerous, so you must act urgently for your safety and driving comfort. Chevrolet Sonic has a ticking noise/sound - EngineHum If you are unfortunately experiencing squeaks, or humming noises when you switch the gears of your Chevrolet Sonic, it is unfortunately a good bet that it is your gears that are starting to fatigued. It seems to be getting louder. A corrupted ground wire almost always causes alternator whine to the radio. You can easily replace damaged bearings without seeking professional help. Depending on where they are needed, they can be on the front or back of your Sonics wheels. The vehicle was taken to dyer Chevrolet (4200 us-1, fort, florida 34982, (772) 242-3116) where it was diagnosed that the engine cooling . A humming noise is normal if youve recently replaced your Sonics tires with an aggressive tread. Your Sonics serpentine belt is responsible for taking the motion from the crankshaft and turning all of your accessories. In many cases, however, the noise builds up after a short time often after a few hundred miles. However, if it stays constant as you rev the engine, it will be something else. 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. 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! Unbalanced tires. 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. If your car tires are unbalanced, the strain you put on the wheel bearings will take a toll on them. Front and rear differentials improve handling. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If there's movement, see where it's coming from and fix the obvious stuff first. 15 causes of humming noise in the car 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 remedy axle seal failure by pulling out the damaged seal using a seal puller and replacing it. In any case, it is advisable for laypersons to visit a workshop. Youll hear it match the acceleration of the vehicle. It had what. These contaminants circulate throughout the grease and between the races and the bearings accelerating the wear rate. 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. water pump or alternator or a/c pulley bearing or tensioneranything the belt turns is suspect once the crank seal has been ruled out. It puts you in danger since it is prone to cause an accident. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. Knowing where and when the noise happens can make quick work of diagnosing a whining noise coming from the Chevy Sonic. Transmission Bearing Noise. If the wheel bearing is defective, the anti-lock braking system can also be disabled. In this type of wear, scallops or dips are formed around the tread indicating an out of balance wheel, but are more often a sign that you need to replace worn shock absorbers or other suspension components. The increased heat may break down and eventually expel the lubricant, leading to premature failure of the bearing. CV Joint Noise When Driving Straight - Causes and Fixes 10 Reasons Why Your Car Makes Noise When You Turn It Off, Car Makes Noise When Stopped In Drive 7 Causes, Top Causes Of Engine Squealing Noise + Solutions, Reasons Why Police Officers Touch Your Car When They Stop, 9 Reasons Why Car Hazard Lights Won't Turn Off, Why Does My Car Smell Sulfur: 7 Common Reasons, Car Jerks When Shifting From Park To Reverse Top Reasons, Leaking Coolant From The Bottom Of Engine Top Causes. You can test all four wheel bearings when the car is stationary. The wear of the rear axle reducer can be caused by a low oil level . 2012 chevy sonic. 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. Chevrolet Sonic Engine Makes a Ticking Noise - repairpal.com Therefore, the internal components must be lubricated with lubricants such as grease or oil to prevent overheating. The checking procedure is the same, but in some cases, it is necessary to use a stethoscope. We have a 2015 Chevrolet Sonic! A corroded exhaust system is prone to leaks, creating more problems for you. If you see any flecks of metal on there, it will probably need to be serviced. A damaged alternator means that the normal voltage will not be maintained in the cars electrical system. 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. Join now! If it causes this acceleration noise on Chevrolet Sonic, go to your auto technician. The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Sonic. Rob B briant Here are the most likely causes of a vehicle whining when starting: Your Sonics serpentine belt turns all of the engine accessories. If the noise changes going one way or the other, it point towards a bearing. It can be assumed that both bearings were subjected to roughly the same stress and that the failure of the second bearing is imminent. Shop/Dealer Price. If you can do so where no other traffic is around, get the noise to happen, then steer the car side to side, not real quick but sort of like going through a slalom course. Determining when the noise is at its worst helps pinpoint which side the failing wheel bearing or other drivetrain component is on. Humming while driving | Chevrolet Malibu Forums The drivetrain includes the transmission, drive axles, carrier bearings, and wheel bearings. Thanks for letting us know how you made out. 2014 1.4 L turbo Chevy sonic squeaky squealing obnoxious sound diagnosis. As you're driving and you begin to hear knocking sounds that emit from the rear or the front wheels- as you drive over potholes, cracks or even bumps on the road- then you can trace the issue to stabilizer links. Save Share Reply Quote 1 - 5 of 5 Posts BadBowtie Registered Joined Apr 18, 2015 159 Posts The catalytic converter is located in the exhaust system and converts pollutants and toxic gases into less toxic gases. Why Does My AC Rattle When I Turn It On? - YourMechanic With uneven tire wear, you may also notice: Steering wheel vibration Jagged tire surface Images in mirrors look distorted at high speed Wheel Out of Balance I can't recall) a month ago or so. The mileage depends on the driving style and the quality of the wheel bearing. Repetitive squeaking indicates the belt is not running true, and prolonged squealing means that the belt is overheating. However these noises can also occur due to faults in suspension or steering system components, therefore you should consider a bad wheel bearing if the vehicle presents other system as well, like humming or grinding noise and play in the wheel. Auto Noises: My Car is Making a Humming Sound With uneven tire wear, you may also notice: If your Sonics wheels are not correctly balanced, it can cause a humming noise when driving. Signs and Sounds of Transmission Issues - BlueDevil Products If the wheel sounds gritty and is hard to turn, you likely found the humming sounds cause. Chevrolet Sonic Loud Engine Noise Problems - carproblemzoo.com Chevy Malibu Forum is the best place for owners of the sedan to connect with the community and discuss MPG, mods, and more. 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. Here is an excellent page with way more info on the subject. Uneven tire wear can also happen if youve installed cheap brand tires in your Sonic. If the noise is only present while driving it is likely related to the drivetrain. I have been working in the automotive industry for more than 15 years. SOLVED! This can cause a ticking noise as the object that is stuck rotates around the wheel and then touches the road. That is RIDICULOUS, Cheryl. Its not a breakdown risk, but you can still end up stranded if the wheel bearing or suspension component causing the hum fails. Symptoms Grinding or humming noise If it did, your car likely has a faulty wheel bearing. You can test all four wheel bearings when the car is stationary. Its not a breakdown risk, but you can still end up stranded if the wheel bearing or suspension component causing the hum fails. If that is the case you may want to contact the dealer and find out. Difficulty shifting gears. This usually gives the technician an idea of whereto look. The contact stated that the engine made an abnormal noise and the engine overheated. It is necessary to set the speed to neutral so that the wheel rotates freely (this can be omitted if wheels are being checked on a rear-wheel-drive car. Brakes make a crunching or thumping noise when pressed when I start driving and takes a while to stop. - 2011-2016 CHEVROLET SONIC / CRUZE HOW TO REPLACE ENGINE MOUNT 4 STEPSHey guys in this video we show you how we fixed the loud vibration noise that was rattling all over our car! The smell of rotten eggs coming from the exhaust. If one sounds gritty, that wheel bearing will likely need replacing. Then grab the wheel with both hands at the opposite sides and alternately press and pull. When looking for the reason, you should always start with the most obvious cause, faulty wheel bearing or damaged tire. Damage to the wheel bearing is not easy to notice in the preliminary stages, as the noise is barely noticeable. This is the most common cause of why you will hear humming noise in the car when driving. Often times well need to order parts before performing the repair. Mechanic's Assistant: Is it just the ABS light? The one good thing to always stay on top of is normal scheduled maintenance.