Car Trouble 2013 Chevy Cruise: Whining noise

RoyceSraphim · September 2015

So I own a 2013 but don't drive it often, leaving that to my family. Hooray being a breadwinner. It was bought new off the lot and has had no accidents. Oil is at 23% lifespan.

I fire it up for the first time in 5 days and notice a whining sound when I start accelerating or cruising (no pun intended). When I break, the noise immediately ceases. I tried this on flat areas, on a downward slope, upward slopes.

Accelerating ----> Noise
Cruising ----> Noise
Breaking ----> Noise ceases.

I haven't paid much attention to RPM's as its too crowded this time of day, but I wanted to figure what your advice was. I have a theory and it sounds expensive.

zepherin · September 2015

Probably your wheel bearings.

BouwsT · September 2015

Before we condemn wheel bearings, I'd like you to try 3 things:

1: Confirm the noise isn't RPM / Engine related by checking if the noise happens when stationary. If the noise is there when parked, it could be something different.
2: Find a secluded road that you can get up to the 40-50 MPH range (70-80 KPH) and serpentine left and right. See if the noise gets louder or softer in either direction. If it does, note the direction, and we'll have confirmed wheel bearing.
3: If the noise doesn't seem to be affected by loading it up side to side, try slowing the vehicle down by using the parking brake. If the noise isn't affected with the parking brake, it's likely related to your front brakes. If it IS affected, we'll be looking rear!

Lemme know, PM me if you want. I'm usually pretty scarce over the weekends on this forum, but i'll try to keep touching in if you need some more help.

Happy diagnosing!

RoyceSraphim · September 2015

We haven't had a chance to test the speed and RPMS, but the noise did change volume at 30 to 40 as we wiggled. Then it went away until we drove up our really steep hill.

Will acquire more data tomorrow.

Skeith · September 2015

Take a look at the brake pads, might be time to change them.

Jasconius · September 2015

timing belts can also emit a whine-like noise

odds are a mechanic can identify it in a heartbeat by listening to it, and many places will do free consults

spool32 · September 2015

You have to record yourself making the noise for us before we can help you though!

/cartalk

Figgy · September 2015

It's also still under warranty, yes?

Xaquin · September 2015

I would hope it's not the timing belt after only 2 years.

that said, do NOT hold off on replacing the timing belt! If it snaps, it can take your engine with it. The belt on my 2000 Focus snapped and it was estimated at 5k to replace the engine parts it broke. I junked the car because literally everything else was already broken on it. (effing lemon)

BouwsT · September 2015

Before we all start suggesting the things it COULD be, lets keep some perspective. Suggesting all of the things it MIGHT be is daunting to a person who is unfamiliar with the vehicle, so lets just take this one step at a time.

Figgy is also correct in suggesting that this vehicle is VERY likely still under warranty. Depending on the in-service date and the mileage, the car will have a basic warranty of 3 years, 36,000 Mi (bumper to bumper, which will include things like wheel bearings). The car will also have a 5 year, 100,0000 mi warranty on the powertrain, which will include the timing components.

Also, depending on the engine equipped with the vehicle, it may not even have a timing belt (1.4L Turbo version of the Cruze has a timing chain, which does not require regular maintenance).

We haven't heard from the OP in a couple days, so maybe the car has magically healed itself!

zepherin · September 2015

BouwsT wrote: »

Before we all start suggesting the things it COULD be, lets keep some perspective. Suggesting all of the things it MIGHT be is daunting to a person who is unfamiliar with the vehicle, so lets just take this one step at a time.

Figgy is also correct in suggesting that this vehicle is VERY likely still under warranty. Depending on the in-service date and the mileage, the car will have a basic warranty of 3 years, 36,000 Mi (bumper to bumper, which will include things like wheel bearings). The car will also have a 5 year, 100,0000 mi warranty on the powertrain, which will include the timing components.

Also, depending on the engine equipped with the vehicle, it may not even have a timing belt (1.4L Turbo version of the Cruze has a timing chain, which does not require regular maintenance).

We haven't heard from the OP in a couple days, so maybe the car has magically healed itself!

Every time someone says the noise went away, it is followed by a catastrophic incident a couple months later.

BouwsT · September 2015

Lol, I was being facetious. Unless this Cruze is the reincarnation of the 1983 horror movie gem Christine, in which case please be careful, Royce.

RoyceSraphim · September 2015

Sweet Jesus people, calm down. I work two jobs and don't exactly have time to sort this all out at once. But yeah, warranty is something I will call about in the morning.

RoyceSraphim · October 2015

Update, saw a warning about tire pressure from Onstar, refilled all tires and the sound went away.

Then for the past week, started hissing when I did brake, rather than accelerate.

This morning, the brakes started grinding 20 minutes into our commute to my job, this was after a lot of driving last night and a whole week of activity.

$371 for break pad repair monday, very slow driving till then.

I need a big salary and a vacation.

BouwsT · October 2015

So original noise was tires under inflated, and you got a new noise within a week which was brakes going steel on steel? That's a shitty break, Royce. :bigfrown:

RoyceSraphim · October 2015

We live on a hill with a series of step inclines going down. The sort you avoid in snow. My bike had literally chewed through several sets on the front tire, so this is not a surprising development after 50K

Jasconius · October 2015

$370 for a brake repair, you got off light

some brake shops wont let you leave for less than a grand

mts · October 2015

RoyceSraphim wrote: »

So I own a 2013 but don't drive it often, leaving that to my family. Hooray being a breadwinner. It was bought new off the lot and has had no accidents. Oil is at 23% lifespan.

I fire it up for the first time in 5 days and notice a whining sound when I start accelerating or cruising (no pun intended). When I break, the noise immediately ceases. I tried this on flat areas, on a downward slope, upward slopes.

Accelerating ----> Noise
Cruising ----> Noise
Breaking ----> Noise ceases.

I haven't paid much attention to RPM's as its too crowded this time of day, but I wanted to figure what your advice was. I have a theory and it sounds expensive.

Is there a teenager/preteen in the back seat?

RoyceSraphim · October 2015

And now it struggled to start up, and the turn signals sound off tempo. Duck, duck, duck.

BouwsT · October 2015

Probably ghosts. In my professional opinion.

RoyceSraphim · October 2015

Damn, sea fair is over so the pirates are gone.

Pinfeldorf · October 2015

BouwsT wrote: »

Probably ghosts. In my professional opinion.

I wouldn't rule out gremlins. I saw a documentary about World War 2 era Bugs Bunny having to deal with them.

mRahmani · October 2015

RoyceSraphim wrote: »

And now it struggled to start up, and the turn signals sound off tempo. Duck, duck, duck.

Battery may be on its way out, last winter was not kind to them.

Turns signals off tempo usually means you have a light burned out somewhere. Put your hazard flashers on and walk around the car, see if you can spot the one that's missing. Should be a $5 fix, tops.

RoyceSraphim · October 2015

Now it won't start, the starter I believe. Just called out to my temp assignment and I'm worried they will think I quit rather than suck one more day and be dismissed. Still have to travel all the way out there to get them to sign me out anyway.

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