Good morning everyone. I've got a little over 500 miles on my HHR 2LT and I've been hearing a slight whistle while I'm driving. I hear it beyond first gear with my automatic transaxle (2.4 liter engine). First of all, I've seen postings here about a wind noise problem with the HHR and was wondering if this is what I'm hearing. It's hard for me to determine whether it tire road noise, the wind noise that's been discussed here before, or whether it's more mechanical, like the transaxle making this noise. I'm going to take it to the service garage this afternoon and the service guy is going to take a ride with me. I'm going to let him drive. Is there any suggestions on helping him hear this noise. I know that he's going to be tuned into the engine and I don't feel that is the problem. Like I said, it's slight and I'm afraid he won't hear it. That's when it can get frustrating - you take a car to the service garage and they don't hear what you're hearing. By the way, I took my antenna off yesterday and still heard the noise. Any suggestions or comments will be appreciated. Thanks

I hear a whistling noise also. I have the 2.2. I'm thinking it's wind noise.

I had a whistling noise. I have a 2.2 also. Decided the noise was just wind. My cure? Turn up the music!

I had a whistling noise. I have a 2.2 also. Decided the noise was just wind. My cure? Turn up the music!

Turning up the music is certainly a cure all :lol:

I hear a whistling noise that tends to go up in pitch with the engine/transmission. I thought I read that it was the alternator??????

Well, I just got back from the service garage and the service mgr. took it for a spin. He did hear it and said it was the transmission and it was normal. Seems to be more evident between the 30 - 40 mph range. I asked him why I didn't hear it before and he really didn't have an answer. So I thought I would let all of you know what the so-called diagnosis was. Here's a good example of GM needing to get knowledgeable service managers with their vehicles. As he was driving, he mentioned that the transmission was a 3 speed. I told him that it was a 4 speed automatic and I proved it to him by whipping out the owner's manual. Apparently I knew more about the vehicle than he did. Also, do any of you have onstar? I've been waiting to hear back from the dealer on what it would cost to put onstar on my HHR. I was told today by the dealer that GM doesn't have the "parts" for the HHR yet because it's such a new model. He said as soon as they have onstar "parts" for the HHR, he'll let me know the cost. If that's the case, then why is it an option for the HHR? What a mystery this is!!!!

Sounds to me like he's playing you.
We have a loaded 2LT HHR. And yes it comes wit "onstar".
It is built into the rearview mirror, as well as a phone system built into the car system. (meaning the HHR has it's own phone number)

If you didn't hear it before then there's a problem, not to say it's a big problem but something has changed.

For anyone sitting behind a computer it's really just a guessing game, here's a couple of guesses. If it's making more of a whistling noise it sounds like a wind leak, alternator or could be even a vacum leak somewhere.

If you don't agree with the service managers ask for a GM rep, now just because you get a GM rep doesn't mean he/she know anymore then the service managers.

Here's a little story I have with "it normal" from the service manager, this back in 1973 when I bought my first new Chevy 4X4.

The tranfer case would not shift out of four wheel drive without coming to a full stop, the owners manual even tells you can shift out of four wheel drive at any forward speed. I take it in and the dumb ass service rep says it's normal, I say no it's not and get the GM rep involved. After telling the dumb ass GM rep ( he said it was normal aslo ) it's not normal they finally tear down the transfer case, guess what.. bad synchronizer.

i had a whistle from 15 and up. My drivers side mirror was the cause. they replaced it and it has disappeared. Next is getting the ac whine fixed and ecu update.

If you didn't hear it before then there's a problem, not to say it's a big problem but something has changed.

For anyone sitting behind a computer it's really just a guessing game, here's a couple of guesses. If it's making more of a whistling noise it sounds like a wind leak, alternator or could be even a vacum leak somewhere.

If you don't agree with the service managers ask for a GM rep, now just because you get a GM rep doesn't mean he/she know anymore then the service managers.

Here's a little story I have with "it normal" from the service manager, this back in 1973 when I bought my first new Chevy 4X4.

The tranfer case would not shift out of four wheel drive without coming to a full stop, the owners manual even tells you can shift out of four wheel drive at any forward speed. I take it in and the dumb ass service rep says it's normal, I say no it's not and get the GM rep involved. After telling the dumb ass GM rep ( he said it was normal aslo ) it's not normal they finally tear down the transfer case, guess what.. bad synchronizer.


Hi Dark Age. Thanks for your response. I know the owner of the chevy dealer and I'm thinking of emailing him. I'm not satisfied with a "it's just normal" response. Heck, how does he know that it's normal when he didn't even know that it was a 4 speed tranny. I think it's tranny related because it seems to be evident after it shifts between 30 & 40 mph. It's not motor because I've set in my driveway and revved the motor up and didn't hear it. I'll keep all of you posted on this. This whistle doesn't seem to affect the performance of the vehicle, but I feel that since I just spent over $20,000, I want things right. And I agree with you, if I didn't hear it before, then something has changed. Dumbass is a great adjective for some of these so called service managers.

i had a whistle from 15 and up. My drivers side mirror was the cause. they replaced it and it has disappeared. Next is getting the ac whine fixed and ecu update.

Hi Jaydogg. What was the problem with the mirror that caused your whistle?

Hi Jaydogg. What was the problem with the mirror that caused your whistle?
i think the satin chrome was loose. i dont have the whistle since the replacement.

Here's an email I just sent to the dealership. Thought I would share it with you. Gary was my sales rep and told me to let him know if there was any problems.

Good evening Gary

Hope you're having a good evening and you have a good weekend. The reason I'm emailing you is because I've noticed a slight whistling sound with my HHR. I've heard it for a couple of weeks now and decided not to ignore it anymore. It's evident when the car is between 30 & 40 mph (right around when the car changes into a higher gear). Like I said, it's slight. But since this is new, I think it should be looked at. I had Scott in the service dept. drive it this afternoon and he did hear it and said it sound like the transmission. But what he said was that it was normal. He said that GM put a small truck (Colorado & S10) tranny in the HHR and this is a normal sound with truck type transmissions. . I looked up what was being put in the Colorado and it's a 4 speed Hydra-Matic Tranny. The HHR has a 4 speed electronically controlled tranny. I think these are 2 different trannys. He said his truck makes that sound. But anyways, I didn't hear this sound when I test drove this vehicle and a little while afterwards after the purchase. Just between you and me, Scott kept telling me that the transmission in the HHR was a 3 speed. I told him that it was a 4 speed. This didn't set too well with me that the service manager didn't know the vehicle that well. My thought is that if Scott didn't know what the transmission was in the vehicle, then how can he know if this is a normal sound. He feels that it didn't need to be looked at further. I'm sorry for bothering you with this, but didn't know if you could help me in possibly getting this checked out and fixed. I know it's a minor annoyance, but this is a new vehicle.

Also, Gary, a week ago, I asked Larry to give me a price on what it would cost to put Onstar on the HHR. I didn't hear back from him. As a matter of fact, I called again and talked to Scott and he said he would have Larry call me. I still didn't hear back. When Bill Harris had the new car buyer's get together on the 18th, I approached Scott and he pointed out Larry and told me to talk to him. I did. He told me that he was waiting to find out if the HHR was able to have Onstar. He said he would get back with me and he did the next day. He told me the HHR can have Onstar. That was 7/19/06. Well, when I came into the service garage today to have Scott drive the HHR, Larry told me that GM doesn't have parts available for onstar on the HHR since it's such a new model. He would let me know when GM has the parts for the Onstar for the HHR and give me a price.

First of all, Gary, Larry told me in a telephone conversation that the HHR can have Onstar and then he tells me that it can't right now. Also, I know that Onstar is an option for the HHR so why wouldn't the equipment be available. All I was asking for was how much it would cost and it seems like I'm being put on a run around for some reason. I'm a member of the ChevyHHR forum and I'm told that Onstar is available and that some members have it. It would be very hard to believe that GM puts out vehicles and doesn't have them Onstar capable.

I've had a not so pleasant experience with service under Scott before and had to approach GM. It was with my Monte Carlo. Something was wrong with the steering (clunking noise) that I took to service several times and they would say nothing was wrong. After I called GM, an intermediate shaft was replaced and that took care of the problem. That's why the extended warranty for the steering for the Monte. I'm not going to put up with bad service from the Service Dept with this vehicle. I will drive further if I have to to get it serviced. Service seems to be lagging behind the other excellent qualities that Bill Harris provides.

Take care, Gary, and once again, sorry for this issue.

Steven Smail

Well I'm a service writer, and i hope i never have a letter like that emailed in. Sounds like these guys need to get with the program.

Dumbass is a great adjective for some of these so called service managers.


Steven, There's a better one but can't be posted here.:D

Any news on what's causing the whistle noise is yet?

Not sure about the whistling sound but from my somewhat limited understanding on the OnStar System. It is an option but has to be ordered from the factory so you can not add it on at the dealer level if I understand this correctly. Not sure WTF you service rep's are telling you but if it were me I would kick them to the curb, find a new service rep who is honest and send GM on heck of a feedback on this dealer.

My wife said that she hears a "slight whistling sound" while sitting at red lights in the HHR.

I told her; "that's normal baby!"

http://www.stuff-o-rama.com/decalforbeswolf.gif

:laughabov :laughabov :rof: :rof: :rof:

I apologize for not getting back with all of you sooner. My dad last Monday had a stroke and yesterday he was in surgery all day to get the clot off of his brain. I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but seems like there is no paralysis and he may be back to normal after time. It will be a long uphill climb, though.

As for the HHR, the GM (General Mgr.) called me and apologized to me for what I was told. First of all, he had me come in and drive another HHR with the 2.4, 4 speed auto. Occassionally, I heard the same noise - so apparently it's normal with this car. The more I hear the noise, the more I think it's tire noise. I have the 17 inch Firestone tires. As for the service mgr. not knowing what speed the tranny was, the GM didn't like to hear that. As a matter of fact, my email is going to used in service training for the dealership. As for onstar, you can have onstar on the HHR from the factory, but to add it after delivery, that can't be done right now. The GM said the service person should have made things much more clear instead of sounding contradictory. So as of now, I'm satisfied with things.

Hope your dad does well.

I Lost My Dad To A Stroke, I Pray All Goes Well For Your Dad.
As For The Onstar Issue, I Am A Service Manager At A Major Chrysler Dealership. Alot Of Option Are Not Availible For Some Time After The New Models Come Out. It Take Awhile For The Parts To Enter The System To Make Install Kits After The Fact. I Think They Are Being Truthful In That Area. Just Keep Checking Back Every Month Or So. Good Luck.