'Ello everyone... been awhile since I've been able to log in, but I've got a strange noise and I'm hoping the HHR community is up to the task of helping diagnose it.

When I start my SS in cold weather, there's a noise in the interior dashboard behind the glove compartment that sounds like a fan blade or a loud ticking/thumping noise. It only lasts for about 5 seconds and then I never hear it again until I turn the car off for awhile.

My first thought was something with a blower motor or the cabin fan or something back there, but why would this only happen when it's cold and only for a short period of time?

Anyone have any similar experiences that I can leverage off of to see if I can get this diagnosed before having to take it to a Stealership?

Thanks!
a76marine

 

Make sure the fan motor is turned off when you start the car - if the noise is still there then it is not the fan motor.

Check the cabin filter in the glove box - pull it out and replace it if it is due for replacement, have a look inside to see if there is any debris in there that needs to be cleaned out.

 

I agree with whopper, determine if it is the fan blower motor first.

I have seen electric fan motors (not automotive but till an electric motor) start up under cold conditions making noise and then clear up within a few seconds. The problem here is that the cold temp has caused the bearing grease to harden, after running a few seconds it screeches / hums and then the grease warms just enough to start lubing again and the noise goes away. I have on occasion tore the motor down and re-greased the bearings and the problem goes away.

Let us know if it is coming from your blower motor first.

 

Good explanation there on cold vrs hot.

 

Could you describe it like a gurgling noise? That happens to me sometimes during a cold start. It lasts for a few seconds when I start moving, kind of like fluid or bubbles moving through a pipe. I just top off the Dex-Cool as it can get a little low sometimes. That takes care of my cold start up noise.

 

ticking/thumping and gurgling are 2 different sounds.....with 2 different "options". Gurgling usually is air in the cooling system.

I agree with the suggestion regarding the thumping. Sounds like the fan blade/motor.

Funny thing, I had the same symptom, only on an up right freezer. I hit it a couple times on the side (suggested by my usual appliance repair guy) and it stopped. Never had a problem again.

 

When I worked for dodge I have seen the mode and temp door actuators make a clicking noise for a few seconds when they reached the end of there travel. The plastic gears inside the actuator would skip over worn teeth. I don't know if the actuators on the hhr could do this but it seems possible. I know the actuators on the hhr are in the center of the dash but I think there is a recirculation actuator behind the glove box area.