Electrical whine
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: 08-10-2008
Posts: 31
From: PA
Electrical whine
Hi,
My HHR makes a high pitched whine that sound kind of like an inverter running when there is an electrical load. I only hear it outside or with the windows down. If the car is idling with the lights on I can hear the noise but it goes away once I give it some gas. If I unlock the doors at night with the car off and the lights come on I can hear the noise. I assume its some kind of module or computer making the noise but is this normal? I plan to take the car to the dealer because of a front end clunk so should I mention this electrical noise?
Thanks,
Robert
My HHR makes a high pitched whine that sound kind of like an inverter running when there is an electrical load. I only hear it outside or with the windows down. If the car is idling with the lights on I can hear the noise but it goes away once I give it some gas. If I unlock the doors at night with the car off and the lights come on I can hear the noise. I assume its some kind of module or computer making the noise but is this normal? I plan to take the car to the dealer because of a front end clunk so should I mention this electrical noise?
Thanks,
Robert
Senior Member
Joined: 12-28-2005
Posts: 2,531
From: Worcester County, MA
Mine used to whine, then I decided to leave my wife at home. The whine stopped immediately. 
Seriously.....I had a whine under the hood. It wasn't overly loud, but it was there. I never determined exactly where it was coming from, and never had any power problems. So, basically I just let it go. Where you are going to the shop for your clunk (yep, had the same, had it fixed) anyway, maybe a mechanic, I mean technician can isolate the problem and test whatever is making the noise. Good luck!
Seriously.....I had a whine under the hood. It wasn't overly loud, but it was there. I never determined exactly where it was coming from, and never had any power problems. So, basically I just let it go. Where you are going to the shop for your clunk (yep, had the same, had it fixed) anyway, maybe a mechanic, I mean technician can isolate the problem and test whatever is making the noise. Good luck!
Founding Member
Joined: 11-23-2007
Posts: 8,210
From: Texas
A) It could be the alternator. Unplug it (while engine is off!) and see if the noise goes away.
B) It could be the steering column. You can pull the 60 amp steering fuse (1) in the underhood fuse block. If this eliminates the whine/hum concern the dealer needs to contact the Technical Assistance Center for further information in order to repair the vehicle.
C) If the noise goes away when the vehicle is put into drive I would suspect the drive or driven sprocket support bearings, or gear bearing (most common is drive sprocket support bearing) inside the transmission.
B) It could be the steering column. You can pull the 60 amp steering fuse (1) in the underhood fuse block. If this eliminates the whine/hum concern the dealer needs to contact the Technical Assistance Center for further information in order to repair the vehicle.
C) If the noise goes away when the vehicle is put into drive I would suspect the drive or driven sprocket support bearings, or gear bearing (most common is drive sprocket support bearing) inside the transmission.
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