Ecotec 2.2 Engine Whine?

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Blue_Goose

Blue_Goose

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Not sure when it started but have just recently noticed that the 2.2 in my HHR had developed a high pitched noise that seems to flow with the amount of gas given to it. It rise and falls with the acceleration...can't really pinpoint where it is coming from..if I sit in the driveway and give it gas you can hear it rising and falling as well as just about town...

My first GM engine so not too familiar with the nuances and quirks of the Bowtie. Alternator? Vacuum leak?


Ideas??


30K on the powerplant


Goose
 
Alternator, belt, or belt tensioner pulley.

Or maybe power steering.
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I'm guessing Alternator. AC Delco isn't known for making very good alternators. I had that happen in my old Nissan and I had to get the alternator rebuilt. They just put new bushings/brushes in it, I think I only paid maybe $50 to have it done and put back in by a local mechanic. Sounded great and worked great after that.
 
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That's funny Goose. My 2007 2.2L has given off the supercharger whine until it warms up since it was new. Mine goes away once the coolant temp reaches ~180°F. The only thing I can attribute it to is the T-stat opening? My thinking is it's water pump noise from the pump whirring away in recirc when the T-stat is closed? Ecotecs have funky little timing chain driven, cartridge style water pumps. Just a guess. Of course my dealer can't hear any noise. They cant hear the cold start rattle either.

Joel
 
I'll be bringing it in when I get back from Vegas for some other stuff I want looked at before the 36K warranty is up....I'll have them check it out


My first guess was alternator..as it always has been a bit noisy....supercharger whine is the perfect description lol.....yeah, this just cropped up a few days ago...I have the timing chain clatter also...or could be injectors...never know..the Ecotec won't ever be mistaken for a purring kitten thats for sure


The clacking noise when i give it gas really started at around 5K and has been there ever since...guy over on the HHR forums described it as a baseball card in the spokes which is a pretty good description..they replaced some injectors and Cams on his HHR? Said that fixed the noise


Oh well a laundry list for the dealer...he is gonna fall over when I drop it on him I'm afraid


Hope it isn't the battery although some folks have complained of batteries croaking early on them..




Goose
 
Originally Posted By: ThirdeYe
I'm guessing Alternator. AC Delco isn't known for making very good alternators.


It's probably not an AC Delco alternator. It's probably a Valeo alternator.
 
Originally Posted By: MrCritical
GM has improved alternators in the last few years. I can't say the same about Delco batteries.


Johnson Controls makes Delco batteries now, so they should be better. (Johnson Controls makes most of the private-label car batteries out there, including Interstate, Diehard, Autozone Duralast, Energizer, Autocraft, Motorcraft, to name a few).

They bought Delphi's battery business and they stopped making them the way Delphi did and changed them to the standard Johnson Controls design.
 
surprised to hear of 'whine' from an eco; never seen it come up before at saturnfans, and the eco has been used in saturns longer than anybody. the 2.2 eco in my VUE is fine, 50K, quiet as can be, only 'work' performed under the hood is oil changes (well, it does need windshield fluid now and again...)
 
Originally Posted By: Blue_Goose
Believe it or not, I think the alternator is a Denso....



You beat me to it. My Ecotec has a Denso.
 
I've had a bad Denso alternator before too, in my old Altima. Had that supercharger whine to it, granted the car had 128,000 miles on it when it started happening.. My neighbor has a newer Chevy Avalanche and everywhere it goes, you always hear the alternator whining away. It's sometimes loud enough to wake me up. It's been like that for a year now, I guess the owner doesn't care.
 
Originally Posted By: mpvue
surprised to hear of 'whine' from an eco; never seen it come up before at saturnfans, and the eco has been used in saturns longer than anybody...


On my 2007, it's not a horrible sound like that of a really bad serp belt driven accessory, it's more audible from in the cabin. It coincides with RPMs, etc and fades completely away once the engine comes up to temp. It's not the secondary air injection blower. That little leaf blower only runs a few seconds after startup. Other than that and the start up rattle, she's very smooth and quiet. No undue noises once it's up to temp. Great power and economy. I'm starting to push above 31mpg per tank now that the weather broke.

Joel
 
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Originally Posted By: JTK

It's not the secondary air injection blower. That little leaf blower only runs a few seconds after startup. Other than that and the start up rattle, she's very smooth and quiet.

Joel


I have heard of this little air injection thing before. What kind of car do you have? I have a 2007 Malibu with the 2.2L and I don't have it.
 
Originally Posted By: RoGuE
..I have heard of this little air injection thing before. What kind of car do you have? I have a 2007 Malibu with the 2.2L and I don't have it.


I don't know why, but some year/option package Cobalt 2.2s have SAI. Not all of them. I'm one of the lucky ones:(. Here's a pic of mine. The electric blower is buried between the radiator and front of the block:
Picture1063.jpg


Joel
 
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