2011 Impala mystery noise
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2011 Impala mystery noise
Hello all,
First time post here and first Impala (2011 LT, 3.5, Luxury package I think they called it) but I really love it. Thanks in advance for any help as I'm at a loss on this issue. I'm an almost 60 year old kid, can do basic auto repair, and I tend to try to find a screaming deal on a 100k miles or so mid-full size American car every few years, spruce up, drive to 150-175k, and repeat. Bought this one about 6 mos ago with 100k on it and except minor maintenance stuff and some minor repairs (blend flap actuator clicking, etc.) she has been great. Recently I noticed a substantial whine (almost like a diesel pickup turbo whine but not as loud, or a bad pulley) and here are the details:
Not throwing any codes. Whine is only in gear, matches RPM, no noise at all in park/neutral, thought maybe strained alternator, battery was 5 yr old mid price Wal-Mart so replaced but no change in noise, no noise when in park turning steering wheel, no noticeable leaks, temperature is perfect, no idiot lights, shifts perfectly, runs/drives perfectly. No other noises or symptoms. Thought torque converter but it shows no symptoms of TC issues. Changed out about 6 quarts of trans fluid with correct (expensive) full synthetic trans fluid at correct level, (just pumped out and replaced) but no change in noise. Was going to add a bottle of Bars leak high mileage trans additive but have not yet. In park, compressor on or off no noise, and noise does not change in gear with compressor on or off.
One mechanic put a stethoscope on it and said upper idler pulley. I thought it was a stretch (Would a pulley really change from no noise to substantial noise just putting in gear?) but I figured it could use a new serpentine belt so I replaced both. No luck. Maybe it's another pulley?
I saw one post that said "No sound in neutral? Does it vary with steering? If it goes away in neutral and isn't affected by steering, its just a noisy transmission oil pump, common issue that doesn't really hurt anything.". Could that be the case? Just keep driving till something else changes? I need to drive it to visit my elderly uncle about 450 miles away but should I trust it? (Otherwise it is mostly local driving)
Again thanks very much for the help! I hope I can pay it back sometime!
First time post here and first Impala (2011 LT, 3.5, Luxury package I think they called it) but I really love it. Thanks in advance for any help as I'm at a loss on this issue. I'm an almost 60 year old kid, can do basic auto repair, and I tend to try to find a screaming deal on a 100k miles or so mid-full size American car every few years, spruce up, drive to 150-175k, and repeat. Bought this one about 6 mos ago with 100k on it and except minor maintenance stuff and some minor repairs (blend flap actuator clicking, etc.) she has been great. Recently I noticed a substantial whine (almost like a diesel pickup turbo whine but not as loud, or a bad pulley) and here are the details:
Not throwing any codes. Whine is only in gear, matches RPM, no noise at all in park/neutral, thought maybe strained alternator, battery was 5 yr old mid price Wal-Mart so replaced but no change in noise, no noise when in park turning steering wheel, no noticeable leaks, temperature is perfect, no idiot lights, shifts perfectly, runs/drives perfectly. No other noises or symptoms. Thought torque converter but it shows no symptoms of TC issues. Changed out about 6 quarts of trans fluid with correct (expensive) full synthetic trans fluid at correct level, (just pumped out and replaced) but no change in noise. Was going to add a bottle of Bars leak high mileage trans additive but have not yet. In park, compressor on or off no noise, and noise does not change in gear with compressor on or off.
One mechanic put a stethoscope on it and said upper idler pulley. I thought it was a stretch (Would a pulley really change from no noise to substantial noise just putting in gear?) but I figured it could use a new serpentine belt so I replaced both. No luck. Maybe it's another pulley?
I saw one post that said "No sound in neutral? Does it vary with steering? If it goes away in neutral and isn't affected by steering, its just a noisy transmission oil pump, common issue that doesn't really hurt anything.". Could that be the case? Just keep driving till something else changes? I need to drive it to visit my elderly uncle about 450 miles away but should I trust it? (Otherwise it is mostly local driving)
Again thanks very much for the help! I hope I can pay it back sometime!
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