hi guys, new to the forum, just picked up a 99 tahoe with 74k miles. It runs good, just when it reaches top gear (im guessing 4th?) like on the highway, the throttle feels different and there's a different noise when im accelerating/letting off the throttle. Doesn't feel as smooth as when it runs in the lower gears (quite smooth) and the sound is coming from the engine bay. Any ideas as to if there is a problem? or is that normal? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

it also feels like some of the power is lost when it hits top gear, cuz the accelerator feels kinda mushy but the sound gets loud when i press it and let it off, and it also changes in tone when im going over uneven surfaces.

 

and that sound is .... ???

 

the noise sounds like its a grinding whenever i step/let off the accelerator. not smooth like when its in the early gears, it still accelerates but it just makes that grinding noise, only when in top gear.

 

Camelflage,
I own a "99" and for the longest time I had a grinding noise. We thought it was coming from the bell housing. It wasn't !! It was the idler pulley on the surpintine belt. The noise was would transfer through the engine and sound like it was coming from the back of the engine! I would check it because it is common for them to go bad. (cheep fix)
Good Luck ,Dondobe

 

thx for the diagnosis, i really hope its a cheap fix. will it have any permanent effects on the car itself? or is just a loss of smoothness in the top gear?