Propeller buzzing noise on Pontiac G6 (increases with speed)

[cacicgtp7]

Hoping someone can help me out here. This just started on my g/f's car yesterday, there is a buzzing sound from the front engine bay of the car. It can't be heard from outside, and doesn't change with anything but speed.

As the speed increases the propeller sound increases. Honestly sounds just like a prop airplane. Isn't tires either from what I can tell. Shifting is fine, doesn't change with RPM's or gear just speed.

Any thoughts?






UPDATE:

Changed the entire wheel hub assembly. Nothing has changed.


Buzzing (tone/pitch) still there and increases under speed. It also gets louder when I swerve to the left, when I swerve right it becomes less.

I can also feel the buzzing in the steering wheel and in the accel. pedal.

Anymore ideas? I also rotated the tires, so it has nothing to do with the tire that was on the front left, or the wheel hub/bearing. Next....

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[bikrboy128]

wheel bearing for sure. if it gets louder when you swerve left, it's the right side (since you're loading the right side). same goes for swerving right (left side gets loaded)
check for play in the bearing by lifting each side. grab the tire at 12 and 6 o'clock and shake.

 

[cacicgtp7]

^ Don't think it's a wheel bearing, doesn't change sound or pitch when turning. It just gets louder under speed in a straight line. Usually wheel bearings have like a train sound too, this is more buzzing and is constant. The pitch just changes as the speed increases.

 

[Stink Star]

It's a wheel bearing. I replace several of them a week on GM cars

 

[cacicgtp7]

I'll check it this week, but I can't hear it outside of the car

 

[SRT41320]

check the plastic underbody gaurds and inner wheel liners... have you had ANY work done on the car lately? oil change? tire rotation? etc.

 

[Stink Star]

oh one other thing to check is the plastic cowl between the hood and windscreen. there were a few cars a while back that i fixed by resecuring that

 

[99PONTIACGP]

Maybe tires? My struts were worn out and wore out my tires....sounded like a bearing also.

 

[cacicgtp7]

I'm going to rotate the tires but they are pretty new. I've ordered a new front right wheel hub, going to see if that does the trick.


What's the best way for getting one of these on and off?

 

[gonzosbonne]

Id jack it up and have ur gf put it in gear nd listen around under there.

 

[Flyn]

This might be too simple an answer but check the fan blade, too. As any of us who had bicycles and baseball cards can remember, you get the propeller sound if anything is hitting the fan blade same as if a baseball card is hitting the spokes. Maybe a plastic piece broke off or something else got wedged in and is hitting the blade as it spins. I know it's not likely if you can't hear the noise from outside but it's easy to check.

While you are looking, check the driveshaft, too, in case anything got wrapped around it.

 

[smug]

This might be too simple an answer but check the fan blade, too. As any of us who had bicycles and baseball cards can remember, you get the propeller sound if anything is hitting the fan blade same as if a baseball card is hitting the spokes. Maybe a plastic piece broke off or something else got wedged in and is hitting the blade as it spins. I know it's not likely if you can't hear the noise from outside but it's easy to check.

While you are looking, check the driveshaft, too, in case anything got wrapped around it.

what? Electric fans don't change speed the faster the car is moving and G6 does not have a drive shaft because it is FWD.

 

[OffshoreDrilling]

dude, it obviously just needs a new propeller

 

[Flyn]

what? Electric fans don't change speed the faster the car is moving and G6 does not have a drive shaft because it is FWD.

I guess it's something else then. Pick a part that does increase speed with vehicle speed and can't be heard outside the car.

 

[RICH17]

Could be a plastic bag hung up somewhere as well....

 

[Turbocharged400sbc]

feathered tire tread would be my guess, its tone changes only a little in turns where a bearing has a far larger change in tone.

some tire tread designs are just really prone to making noise with even minor feathering.

the pirrelli tires i got for 20$ on the 25$ dodge make noise constantly, then i flip em L to right (rear tires are two different sizes so0 i leave em back there) they are loud as fuck then it goes away after 2-3k then starts getting loud again.

 

[lesrockyal]

have the same problem with my 07 G6 GT couple....6 speed. The proppeller sound apparantly is the axle hanger bearing needs replaced. Being looked at right now. GM wants you to buy the whole unit which should not be necessary. Heard there might have been a recall but can't find out. My vehicle only has 78k km or 45k miles. It would be covered under power train warranty 5 years and under. Unfortunately I'm over the 5.

 

[cacicgtp7]

Well right now I have a brand new wheel hub/bearing sitting in the garage. So first I'm going to rotate the tires, if no change, do the wheel hub (120 buck part why not and easy) and then if not that just start crying.

 

[cacicgtp7]

UPDATE:

Changed the entire wheel hub assembly. Nothing has changed.


Buzzing (tone/pitch) still there and increases under speed. It also gets louder when I swerve to the left, when I swerve right it becomes less.

I can also feel the buzzing in the steering wheel and in the accel. pedal.

Anymore ideas? I also rotated the tires, so it has nothing to do with the tire that was on the front left, or the wheel hub/bearing. Next....

 

[SRT41320]

if it gets louder when you turn left... its the right wheel bearing, not the left - i still say its the plastic underbody panels or something of the sort

 

[cacicgtp7]

^ the buzzing is only from the front right (from inside the car), so that was the hub I changed. When I swerve to the left, obviously the front right loads up and dips so it gets louder.


I tried looking at anything that would rub against the wheel but still no dice. Struts and springs are good, and looked around the tire and nothing was touching it.

 

[SRT41320]

sorry i thought i read somewhere you swapped the other side my bad... could it be interfernce in the radio? like a bad ground or something? no work was done to the car right before this problem started?

 

[R53 DeceptiCoop]

Cracked exhaust manifold/exhaust leak? My header had a tiny leak, but it's enough to make noise. It does the same thing, but luckily my engine/exhaust/supercharger is way louder than the leak.

 

[cherylefann]

My car is doing the same thing. Let me know when you find out what it is. my car is a 2006 with 80,000miles on it

 

[Flyn]

Buzzing noise from front end - Car Forums and Automotive Chat

It *was* the opposing hub/bearing. I replaced the right side unit with the old one from the left side. Not proper, perhaps -- but le$$.

Sure is nice to have that sound GONE, and with relative ease. Of course, I
cross-threaded the top caliper bolt when putting it back on and can now only turn it a few times before it stops -- but I suppose that's what tap/die kits are for

So, given my experience, I'd suggest this to anyone with this buzzing... if turning the wheel in a certain direction reduces or eliminates the noise, replace the hub/bearing on the side you turn toward.