Non Mercedes question. Saturn Vue Whine - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

pj67coll · #1 06-25-2009, 12:15 PM

I'm posting this here because although I've done a lot of searching on line I've not found anyting definative and I'm hoping the forum might have some ideas.

My wife has an 05 Saturn Vue V6 AWD. It's at about 50K miles now. Recently it's developed an extremely irritating warbling high pitched whine at freeway speeds. Sometimes it will just start up when you are cruising along normally, other times it will happend if you go over a bump. Definately coming from the front half of the vehicle. Thought it might be the tranny but if I shift it into neutral it doesn't affect it. Doubt it's the engine as it's independent of engine speed. I was thinking possibly some kind of wheel bearing issue, or maybe a drive shaft problem. Don't know much about these cars but the problem is very specific to freeway high speed cruising. Does not happen around town at all. And not always on the freeway either. For example a few weeks ago we made a fairly long trip and it only did it once, after hitting a bump and stopped when we pulled off the highway and did not happen again. This last weekend when repeating that same trip it started on the way home and would not go away at all. Despite pulling off and stopping several times. It's loud, and is definately something rotating.

Hope someone here might know about this or have some ideas. I'm a bit concerned in case it's a bearing type issue. Wouldn't want there to be some kind of catastrophic failure with my wife at the wheel.

Needless to say it's not done it at the dealer. Though we are about to take it in again and make them drive it on the freeway.

- Peter.

TX76513 · #2 06-25-2009, 12:49 PM

Was the water pump replaced in that vehicle?

pj67coll · #3 06-25-2009, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Was the water pump replaced in that vehicle?

No.

- Peter.

TX76513 · #4 06-25-2009, 05:16 PM

Just some food for thought as I know it's hard to pinpoint a noise (at highway speeds). The V6 PS pumps are terrible about trapping air in the system. Look at the serpentine tensioner - spray a little WD40 on the bearing and immediately see if the noise disappears. The WD won't fix it just helps to isolate. My original thought was the balance shaft chain in the water pump, but if no one has been in there probably not an issue. Can you reproduce the noise by reving the engine up in Park to isolate drive train?

pj67coll · #5 06-25-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TX76513

Just some food for thought as I know it's hard to pinpoint a noise (at highway speeds). The V6 PS pumps are terrible about trapping air in the system. Look at the serpentine tensioner - spray a little WD40 on the bearing and immediately see if the noise disappears. The WD won't fix it just helps to isolate. My original thought was the balance shaft chain in the water pump, but if no one has been in there probably not an issue. Can you reproduce the noise by reving the engine up in Park to isolate drive train?

Interesting ideas. I've not tried revving it up in neutral or park. Closest I've come is shifting to neutral while driving without effect.

Typically you have to have been on the freeway for some time before it starts. So maybe heat related? I'll try to pull off and do the revving in park test next time it happens. Only problem being that when you come to a stop it goes away so it might not do it if you are stationary.

- Peter.

thorsen · #6 06-25-2009, 06:40 PM

If it's independent of engine speed I would jack it up and check the wheel bearings for excessive play. If those are tight, I would check the ball joints or whatever they used on it. If those checked out I would rotate tires front to back to see if the noise went to the rear.

The Swede · #7 06-25-2009, 07:13 PM

One of my cust's mechanic was working on a 3.5L V6 VUE the other day and mentioned that it's common for the rear-ends to whine. Ditto on the Acura MDX-- Saturn uses the Acura power-plant and rear-end...

tankdriver · #8 06-25-2009, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thorsen

If it's independent of engine speed I would jack it up and check the wheel bearings for excessive play. If those are tight, I would check the ball joints or whatever they used on it. If those checked out I would rotate tires front to back to see if the noise went to the rear.

+1