Transmission whir noise

[Hound]

This is the 2nd 04 I've had and I quite honestly don't recall whether I had this noise before or not. When i come off idle and begin to accelerate it seems like the tranny is whirring. I think the only reason I am not hearing it at cruising speed is the road noise, motor and exhaust noise.

Has a similar sound to when you might crank the wheel all the way left or right and you stress your power steering pump but not quite as loud as that would be.

I am heading over to a buddy's house with an 03 to take his for a drive to see if his does the same.

Anyone have a clue?

 

[sperry]

I found this but it doesn't sound like the same thing...

4L60E M30, 4L65E M32 Transmission Squawk or Grunt Noise on 2-3 Upshift - kw automatic fourth second shift third PQC #PIP3017A - (Jul 16, 2004)

The following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the symptom described in the PI.

Condition/Concern:

Some customers may comment on a squawk or grunt noise that occurs on the 2-3 upshift. The noise is brief and may not be heard if the radio or HVAC blower is on. This noise should not be confused with a metallic clunk or ping noise. Testing has identified the root cause of the squawk noise to be an unwanted step that was machined into the 3-4 clutch apply plate (653). This step is difficult to see and is on the surface that the fiber plate interfaces against. This machined step was corrected in transmission production February 06, 2004 and was into vehicle production by March 1, 2004.

Recommendation/Instructions:

In the event the customer finds the noise objectionable and the vehicle was built before March 1, 2004, the 3-4 clutch apply plate (653) and the 3-4 clutch fiber plates (654A) and steel plates (654B) should be replaced. All stock in GMSPO has been verified to not have the unwanted machining and will be good stock to repair this concern.

Please follow this diagnosis process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed. If these steps do not resolve the condition, please contact GM TAC for further diagnostic assistance.

Models:

(03 - 04 All GM Light Duty Trucks and Cars equipped with the 4L60E M30 and 4L65E M32)

 

[sperry]

Maybe this?

(`Looks like you'll have to click on the link to make it more readable..)

 

[Hound]

Sounds more like the second one; definitely not the first.

Could be torque converter. Very possible. Can't really read the entire diagnostic check though (I can read it but wonder there is more to it). Is there more to it than just power braking and listening for load?

Thanks Sperry.

 

[I CHNGE]

It's summer time and it's HOT in Florida and NorCal...
If I were a gamblin' man...and I'm not...
I'd bet the farm what you are hearing is Normal Clutch Fan noise...

The clutch fan is THE MOST common noise confused
with the transmission because it occurs on accel...
also has a tendacy to level off when vehicle speed is reached...


Also comes and goes...if it's hot out and your idling for awhile it IS gonna happen...
Cruise at speed...things cool off...come to a stop...won't very likely happen on the next accel...
very common in stop and go traffic...

Yeah...I got it...I know what it is and I'm ok with it...

just my 0.02

 

[sperry]

I clipped this from a "road test" document.. Just a bit of interesting info..

4L60/65E:
" This transmission is equipped with an electronically controlled capacity clutch (ECCC). The pressure plate does not fully lock to the torque converter cover. Instead, the pressure plate maintains a small amount of slippage, about 20 RPM, in SECOND, THIRD and FOURTH gears, depending on the vehicle application. ECCC was developed to reduce the possibility of noise, vibration or chuggle caused by TCC apply. Typical apply speeds are 49-52 km/h (30-32 mph) in THIRD gear and 65-73 km/h (40-45 mph) in FOURTH gear. Full lockup is available at highway speeds on some applications.

The TCC will not engage until the engine is in closed loop operation and the vehicle speed is as shown in the Shift Speed table. Refer to Shift Speed . The vehicle must be in a near-cruise condition, not accelerating or coasting, and on a level road surface."

 

[Hound]

I'd bet the farm what you are hearing is Normal Clutch Fan noise...

I'm gonna check this out. My other rig was taken away before it got real hot for the summer. So if you are right, that might explain why I don't recall hearing it before. However, I think I am hearing this noise when the car is cold started in the am which might not make good sense.

Keep the ideas coming fellas. Thanks.

 

[ygmn]

could it be a rear end whine?

http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php?board=147;action=display;threadid=21640

It seems from our poll that about 33% have this whine...??

 

[Hound]

could it be a rear end whine?

I don't think that is it. I had browsed through that thread before posting and that sounds like a different problem ( that I apparently don't have, yet)

YG, what is the diff between "quote" and "quote all"?

 

[sperry]

Hound,
I found this too but I can't post it in the other thread because I personally haven't had a trans problem to date!! Hmmmm.

Condition

Some customers may comment on a transmission leak, inoperative 2nd/4th gear, slipping 3rd/4th gear or no movement due to excess fluid loss.

Cause

This condition normally occurs at low mileage, usually under 1,600 km (1,000 mi), and investigation may show that the servo cover is loose or that the transmission case is cracked or broken at the servo bore.

This condition may be caused by a servo cover retaining ring that did not retain the servo cover.

The servo retaining ring design was changed for the 2004 MY from round wire to wire with two flat faces.

In mid-April, 2004, the retaining ring design did revert back to a round design in production.

It is possible that the transmission case may crack at the servo cover area due to the retaining ring being incorrectly seated.
Correction

Important
* In mid-April, 2004, the retaining ring design did revert back to a round design in production.
* If the transmission fluid level has lowered due to loss of fluid, it is possible that damaged 3/4 clutches will result.
* A cracked or broken case may usually be repaired at a significantly lower cost than transmission assembly replacement by replacing the case and any damaged clutches or bands.

Does your `04 mfg. date fall into the time frame?

 

[ygmn]

could it be a rear end whine?

I don't think that is it. I had browsed through that thread before posting and that sounds like a different problem ( that I apparently don't have, yet)

YG, what is the diff between "quote" and "quote all"?

quote just quotes the persons post...

while quote all quotes whatever was quoted in your thread...

I used quote all for this post....

 

[Hound]

Does your `04 mfg. date fall into the time frame?

Mine is March 04 but I don't seem to be having that problem. BTW, when I compared it to the stressed power steering I realized that the ps will hiss and this problem of mine is a whir but they are similar, just not exactly the same.

 

[02-Z66]

glad i ran across this thread. i have been experiencing this as well. Sperry, it sounds like your second post...

if i remember correctly this noise, if it decides to make it, usually happens when i first start driving. as it gets warm it goes away. never to be heard again. i think it has occurred 3 or 4 times. when it does happen it does it at low speeds. as it gets faster, about 2nd gear, it goes away.

 

[Hound]

I don't think its the Clutch Fan, I CHNGE. I am in Orlando today. From a cold start its still making that noise.

I'm now going to pay attention to whether it makes this noise after the tranny and motor are hot but I think it does.

More later

 

[I CHNGE]

I don't think its the Clutch Fan, I CHNGE. I am in Orlando today. From a cold start its still making that noise.

hehehe...DOH!!!
Anyone got an Av Tent I can have...
Looks like I just "lost the farm"...

 

[carndt]

Dang! We have a motorhome on an '87 Chevy P30 chassis with this problem. Had one clutch failure, the replacement was bad and replaced, and now after a couple/three years, _that_ one is starting to squeal.

I'da thunk the General would have figured it out by now, 7 years later.

It's summer time and it's HOT in Florida and NorCal...
If I were a gamblin' man...and I'm not...
I'd bet the farm what you are hearing is Normal Clutch Fan noise...

The clutch fan is THE MOST common noise confused
with the transmission because it occurs on accel...
also has a tendacy to level off when vehicle speed is reached...


Also comes and goes...if it's hot out and your idling for awhile it IS gonna happen...
Cruise at speed...things cool off...come to a stop...won't very likely happen on the next accel...
very common in stop and go traffic...

Yeah...I got it...I know what it is and I'm ok with it...

just my 0.02

 

[sperry]

Hound, write down the # if you havn't already and if it sounds like it, have tthe dealer print out the doc and test drive the Av. `Curious to hear what they say or do...

Good luck..

 

[craigh9]

{I have searched the board and this thread seems the closest to what I have, but I would like some recent opinions}

My 2003 1500 4x4 has an odd grunt noise on slow accelerations.  It reminds me of a deer grunt/bleat.

• Cannot hear it at all with the windows up... only with windows down and very with little ourdoor noise
• Only noticable on slower speed/lower gear accelerations.  Once the Av is at a steady speed, no matter what speed it seems, noise goes away.
• Very noticeable going up hills (at slow speeds).

 

[06Z71guy]

This is the 2nd 04 I've had and I quite honestly don't recall whether I had this noise before or not. When i come off idle and begin to accelerate it seems like the tranny is whirring. I think the only reason I am not hearing it at cruising speed is the road noise, motor and exhaust noise.

Has a similar sound to when you might crank the wheel all the way left or right and you stress your power steering pump but not quite as loud as that would be.

I am heading over to a buddy's house with an 03 to take his for a drive to see if his does the same.

Anyone have a clue?

Hound, I have an 06 with the same exact issue. I bought mine used a few weeks ago. It had new tires and needed an alignment so I thought the whine/whir was from that. After an alignment, and a replaced transfer case (mine had no oil; and metal shavings) its still the same. Also checked the wheel hub bearings, and other suspect items. Everything looked good. What was your eventual fix, or diagnosis? My transmission shifts great, no issues other than the whir. Thx-Frank

 

[Vaeagleav]

Hound, I have an 06 with the same exact issue. I bought mine used a few weeks ago. It had new tires and needed an alignment so I thought the whine/whir was from that. After an alignment, and a replaced transfer case (mine had no oil; and metal shavings) its still the same. Also checked the wheel hub bearings, and other suspect items. Everything looked good. What was your eventual fix, or diagnosis? My transmission shifts great, no issues other than the whir. Thx-Frank

May not get a reply from Hound since he was last on website May3 ,2021.......(if you hover over an avatar name you can get a popup screen showing last date of their log in FYI)

 

[craigh9]

{I have searched the board and this thread seems the closest to what I have, but I would like some recent opinions}

My 2003 1500 4x4 has an odd grunt noise on slow accelerations. It reminds me of a deer grunt/bleat.

• Cannot hear it at all with the windows up... only with windows down and very with little ourdoor noise
• Only noticable on slower speed/lower gear accelerations. Once the Av is at a steady speed, no matter what speed it seems, noise goes away.
• Very noticeable going up hills (at slow speeds).

(looks like those thread email alerts still work...been a while since my last CAFCNA visit)

I should update my 2007 issue for anyone else that comes to this thread. After years of dealing with this "grunt" noise turns out it was the muffler shield had cracked and was vibrating at certain speeds. I bought 2 big ring clamps. Linked them together and tightened around the muffler shield. Noise gone.

 

[BainMan]

(looks like those thread email alerts still work...been a while since my last CAFCNA visit)

I should update my 2007 issue for anyone else that comes to this thread. After years of dealing with this "grunt" noise turns out it was the muffler shield had cracked and was vibrating at certain speeds. I bought 2 big ring clamps. Linked them together and tightened around the muffler shield. Noise gone.

That is great of you to come back and post a reply on the thread when someone else needed help, originally started in 2007 no less! You and the rest of the group on this forum are awesome.