[COD45]

Hi Everyone,

I've been reviewing this board for some time now see if someone else has this problem. I bought my 2009 LTZ 4cycl in mid March. Almost imediately I noticed a high pitched squealling noise appearing around 2500-3000rpms everytime I accelerated from a stop. I heard it in gears 1-3 and possibly 4.

So I brought the car back to the dealer at only 380 miles. They told me that they were having trouble hearing it and that something might be breaking in. So I left, knowing that I was still under warranty and drove the car to 1300 miles until I brought it back to the dealer. Now the noise was louder anf I had gotten pretty good at reapeating it at this point. They took the car and tried to figure it out. The service center replaced the flex joint on the exhaust but the noise was still there. They did numerous tests and tried to repeat the noise on a lift but unfortunately it only happens when the engine is loaded (wheel torque).

They kept my car for a week. On the 7th day they had a GM factory rep take the car for a spin. He said that the noise was "not a problem b/c it didn't sound mechanical. Probably in the exhaust somewhere". This upset me greatly b/c there is not a single person who hasn't noticed this sound when riding in my car. The sound it some sort of vibrating part which seems to resonate at the mentioned rpms. It is SO ANNOYING! It sounds very similar to the noise breaks make when they wear down.

The rep said that he wanted me to drive the car until the first oil change and then have a GM field engineer check it out in 3 weeks. So, I still have the car... and I love it minus this noise! Imagine hearing nails on a chalk board everytime you accelerated from a stop.

Does anyone have suggestions? Is this a lemon? I really appreciate any feedback.

 

[COD45]

I have filled a complaint to the Better Business Bureau about this issue.

 

[bballr4567]

BBB is meaningless in this case.

Do you have a mechanics stethoscope? If you dont, cut up approx a 2ft piece of garden hose. Now, rev your engine in park up to 2500-3000 RPMs and try to hear where its coming from. I know you said you cant hear it when parked but you just might.

If its seriously a high pitched squeal, it could be the alternator or the VVT operating. Ours makes a VERY noticeable noise difference when we get up over 2800 RPMs at full throttle so it could very well be just normal.

Can you get a video of it?

 

[OnDaGround]

+1 I would recommend that you test drive another Malibu to see if it makes the same noise as yours. As stated above, it could very well be normal function.

 

[Macleod52]

I agree with the above posters, and seriously you filed a complain with the BBB?

 

[COD45]

Ok... I sent a complaint b/c a friend told me it might help... I'll send them a sperm sample if it means that they'll get rid of this noise!

The dealership did test drive 3 brand new Malibu's on their lot when they had my car the first time and they didn't find any other's with this problem. They told me that they hooked up some sort of acoustic listening ears on the car to try and pin point the source but they said it's so high pitched that the test was inconclusive. My problem is that Chevy has instructed the dealership NOT to work on this unless something breaks, so until I here a snap of figure out the problem myself I'm stuck with this.

Since then, the problem has worsened. I can re-create the noise by standing on my brake and reving the engine. I only did this once for obvious reasons. I had a new development today though... I thought of getting rid of this car and replacing it with a small SUV... and b/c of this issue I went down to a Toyota dealership to look at the Rav4 and Highlander. When the discussion of my trade in started, a sales guy at Toyota asked to take the car for a spin. He went around the block and came back... guess what his first question was when he returned... "What is that noise I'm hearing on acceleration?". So my car has prematurely lost value thanks to this.

I'll try to take a video of it. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[bballr4567]

That kind of sounds like the motor mounts might be moving a TINY bit and causing the squeal.

I wish I could be there as Im pretty good at figuring out what sound is what.

Also if you can recreate it take it back to the dealer ASAP. If your dealer wont work with you take it to another one. There are plenty of them around.

 

[COD45]

I know the dealer checked and retightened the motor mounts. Maybe I can do a better job of describing it...

It sounds like a loud cricket, which leads me to believe that it is 2 metal parts rubbing together very rapidly. The noise will begin around 2-2.5k rpms and get louder from there until 3k rpm and it peaks right before the transmission shifts gears. It then goes away until I accelerate back through the next gear to 2-2.5k rpms. The weird part is that if I step hard on the gas and the rpms quickly shoot up to like 4k rpm range, I don't hear the noise at all. I will hear it when the engine drops back through the 2-3k rpm range after accelerating through that gear.

Thanks again for any suggestions. I have a friend who might be able to get the car on a lift... my goal is to figure it out so there's no excuses for the dealer not to fix it.

 

[OnDaGround]

It's hard to get a company that is going out of business to comply. They have nothing to lose. That's unfortunate. Perhaps this is the reason no one buys their cars anymore. I have seen Vw buy back cars and I've seen them give the customer a new car and take the old one. It's all business management. That is why Vw is the only company still making a profit. GM should be taking notes.

Push the dealer to take care of it. Keep stepping on their feet until you annoy them. Something could be wrong and chevy is dodging the bullet by not paying for it. A car company doesn't instruct the dealer to simply not work on a car. Maybe the dealer is pulling your leg. Take it some where else.

 

[GMVictim]

I guess I am glad that I am not the only one with this issue. I have 90,000 miles on my 2001 Malibu and it just started making the noise a few days ago. Along with the noise came a lose of horse power (even when not whistling). Also the tranmission seems to be shifting up and down more often than before. I also sensed some hitching in either the engine or the transmission.

The person that says it sounds like crickets is right on. That is just what it sounds like.

Mine starts at 2700 RPMs and gets much louder through the next 200 RPMs and only slightly increases beyond at. Yesterday morning I was climbing a steep grade and the car dropped into low gear and revved up to about 4500 RPMs. at 4500 RPMs it made a noise like a tennis call got stuck in the nozzle of a vacumn cleaner (like a Fwoomp noise) and the whistle went away. At that moments the horsepower returned and the hitching stopped. It remained that way for the next 10 miles. The next time I started it up, I took it to my garage and they drove it, tested stuff and can't find it. They tell me it will have to get worse before they can find it. I can't imagine it can get worse without catastrophic failure of something. It is very loud. Very loud. Easily heard over the radio and definately sounds like a vacumn.

 

[COD45]

Well... after some court dates and some very aggressive actions by my lawyer and a visit to Detriot I have gotten rid of my Malibu. I was not at all un happy to see it go. I've had every single problem that people have had on this board and I can confidently say that this car (and everything else GM is making) is crap. I high suggest that the rest of you do the same, pressure GM into financial ruin, and force them into a position where the only thing left for them to do is repay the taxpayers and dissappear into the history books along side the civil war. Am I being obvious enough about my hatred of this company? After spending $25k on a brand new car, being 22yr old just coming out of college, I feel like there should be at least come customer service... but no. GM hates their customers and they hate you. Good bye!

 

[Malo83]

Sorry to hear you had to go thru all the BS but what was the final outcome ?

 

[ChicagoMalibu2009]

I think everyone might be able to look out for this noise... The noise that made me curious about this thread on my car is best described as follows... and also occurs near 2.5-3K RPM

If anyone has ever heard a semi going through gears, right in the middle of the double clutch there is a "PEeewwwwww" squealy noise, sounds kind of like an engine taking a deep breath. I notice that noise in about the same point acceleration wise as him, but ONLY in first and from a stop sign im going faster, and faster, and in about 3 seconds from stop(around 2.5K) the noise creeps up and then down in volume. I then never notice it again.

(Also: if anyone is having a different, low pitched noise on initial idle or under heavy acceleration check your air filter box. the clearance with the passenger quarterpanel for me is about 3/16". Is anyone elses that close? Makes it difficulat to even open the filter box! I posted on this prior in a new thread with no replies)

 

[Silver LTZ]

Well... after some court dates and some very aggressive actions by my lawyer and a visit to Detriot I have gotten rid of my Malibu. I was not at all un happy to see it go. I've had every single problem that people have had on this board and I can confidently say that this car (and everything else GM is making) is crap. I high suggest that the rest of you do the same, pressure GM into financial ruin, and force them into a position where the only thing left for them to do is repay the taxpayers and dissappear into the history books along side the civil war. Am I being obvious enough about my hatred of this company? After spending $25k on a brand new car, being 22yr old just coming out of college, I feel like there should be at least come customer service... but no. GM hates their customers and they hate you. Good bye!

I've owned 15 GM cars with no real issues at all. Some have had over 100K and others have had hundreds of 1/4 mile passes. I love my GM cars and have had no real problems.


I'd like to hear about these court dates and why you had to visit Detroit....

 

[COD45]

The court dates were for lemon law. I understand that we didn't need to go court and these things are usually settled on but having a lawyer in the family means that I get special attention. I had numerous problems with the car besides the thing squealling like a stabbed pig (windows rattling, interior coming apart, very hard and jerky shifts, traction control not working) all of which were passed off by GM once I made a few visits to the 2 dealers in my area. They told the two dealerships not to work on my car until a "real" problem occured. GM gives their factory reps way too much power.


I didn't have to go to detroit... I was out there visiting family and I decided to see who I could get in contact with while I was out there. So, I stopped by two days in a row and explained my issues to a few people demanding to speak to someone who could help me but of course no one cares. Thats the loop GM customer service has... ChevyCustServ -->GM Factory Rep -->GMCustServ -->ChevyCustServ. There's no checks and balences. I tried to find a manager or an executive who actually cares about customers but there are none to be found.

Honestly I envy those of you who have had great GM experiences but they showed me a horrible product and especially horrible customer support to back it up. I work for a major manufacturing company as an engineer... IT'S NOT HARD TO MAKE GOOD PRODUCTS WITH GOOD QUALITY!! The only thing you need to do is make the investment to do it and I know that GM is not doing this. If they were really so good they would've gotten rid of some brands, tightened up quality, lessened their platforms, and taken some pay cuts in order to save the company. Instead they got our POS president Obama to bail them out and they still can't get it right. Ford is the only US company that realized this years ago and has therefore taken their financial hits to invest in better products and they are on the rise now because of it.

After this experience I won't be coming back to GM and many people I work and associate with have said the same. And I think that this quarters earnings sheets spell the same story. GM might be able to sqeak by but from where I'm sitting this company needs a complete turn over of it's staff.

 

[GMVictim]

I found the source of my whistle. It was the Catalytic converter. It was not sucking air, it was forcing air out around the oxygen sensors. I had the mechanic pull the oxygen sensor and take it for a quick ride and the problem cleared right up. No whistle and the power returned. They replaced the converter and All was much better.

Technically the Catalytic converter is covered on 10 year implied warranty but the only way to collect is to have the converter tested by a specific piece of equipment. The charge for the test in my area just happens to be $50 more than the price of the converter itself. It would be funnier if it didn't cost $700 for that little discovery.

I am now up to $8,800 in repairs for this pile of junk. GM got everything they are ever going to get from me in this one car. It just makes me so angry at how much money they spent to avoid fixing the problems. They would rather use my money to pay their attorneys to avoid fixing my car. It does make me laugh a little when I see the new commercials and knowing that there are a few hundred thousand Malibu owners that only wanted their cars to work and realize that same executive really doesn't care in the least.

 

[bballr4567]

Nobody ever posts when they are really happy with a car but when they have bad things happen.

Me, Ive had nothing but good things from the Malibu aside from adjusting a parking brake cable there has been nothing go wrong in the almost 20k miles Ive had it.


I agree that the customer service can be better but the only way that can happen is in the dealer network themselves. Better training and better dealerships is what will turn GM around for the good. That is what has ruined many people but Ive been lucky to find 2 good dealerships that have been nothing but helpful and grateful that I choose them to purchase and service my Malibu.

 

[GMVictim]

I don't post when I am happy with the car because I am supposed to be happy with the car. I paid a lot for the car and I think 1 day in the garage and over $250 in repairs for each 1,500 miles is just a little too much.

I didn't even come to complain about my car. I came hoping to find out what was wrong. What I found out in my search was disturbing.

For 3 years GM fought the brake issue in the courts by asking for continuations. When enough time had passed they admitted that the brakes were too small but said the problem was so severe that certainly everyone must have resolved the issue on their own so there was no need of a recall. The evidence convinced a judge that the brakes were so poor that GM was probably correct. Hence no recall for a life threatening safety issue that GM admitted to. Boggles the mind.

The warped leaking heads was a problem that they knew about at design time but best estimates were that the vast majority of the vehicles should have been off warranty by the time they leaked. GM offered to accept responsibility, but only if the heads failed before a date that their engineers felt would limit GM's exposure. The problems with the coolant itself are legendary.

GM has a directive to all dealers to only replace many of common problem areas of the Malibu only if the consumer aggrees to costly diagnostics and additional maintenance items at inflated prices. Some dealers do the right thing but those that do must absorb the cost themselves.

These are not issues with isolated dealers. This is an issue with corporate knowing they are making an inferior car and hoping that customer loyalty go the GM brand would overcome the issues. It actually works for many. As for me, I had always been a Mopar person but Mopar has their own demons and I was hoping I would have a better experience with a GM. I can't wait to go back to a Mopar now. I can deal with the loose trim and rattles. I have 600,000 miles in a Mopar and never broke down on the side of the road and only 2 total days in the garage (not counting routine maintenance items). I am now at 65,000 miles on my Malibu with 3 break downs and somewhere over 40 days in the garage (not counting routine maintenance items). Most of them with technicians standing around scratching their heads listening to it idle for hours on end.

And Just two days ago my check engine light came back on and about a week ago my low coolant light came back on. It needed half a gallon of antifreeze so I have obviously have another coolant issue. I bet those issues won't go away on their own.

Bitter? You bet I am. If it was just a bad dealer, no big deal. Plenty to pick from around here. The problems with these cars are the result of every single not caring one bit about the product they make nor the customers that buy their flawed product.

Never Ever Again!

 

[bballr4567]

All right then.

Again, its all in the dealer. There are plenty of bad ones (the majority of the ones that were axed had numerous complaints) and there are plenty of good ones. A good dealer will take care of the customer no matter what.

Every single car has bad faults. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE.

 

[blueguitargirl]

My 2000 Malibu just started this today. To me it almost sounds like electronic feedback, like you would hear on an AM radio when someone is running a vacuum or hair dryer nearby. It doesn't sound like it's under the hood but more the dash, but I can't tell yet where it's coming from. It doesn't sound like crickets or metal rubbing.