Noise From Back

[AWD_Vibe]

Hello, I am a new Vibe owner. Picked it up yesterday. I bought it used. It's a 03 AWD with 36k on it. I am very new to this car and everyone in this forum seems pretty knowledgeable so I thought I’d ask a question.Last night after driving it home from the dealer I heard a light revving or like a small winding noise coming from the back. It's light and you can't hear it over the engine but when you slow down you can hear it. It's not just when you step on the gas but even when you are coasting. Anyone else ever come across this problem?Thanks for your time.

[northvibe]

could be the brakes, have someone sit in the back with the windows down and listen for it.

[AWD_Vibe]

I don't think it's the brakes. It sounds like it's comming from the rear axel. It's very low but you can hear it when you slow down. It's a winding sound. Is this normal with the AWDs?

[northvibe]

any way you can get a sound clip? it could be a handful of things,-brakes - if they are bad/not working they might rub and make noise-AWD transfercase? is that in the back (im not sure)-axel bent?-rim warpedwarranty works for 36k anyway you can bring it to a dealership under warranty? im not sure if the warranty ends AT 36k or 36999k but try it.

[joatmon]

I don't have an AWD, can't say what sounds are normal for one. I do know that it is hard for me to locate the source of sounds in this car. Could be wind or road noise, some of that is normal for these cars. Even if it is beyond the 3 year 36,000 mile warranty, since you just picked it up yesterday it should be covered by some kind of warranty from the dealer. Might be really short term but it ought to cover the next day after the sale. Did you buy the car from a Pontiac dealer, and do they have a new AWD you could test drive? If so, and it doesn't make the same sound, then you have a better argument for getting them to fix it. If they do and it has the same sound, then it might be normal.

[Digger]

I can hear that noise in mine. I think it is a tire. I base that on a tire that I had on a earlier SUV that lost a wheal weight and got cupped. It made that noise when on the right front after rotating it. When it was on the back the noise was not noticable. I had no vibration either. I asked the tire shop and they said it was safe to drive but would make that noise since it is out of round.

[BlueCrush]

Yeah, it might be the tires. I can hear mine on my '05 AWD faintly when slowing down.I'd just keep an ear out for it and if it changes then bring it back to the dealer to have them take a look at it.

[AWD_Vibe]

I took your suggestion joatman. I went to a different dealer and test drove another AWD and it did not make the same noise. That was a great idea to find out if it was normal. Thanks.You guys may be right about it being the tires. The dealer I bought it from wasn't a Pontiac dealer. It was a trade in. He did say that he had just put all new tires on it so it would make sense if it was the tires. I hope that's all it is and not something expensive.It seems to be getting louder. I have an appointment on Friday to take it back to the dealer and have it looked at. Other than this noise I have been very happy with this car. I am going from a Blazer to this, and the Vibe is a lot more fun to drive and WAY better on gas. Thanks again for everyone's input. I'll keep you posted after I find out what it is and post it incase someone else comes across the same type of problem.

[AWD_Vibe]

The latest is:I took it back to the used car lot I bought it from. Their mechanic kept it for the day and said it was a "carrier barring" in the drive train. He said it was a major repair and he did not want to touch it. The guy who sold it to me said to take it to an actual Pontiac dealer and have them look at it and give him a call to work something out as far as costs go. I have an appointment Thursday at the dealer. I will keep you updated. This sounds like an expensive fix. I have only had the car for less than two weeks. I hope I am not expected to pay for this.Has anyone else ever heard of this problem?

[AWD_Vibe]

Wow. That is expensive. Thanks for the link. Hers does sound like exactly what mine is doing. At least she got almost 84,000 miles on before it happened. Mine is just over 36,000. Like I said, I had only had the car for 10 days, so I am hoping the used car lot will take care of it. I know it said on the sticker it had a 90 day warranty but I'm not sure if the salesman will try to weasel out of it or not. We shall see.

[AWD_Vibe]

Well I got it back from the actual Pontiac dealer. They said they put it on some kind of machine that helps isolate noises. It was not the carrier barring that the used car lot claimed. The Dealer said it is a hub bearing in the back passenger side. The whole rear hub assembly needs replaced. The used car lot the car came from said if I brought it back to them, they would replace it but if I had the dealer do it, "I would be on my own". I said I didn't care. I just want it done. So I have to take it back to the car lot, as soon as they get the assembly in, and have it replaced.I didn't think it was a hub bearing. I had a Blazer and a Lumina that hub bearings went on and they made a whooooo or kind of hollow sound. This is kind of a rubbing or grinding sound. I have never had a Pontiac or a Toyoda before. Maybe their bearings sound different when they start to go. Oh well, I am supposed to take it in later this week. Hopefully that is all this is and it fixes it.