Loud noise when idling cold

seb0168 · Post by **seb0168** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:41 am

I have an '03 Vibe, base model and stock, with 131K miles on it. The car makes a really loud noise, like a loud vibration, when I start the car in cold weather. The noise subsides when the car is moving, but as soon as I stop and am idling, the noise comes back. It goes away completely after the engine has warmed up. The noise can be heard inside and outside the car, and it definitely turns heads. It's not a very healthy sound :I've never had a car do this, so this sound is new to me. Any ideas on what the problem could be?

star_deceiver · Post by **star_deceiver** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:33 am

Manual or automatic? Does the noise change with engine speed? Does the noise change when you're idling with the clutch depressed or in park or neutral or drive?

seb0168 · Post by **seb0168** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 11:48 am

My car is an automatic, and the noise is audible when I take it out of park and into drive, reverse, etc., but it isn't audible when the car is moving. Thanks!!

cptnsolo77 · Post by **cptnsolo77** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:22 am

My Vibe is doing the exact same thing. Noise only when the car is cold. Quiets down to normal when its warm.From searches in the forums I think it may be the belt tensioner, but im not postive.

seb0168 · Post by **seb0168** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:25 am

It's an annoying noise, eh? lolI tried searching the forums but I couldn't find anything. I'll look up the belt tensioner idea!

epcIII · Post by **epcIII** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 2:49 am

Quote, originally posted by cptnsolo77 Â»From searches in the forums I think it may be the belt tensioner, but im not postive.That's what I was thinking it might be when I read your post.

cptnsolo77 · Post by **cptnsolo77** » Mon Jan 03, 2011 3:50 am

Very annoying! Its pretty loud when I put it into drive. My brother in law said it sounded like a bomb LOL. The good part is that if it IS the tensioner its a 35 dollar part that you can purchase from ebay.

jasonvibe · Post by **jasonvibe** » Mon Jan 17, 2011 1:06 am

have you had the valve clearance checked. loud TAP TAP is a loose one. Then gets quieter as the heat tightens the clearances. If out of spec. prepare yourself $$$. No simple shim or screw adjust on these. MUST Remove cames and replace lifter(s)...per the manual. An GM dealers are clueless on this.

hextavo · Post by **hextavo** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 2:11 pm

I seem to have this problem as well, but its mostly just when its cold outside, in the summer it sounds pretty quite.. I'd the tensioner could be wheres its coming from, although I sometimes wonder if maybe my exhaust headers are lose or something? MIne sounds like a raspy exhaust rattle, once it warms up though, it quites down.

Loud noise when idling cold

Loud noise when idling cold

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