Rattling fan sound at Low Rpm

[04BlkVibe]

I hear a rattling sound at low rpm that seems to be coming from the fan. The sound goes away when I turn the fan off. But the sound only occurs at low RPM and seems to dissapear once the engine has warmed up or if the car is idling. I'm not sure what it could be..anyone here has similar experiences?

[Stang2Vibe]

Just yesterday, I started to notice something similar on mine. It's the heater fan. When the car was idling, I could hear a rattle from the heater fan when it was on the 2 lower speeds. When I put it on the 2 higher speeds, it quit rattling. Between this new rattle, the one coming from under the dash at the base of the windshield, the squeak from the clutch on every shift, and the grinding and popping from the front suspension all the time, I'm going crazy! The Vibe might end up with a week long visit to the dealer to get all this crap fixed. I need to make a list of everything I want fixed before I start modding the Vibe this spring.

[joatmon]

Do you think it could be the actuator door that silver posted about?

[Stang2Vibe]

It could be anything for all I know so far. I just noticed it yesterday and it's way too cold outside for me to go contorting myself to play around under the dash to tear stuff apart on an exploration mission. I'd rather complain to the dealer about this as I have multiple things for them to fix and they have a heated garage and the proper tools on hand. I know I'll get frustrated and start breaking stuff if I go under there right now.

[04BlkVibe]

it's the heater speed fan. I'm not sure what it is..but I think the sound is coming from there. Definately didn't sound like it was coming from the glove box or anything interior. Will be bringing it in next oil change for a quick checkup.

[Mavrik]

Before you get to pissed at the design of your Vibe... wait and see if they find leaves in the fan. Those can and will cause noises at lower speeds.

[Stang2Vibe]

Now that just makes me even more upset. How in the world would we be getting leaves in the friggin' fan? This is the 5th car I've owned so far, and I've never had leaves in the heater fan before. This should be the most high-tech and advanced vehicle I've yet owned, and we've regressed to the point where leaves are getting sucked into the HVAC system and lodged in the fan? God Almighty, out of all the cars we've had in my family over the years, I've never heard such a thing suggested. If this didn't happen to cars that were much lower-tech, MUCH less expensive, and generally not as well built, why is it happening to the Vibe? Is there no screen inside the plastic inlet panel at the base of the windshield outside the car like my other cars had?

[Stang2Vibe]

Quote, originally posted by silverawd26 »2. Filling up gas at times, been having trouble with the pump clicking off.I have run into this occasionally also, silver. I always am able to solve this by rotating the fuel filler nozzle about a quarter turn to the left or right. My Mustang was terrible with this. I think it has to do with the shape of the nozzle (I guess they are different at different gas stations) and the sensitivity of the shutoff mechanism. Some are a bit more sensitive than others.

[AKLGT]

i have noticed that i get a loud rattling sound from the vents when the heater is on more than LO. i just adjust it back down and it goes away. it's like a loud vibrating noise... not sure if it's the same noise we're discussing or not.

[Merzbow]

My engine rattles all the time doesn't matter how fast or slow I'm going. It doesn't sound like it's coming from the fan though

[MJN2]

I had my car in for this noise. I was told it was the AC compressor, which runs when you have the windshield defrost selected (so the tech told me), and that it is 'normal' for the compressor to be that loud.

[red]

mine does the low speed heater fan rattle at all rpms and even with the dial turned OFF of the defroster mode (so the a/c condensor motor is not activated) almost sounds like bearings going out when the heater motor is at low speeds i thought it was just me having this issue.

[Stang2Vibe]

I know the A/C compressor makes noise when it is on and it clicks when it cycles on and off. This is a totally different noise coming from the inside of the car. The A/C compressor noise comes from under the hood when the clutch on the compressor pulley engages. This noise is almost sounds like a small piece of cardboard that is just touching the blades of the fan as it spins. I only hear it on the lower 2 fan settings.Has anyone been inside the dash and saw what type of fan is in there or happens to know or have access to the manual that can check? Is it the typical blower type that looks kinda like a hamster wheel?If several of us are having this noise, I'd bet that something is shifting in there and touching the fan on many of our cars. I might have to investigate this for myself after the snowstorm that we're supposed to get tomorrow.

[rubberman]

Mine makes a odd noise only when its on mix for floor and defrost(rattle)

[04BlkVibe]

trdvibe: Yep...that's exactly what mine sounds like. It sounds annoying at times...just got to turn up the sound system.

[AKLGT]

ya, it's just very annoying!