GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

"Yes I have used the search function to anyone who is gonna say it just to say it"

So I have an orange 2004 pontiac vibe 5 speed. I love the car and it has 233,000 miles and is still in really good condition...expect for this noise I just started hearing from under the hood the other day. It is very strange and I can't figure out what it is. The car is smooth at idle and if I rev it in either neutral or any gear with the clutch pushed in, but when I start moving I hear a scuffing noise that starts at 20 mph and it gets faster and faster as I accelerate. It starts to go away once I hit around 3000 rpm but not totally and in 5th it is always there no matter what rpm. At first the scuff sounds like a dragging brake pad but when I go faster it sounds more like a bump bump bump. I looked under the hood, under the car, in the wheel wells, and against the brake to wheel interface and I can see nothing leaking, broken, or touching. Everything looks as it should. The oil was just changed 1000 miles ago with 5w30 and a new filter. I can only hear the sound when I have the windows closed and the radio off. I know it is something rotating but I just don't know what it could be because the car drives normal, the clutch still feels good. Honestly I wouldn't have heard it if I didn't shut the window. It is just enough of a sound to get on your nerves and to make you pray the car isn't toast.

Has anyone else experienced this? Any suggestions of what it could be?

Switch the front and rear tires one at a time.

The tires are brand new on the front. And why would the noise go away when I touch the clutch even if the car is rolling

First off ... WELCOME to GenVibe Just curious how long you've owned this Vibe? Is this the original 5-speed manual? There were a batch of manual trannys that had bearing failures in the early Vibes. Your may be one of them

Tonyz400 wrote:The tires are brand new on the front. And why would the noise go away when I touch the clutch even if the car is rolling

Got me on that..............my bad.
Not sure why I went down that road.
Not enuf coffee?
Not enuf beer?
Not enuf sleep?
Not enuf sumthun..........

Could be a lot of things when it comes to a rotational noise.

Likely culprits are:
Loose wheel nut, dragging caliper, bent dust shield, bent wheel.
I would lift up each corner, spin the wheel and listen for the noise.

Did you notice this just after getting the new tires?

**edit**
Oh no, i just read the part about it going away when you press the clutch. Sounds like the trademark '5 speed bearing failure'. It'll get progressively louder until it just freezes up on you. Better start saving up for a 6 speed swap.
What is your tranmission fluid change history?

Could also be a CV joint issue, pushing the clutch in takes the load off the axle.

Does it sound better/worse/different when going around a curve? Any difference in when you are accelerating vs using engine braking to slow down?