Whistling type noise from engine bay

[daemontrym]

I have a 2012 sonic hatch 1.4 turbo 6speed.. When I come back from a short trip to run an erand or sometimes when I come home from work I hear a ringing coming from the front of the engine. The sound only happens at idle and goes away at the slightest rev. It doesn't matter if the AC is on or not. The car is not throwing any codes and nothing is running out of the ordinary. Only mods I have to the car is a K&N Panel filter, NGK BKR7E plugs gapped at .030, and Redline MT85 in the gear box.

 

[Natesriv]

you have the stock airbox with the K&N filter? did you try "wiggling" the airbox tube a little, see if you're getting a resonance or noise from that source? And by moving it, it might cease? Have you popped the hood to determine a location?

My Contour used to make an airbox noise...more a moan, but it was coming from the airbox parts...

 

[Lazza]

I have noticed the same with my 2013 Sonic turbo 6 speed. Not sure when this started to happen since I typically have music drowning it out. The car seems to run fine other than a slight coolant leak, which appears to be a common issue.


_Lazza

 

[daemontrym]

I can't recreate the noise, it only had happened to me twice now. I checked the airbox and hose, everything is tight. I don't think I have a coolant leak because i checked near the water pump and that.

 

[Chevrolet Customer Care]

I have a 2012 sonic hatch 1.4 turbo 6speed.. When I come back from a short trip to run an erand or sometimes when I come home from work I hear a ringing coming from the front of the engine. The sound only happens at idle and goes away at the slightest rev. It doesn't matter if the AC is on or not. The car is not throwing any codes and nothing is running out of the ordinary. Only mods I have to the car is a K&N Panel filter, NGK BKR7E plugs gapped at .030, and Redline MT85 in the gear box.

If you need any assistance into the dealership when this becomes more of an issue, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via private message. I would be happy to assist!

Patsy G
Chevrolet Customer Care

 

[Natesriv]

I don't think it's a fitment problem, more of a "shape" thing...the path the air takes at that RPM is causing a vibration.

The other issue could be something as simple as a belt or pulley.

The only way to know is next time you hear it, keep engine running, open hood and listen

 

[CheapFuneral]

U might not see the coolant leaking but if it's low and u have a high pitch noise check the water pump.

 

[Ms.DannyStone]

I had my water pump replaced BC it had an high pitch squeal

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

How many miles are on your sonic?

 

[bmiles]

What kind of whistle? Could very highly be a bearing going out. Play close attention to it, mine started and gradually got louder. Put car in neutral and get out and crouch by driver front wheel and listen if there is a type of grinding noise coming by there. Sounds like the transmission bearing. These transmissions have proven to be weak and go out. If you take to dealer make sure car is completely stock and fight with them to get an appointment as soon as possible. Sounds like a whistle in low gears and low rpms? And louder in higher gears at faster speeds? If in neutral will sound go away with clutch engaged? Cause these whistle/ transmission issue is a common occurance ...

 

[ritter1278]

If it is at idle and comes and goes it is the stock wastegate for the turbo and is completely normal, I had one of the techs at work check it out when I got my 14 sonic.

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

If it is at idle and comes and goes it is the stock wastegate for the turbo and is completely normal, I had one of the techs at work check it out when I got my 14 sonic.

I wouldn't exactly call that normal. If the stock waste-gate is doing that then there is a possibility for the waste-gate starting to fail because it's not holding shut and is leaking air somewhere. I'm experiencing the same issue with mine and it makes that extremely high pitched tone. every now and again but goes away once I bring the revs to about 900-1k for idle. Probably doesn't help I need a new gasket for my Intake Manifold cause the auto parts store I got it from wasn't 100% exact fit(even though it fits). So now I have PCV blow by residue leaking from the bottom of it. Good thing she's getting put away for the winter for repairs from the summer season.

 

[ChicksHateMe]

This is probably not related, but better safe than sorry. I had the High-pitched noise because my braking systems check valve was leaking air out, like a pinched balloon sound. It was really random. Just wondering if at idle the air isn't so full that the pressure gets released through that valve, making the noise.

Hope it's not the issue, but may as well look at all possibilities to be safe....

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

Makes a different sound and is lower in audible volume. When you remove the intake manifold, the TB presses it against the line where the brake's master cylinder is you can hear it do the same sound as mentioned. Only if you don't remove the TB from the manifold. The high pitched whistle sound that's described will more than likely come from the front of the engine bay where the turbo is located.

 

[jer1303]

Our '14 1.4T Sonic has a "whistle" from the engine bay at idle sometimes, too. I haven't narrowed it down to exactly where from quite yet, but a quick check with the ear says turbo area.

 

[daemontrym]

The whistling comes only from the very front of the engine at the top. It is almost just like when you board a plane and that faint whistling you hear from the turbines. It comes and goes, but does not throw any codes or surge at all.

 

[CheapFuneral]

The whistling comes only from the very front of the engine at the top. It is almost just like when you board a plane and that faint whistling you hear from the turbines. It comes and goes, but does not throw any codes or surge at all.

Could it be the turbine?


If I die, bury me in my truck, because it's never been in a hole it can't get out of!

 

[ahtoxa]

I've heard that same whistle since new. Never been sure on what it is.

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

I've always thought that it could be an exhaust leak before the o2 sensor where the DP and the exhaust side of the turbo meet since that's where the sound seems to come from. I have a video of the sound I can share later. May not be the same sound though.

 

[XilliK]

I've noticed a whistling noise myself recently it's kind of like when a bombs dropping but usually only when in drive