Clicking noise while driving

[Leverus]

A week or so ago I started hearing a rapid clicking/ticking noise coming from what seems to be the front of my Sonic. It doesn't seem increase in frequency with my engine RPM but it does with the speed of my car. I can't hear it when stationary and it is quiet at slow speeds, but getting to 30+ makes it audible. It's hard to hear over wind noise, but passing other cars or a large building reflects the sound clearly.

I took it to the dealer and just got it back. They tightened the license plate frame and called it a day, but I'll be taking it back tomorrow morning since it is still making that noise. Has anyone else heard anything like this in theirs?

 

[Danny5]

Ticking noise from the front that varies with speed usually indicates an axle joint issue.

usually....

 

[simple2me]

i've actually been hearing a clicking noise but I found where mine is coming from. It's weird too. I can hear it better in the early hours of the morning when there's no traffic and road noise is at a minimum. My noise is coming from the radio speakers (radio powered on) there is a slight ticking noise only at certain times. If i accelerate, stop or turn the radio off the noise goes away and it doesn't do it all the time. I drive with the radio off most of the time so I'm not concerned but there's definitely some type of electronic interference going on. I hate that the whole electrical system goes into some kind of low voltage mode and the A/C blower motor slows down for a few seconds and then goes back to normal under normal driving conditions. I could see if I was laying into the throttle but not driving normal.

Other than that, I like my car.

 

[Sonic]

It may seem silly, but check for rocks in the tire treads. I have had that happen to me numerous times, and the sound can seem like a mechanical problem.

 

[inm]

It may seem silly, but check for rocks in the tire treads. I have had that happen to me numerous times, and the sound can seem like a mechanical problem.

+1

Had this happen to me this morning actually. I live on a gravel driveway, so it happens all the time, this was just one of the few mornings that I had my window upon as I was leaving, so I could hear it.

 

[Leverus]

Ticking noise from the front that varies with speed usually indicates an axle joint issue.

That's what worries me. It sounds almost exactly like my old car with its bad axle joints. I like how the dealer ignored me when I told them it was coming front the front area...

My noise is coming from the radio speakers (radio powered on) there is a slight ticking noise only at certain times.

That's not what's happening to me. I've been keeping the radio off to listen for it. It's definitely coming from outside the cabin.

It may seem silly, but check for rocks in the tire treads.

I'll check that out when I clean her up tomorrow. I hope it's something simple like that.

I took my mother and a friend for a ride but they couldn't hear it over the wind/traffic. I could because I knew what to listen for, but it can be hard to hear unless it's quiet outside. I noticed when I popped the hood the engine makes a slight clicking noise (loud injectors?) but I don't think that's loud enough to be the source while driving, especially since that noise all but disappears when the RPM is above idle.

 

[Deliboy]

My HHR was HORRIBLE on wheel bearings. Had both sides replaced 4 times within 65,000 miles. Luckily they were under the powertrain warranty each time. Hopefully my Sonic doesn't develop that problem.

 

[SuperFudd]

simple2me,

That voltage thing, plus the the probable voltage spikes causing the noise is scary to me. you can find a string or two on this forum about unintended acceleration that I posted speculation that just this sort of thing could be the cause. At least one Sonic has crashed because of the acceleration.

 

[Leverus]

It may seem silly, but check for rocks in the tire treads.

I think we have a winner here. I dug out quite a few small rocks that were wedged in the treads of all my wheels, probably from driving on the roads they were tearing up and repaving for the past month or two. That makes sense since I think the problem began a little bit after they started tearing up the roads.

I just drove slowly around the neighborhood a few times keeping close to parked cars to help hear it, but I think the sound is gone. I'll keep an ear open for a while to make sure that really was the problem, but I think I can relax. I probably would have never thought of that. Thanks guys. :banana:

 

[cheddarlump]

On mine, the right rear wheel speed sensor cable somehow came un-clipped from the holder and the cable was rubbing the inside corner of the rim. It would click with wheel speed as the balancing weight would hit it. I couldn't figure it out (was kinda hard to see) until the ABS and stability control error lights came on. Dealer replaced it under warranty.

 

[Leverus]

I didn't think of that at the time but I do remember reading your post about that. Luckily for me it was just the stones stuck in the treads. I've had that happen plenty of times in other cars but never really heard anything. I feel foolish that I didn't think of something like that before.

 

[Cinsue]

Mine does it one time each time I start driving after it's been parked.

Took it to the dealer and they said they couldn't recreate the noise. So I got in the car to leave and was just pulling into traffic, when "clunk". I just shook my head and kept driving. So far it's not getting worse and until it does I'm not going to waste my time taking it back to the dealer.