H3 Bothersome front end metal noise please help.

[Ironman22]

Alright guys need some help. I've looked everywhere and can't find anyone who has had the same issue as me. I have a 06 H3 i5 automatic no mods. When I'm driving I'm hearing a metal scraping gear whining/grinding type noise. This only happens when I've reached my driving speed and trying to maintain it. As in if I want to stay at 45mph then I won't be accelerating but I'm not off the gas. When I do accelerate it goes away and when I take my foot off the gas it goes away. It occurs between 30 and 45 mph or maintain speed on the interstate. It won't make the noise when I'm parked and rev the engine it also won't make it when I get to driving speed and put the car in neutral and rev the engine. There are no noticeable vibrations other than when its making the sound I can slightly feel it in the gas pedal. The only thing I know for a fact that's wrong around the front end is that I have a Axel seal leak on the passage side. Since if found it I've put fluid in it thinking that might have been my issue but it hasn't goten any better. Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks in advance.

 

[IISPEEDYII]

Check transfer case or the dust shields on the exhaust.


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[Hawkeye__8]

I had the same problem with my 07 hummer h3. But it was more of a vibration when I would accelerate, there's a bushing that seems to rot and break off. It's located on the passenger side on the crossmember right inbetween the engine and transmission.

 

[Ironman22]

Thanks for the suggestions guys I'll check them out. Other than the fluid and anything loose is there anything else I should look for as far as the transfer case goes llspeedyll? I'll definitely look for that bushing Hawkeye8.

 

[Best4x4]

Check the drive shaft U-Joints, and the front drive shaft CV. Also the engine heat shield. Over time they basically rot out from the heat and can rattle pretty bad. The front diff bushings make more of a clunk vs grinding sound.

 

[IISPEEDYII]

Thanks for the suggestions guys I'll check them out. Other than the fluid and anything loose is there anything else I should look for as far as the transfer case goes llspeedyll? I'll definitely look for that bushing Hawkeye8.

Well you wouldn't be able to know unless you open the t case but if the chain on the transfer case become lose it can make a grinding noise I believe. But that's a worst case scenario thing. Correct me if I'm wrong guys.


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[Ironman22]

I thought I could kind rule out CVs and Ujoints only because of when I throw it neutral and rev it doesn't exist. Its just crazy that it seems associated with the gas pedal. I'm just hoping its not got to do with the trans I've already had to have it rebuilt once at 80k miles.

 

[Best4x4]

If the chain is slapping inside the case the fluid or the magnet should have aluminum shavings/metal in the fluid or on the magnet.

 

[Ironman22]

Talking about the TCase right Best4x4? The diff fluids and the tcase fluids need to be changed anyways I might try and change them this weekend and go ahead and break them open and take a look when I do. I'll def look at heat shield and bushings though this afternoon. Thanks again y'all for all the help and suggestions.

 

[Ironman22]

I just remember this. Yesterday it had been raining all day and on my way home I changed it from 4hi to 4hi lock and drove a little ways and then changed it back to 4hi normal and I didn't hear the sound. Idk if it was because I did this or because of the rain but the noise was back this morning on the way to work. I even changed it to lock and back to normal and it didn't make a difference.

 

[4speedfunk]

Bad front driveshaft CV or front diff pinion bearing. One's cheap and one's not. Both are pretty easy to diagnose.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I have what sounds like a whistle at those speeds, but it's not, and it's only audible inside... when I find it (it's rather annoying), I'll let you know what I found... though, with that said, some points to consider:
1) does the volume change with rpm?
2) how about with speed change?
3) does it require specific (sometimes unknown) factors to happen
4) does it happen in neutral
5) (do this safely), if you pop your vehicle into neutral, then turn the vehicle off... is the noise still there?

things to look at with the above (not an exclusive list)
1) pulleys, idlers, transmission bolts (between flywheel and torque converter and the actual bolts on the motor), starter bolts, look for rubbing of the fan, (my favorite) or the clutch fan not fully engaging
2) check brake shoes, especially dragging shoes from a piston hanging open, check dust shields, bearings (jack up and wiggle), u-joints, heat shields, exhaust bolts/exhaust pipe
3) weather sucks, start there - many times unknown is it's more or less humid
4) check all of 2, but also check transmission bolts, transfer case bolts, skid plate bolts
5) this will help you narrow to the list of 2 or 4.... but now check your radio, it doesn't completely turn off in the off position.... so sometimes those sounds are coming from your speakers or the radio's cooling fan.

good luck... it's pretty annoying.

 

[Hummerboy]

Check the wheel bearings

 

[Ironman22]

I assume its possible the wheel bearings but it sounds like its coming from the center and I've had a wheel bearing go out and it's not the same sound or feeling as this. With that being said I looked under the truck yesterday and there is no play in the drive shaft going into the front diff but it looks like there's a leak here also. It also looked like the rubber bushing that the bolt goes through to hold the diff in place looks messed up. The head of the bolt isn't flush with the frame. Not sure if it's suppose to be but it didn't look right. I also looked at the heat shield and I'm missing one nut but I tightened the rest but that didn't fix the noise either. I'm thinking pinion bearing with some of the other guys. I also forgot to mention that when I'm slowing down between 15-5mph there's a gear winding down noise from the same area it sounds like. Don't know if that helps with diagnosing but figured it couldn't hurt.

 

[cgalpha08]

Pinion bearing for sure

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I assume its possible the wheel bearings but it sounds like its coming from the center and I've had a wheel bearing go out and it's not the same sound or feeling as this. With that being said I looked under the truck yesterday and there is no play in the drive shaft going into the front diff but it looks like there's a leak here also. It also looked like the rubber bushing that the bolt goes through to hold the diff in place looks messed up. The head of the bolt isn't flush with the frame. Not sure if it's suppose to be but it didn't look right. I also looked at the heat shield and I'm missing one nut but I tightened the rest but that didn't fix the noise either. I'm thinking pinion bearing with some of the other guys. I also forgot to mention that when I'm slowing down between 15-5mph there's a gear winding down noise from the same area it sounds like. Don't know if that helps with diagnosing but figured it couldn't hurt.

stop driving it until you can drain both differentials. If you have anything shiney coming out, fix it - it only gets LOTS more expensive from here.

 

[MichaelEd72]

I got similar issue on my 07.
Grab front drive shaft twist and wiggle to determine if you hear rattling or metal grinding. Quick diagnosis to eliminate that part out of the equation.
That is the culprit on mine.


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