2016 gmc 1500 4x4 drive train noise

[Dan 2016 GMC]

Hey Everyone I am new to the forum!

 

From Huntsville Al.

 

Just bought a new 2016 GMC 1500 4X4 WITH 503 AND 8 SPEED Trans. Test drove it middle of December and picked it up on the 20th of December 2015. Told the dealer I would take the truck but have the noise checked in the tires. ( sounded like a broke belt of balance) The noise was mild but detectable. No vibration in the wheel. Love the vehicle but for a person with not so good hearing this noise was very annoying. Might add I am on my second Acadia (2012) which I bought new. When I picked the truck up after completing the sale I asked the salesman about the tire noise. He replied service manage couldn't hear or find anything but I needed to bring it back after it has 500 miles on it. I went directly to Firestone where I have a commercial account for my other vehicles and had them trive it. The store manager said he heard the noise and it was in the tires he thought. (Goodyear) Carried it back in a few days later with 760 miles. They balanced the tires and wheels and said they didn't find anything wrong with the tires. I drove the truck again and no change. They took a new set of tires and wheels off another 2016 truck. They were the same size but a different brand. Drove it again and still no change. These tires were not a smooth as the Goodyear's. His assumption and the tech was it was tire and road noise and there was nothing they could do about it. I drove the truck a couple of hours doing some errands and went back by the Firestone store and talked to the Manager. Told him what the dealer had said. I new set of Brig-stone tires that he suggested was going to cost approx. $1000. I told him that was fine but if that did not solve the problem did I have any options. He said he would take them back off and put by old tires back on and only charge me $5 per tire. 20$ total.... No brainier right?

So I agreed to do that but asked him if it was a tire noise if we raised the truck on the rack getting the wheels off the ground, but in 2 wheel drive only, disengage the traction control the noise should go away if it was in the tires. We both thought that would help confirm what the dealer was saying. We raised the vehicle in the air and while I was operating the truck he was on the ground beside the truck at about eye level to the floor of the truck I brought the speed up to 45 mph and the noise was still there and Firestone manager said he heard it out side and it seemed to be coming from the transmission area. We cancelled the tire swap and I drove back to the dealership which was only 2 blocks away and i told the salesman and the service manager what I had found out. Both didn't have anything to really say about. The next day was Sunday and I found the GMC customer help line and talked to a representative and explain the above and started a claim number. She stated someone from GMC would contact me within 24 hours to discuss my concerns.

I waited until the following Friday and did not hear anything and back and after explaining the same think to 4 different people finally was told I would be contacted by the local dealer. The dealer contact was actually a person I had dealt with at another dealership and had a good relationship with. I contacted him and he wanted me to bring my truck in and get with the shop forman and drive the truck with him. A few days later we got together and I rode with him and after getting on a smooth road he heard the noise and committed he had the same truck with only 1500 miles and also had that noise. Again was told it was tire and road noise. We went back to the dealership and I was leaving i left my truck there and asked him to but it on the rack and run it with the wheels off as we had done at Firestone. I got a call a few hours later from a service writer and he said that they had lifted the truck and when they ran it there was no noise. I ask to speak with the shop foreman and placed four calls that afternoon and never got a call back.

I know GMC makes good trucks and have owned several but the way this is going I am starting to think I should have bought a Ford.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on what might be going on??

 

Frustrated in Huntsville Al

 

[wurgs]

Can't help you on the noise but you need to find a better dealer. It's unbelievable to me how many dealers I read about here that have no interest in putting the time in to actually help their customers.

[f8l vnm]

Call gm corp. asap.

I would stop going to the dealer or talking to some low pay phone reps who know nothing.

Sorry for your troubles.

Any more info on the noise? Kind , speeds ,loudness

[Dan 2016 GMC]

Hey thanks for replying. The noise I am hearing sounds like a tire with a broken belt of a high spot. It is not as loud when first start driving. As the vehicle warms up it gets louder and then maintains that level. It is most noticeable at between 40 and 50 MPH. 45 is the loudest. The only time I don't

hear it is when the radio is on.

 

I am not the smartest tool in the shed but operate a body company and deal with trucks everyday and have solved problems in driveline hydraulics for the past 20 years. The only thing I can come with is something in the transfer case/transmission area. I think as the fluids get warmer the notice gets louder. Maybe I am wrong. The dealer keeps saying it is the tires and it is normal and I just have not been

convinced. The Firestone store agrees with me.

 

Tires on the truck, in a rack tires off the ground, different set of tires and wheels, and tires rotated front to back does not make any difference.

[f8l vnm]

I'm not entirely all sure if your noise is like my 16 Denali but I'm getting a low pitch almost what I can describe engine noise as I'm driving lightly thought the gears.

I can also confirm the 40-50 mph is when it's heard the most and like you said ,the noise is not loud so a radio can mask it.

I took it to my service guy at 200 miles and he said to just wait until first oil change , so I said sure even though I know it's not going to go away on its own. I'll keep you posted when I go in for my first oil change probably next month.

[Dan 2016 GMC]

Yes, keep your results posted. I think I might put my truck on a lift and pull all four tires and wheels off and run it up to 45mph and see if I can determine exactley where the noise is coming from. Is your Denali a 4x4?

[GMCguy78]

Hey Everyone I am new to the forum!

 

From Huntsville Al.

 

Just bought a new 2016 GMC 1500 4X4 WITH 503 AND 8 SPEED Trans. Test drove it middle of December and picked it up on the 20th of December 2015. Told the dealer I would take the truck but have the noise checked in the tires. ( sounded like a broke belt of balance) The noise was mild but detectable. No vibration in the wheel. Love the vehicle but for a person with not so good hearing this noise was very annoying. Might add I am on my second Acadia (2012) which I bought new. When I picked the truck up after completing the sale I asked the salesman about the tire noise. He replied service manage couldn't hear or find anything but I needed to bring it back after it has 500 miles on it. I went directly to Firestone where I have a commercial account for my other vehicles and had them trive it. The store manager said he heard the noise and it was in the tires he thought. (Goodyear) Carried it back in a few days later with 760 miles. They balanced the tires and wheels and said they didn't find anything wrong with the tires. I drove the truck again and no change. They took a new set of tires and wheels off another 2016 truck. They were the same size but a different brand. Drove it again and still no change. These tires were not a smooth as the Goodyear's. His assumption and the tech was it was tire and road noise and there was nothing they could do about it. I drove the truck a couple of hours doing some errands and went back by the Firestone store and talked to the Manager. Told him what the dealer had said. I new set of Brig-stone tires that he suggested was going to cost approx. $1000. I told him that was fine but if that did not solve the problem did I have any options. He said he would take them back off and put by old tires back on and only charge me $5 per tire. 20$ total.... No brainier right?

So I agreed to do that but asked him if it was a tire noise if we raised the truck on the rack getting the wheels off the ground, but in 2 wheel drive only, disengage the traction control the noise should go away if it was in the tires. We both thought that would help confirm what the dealer was saying. We raised the vehicle in the air and while I was operating the truck he was on the ground beside the truck at about eye level to the floor of the truck I brought the speed up to 45 mph and the noise was still there and Firestone manager said he heard it out side and it seemed to be coming from the transmission area. We cancelled the tire swap and I drove back to the dealership which was only 2 blocks away and i told the salesman and the service manager what I had found out. Both didn't have anything to really say about. The next day was Sunday and I found the GMC customer help line and talked to a representative and explain the above and started a claim number. She stated someone from GMC would contact me within 24 hours to discuss my concerns.

I waited until the following Friday and did not hear anything and back and after explaining the same think to 4 different people finally was told I would be contacted by the local dealer. The dealer contact was actually a person I had dealt with at another dealership and had a good relationship with. I contacted him and he wanted me to bring my truck in and get with the shop forman and drive the truck with him. A few days later we got together and I rode with him and after getting on a smooth road he heard the noise and committed he had the same truck with only 1500 miles and also had that noise. Again was told it was tire and road noise. We went back to the dealership and I was leaving i left my truck there and asked him to but it on the rack and run it with the wheels off as we had done at Firestone. I got a call a few hours later from a service writer and he said that they had lifted the truck and when they ran it there was no noise. I ask to speak with the shop foreman and placed four calls that afternoon and never got a call back.

I know GMC makes good trucks and have owned several but the way this is going I am starting to think I should have bought a Ford.

 

Does anyone have any thoughts on what might be going on??

 

Frustrated in Huntsville Al

 

Your right, you should have probably went with Ford. As soon as tax season is over I am heading to a Ford dealer to unload my 15 Denali. 60k for a truck to clunk, dash to come apart and interior to be outdated. I was loyal to GM forever but they somehow like to play follow the leader. Like a said before my ex wife's 2012 ford edge has all the technology my 2015 Denali just got except heating steering wheel. Best of luck to you though.

 

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[BuyAmericanIron]

Dan, sorry for your problems. GM just completed a buyback on my 2015 due to numerous ongoing issues. Got a 2016 Denali and so far it is flawless. I am very happy with this truck. Now to your truck. You said the sound is "mild but detectable". Your trucks drivetrain will be under warranty for some time. I don't see GM doing anything about a mild noise until something breaks. At that time, a failed part can be positively identified. My guess is that you have a bearing slightly out of spec causing the sound you are hearing. A defect in a bearing will almost always manifest as the miles add up. My suggestion would be to drive it. As the problem gets worse, it will be easier to find. Good luck finding the root cause.

[blwright]

Sounds like you're dealing with Bentley. I'll never step foot on that lot again.

 

 

Fat fingered, and shot from the hip.

[f8l vnm]

Yes, keep your results posted. I think I might put my truck on a lift and pull all four tires and wheels off and run it up to 45mph and see if I can determine exactley where the noise is coming from. Is your Denali a 4x4?

Yes for sure 4x4

[scott.moody.9401]

Im in Huntsville also. So far on my 16 I havent had that issue. Bought mine at Bentley

 

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[Dan 2016 GMC]

Scott... that is good to hear. I love my truck just don't like the unexplained noise. Is yours a 4x4 also? Are you runnings 20" wheels and what brand tires? I have Goodyears. Between 40 and 50 you have no noise on a smooth road?

[Vic15]

Why keep asking about tires if it makes the noise when the truck was on the rack with the tires off the ground? I think that takes the tires out of the equation. This particular point should be emphasized with the dealer's service manager! Has anyone checked the fluid level in the transmission and perhaps the transfer case? Just curious sense you said the Firestone man, while under the truck, thought it sounded like the noise was coming from the transmission area.

[Dan 2016 GMC]

The Dealer is adamant it is in the tires but won't do anything about it. I only have 1700 miles. I am going to talk to them to day and then take another direction, I want to talk to someone at GM.

[scott.moody.9401]

Scott... that is good to hear. I love my truck just don't like the unexplained noise. Is yours a 4x4 also? Are you runnings 20" wheels and what brand tires? I have Goodyears. Between 40 and 50 you have no noise on a smooth road?

Yes, 4x4. 20" OEM tires and wheels. Goodyears SRA. No noises. I even listened purposely last night for any noises at all and at any speeds. Good luck

 

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