2002 Tahoe - Noises in the steering and under hood

sgiangregorio · August 7, 2003

I have a couple of noises that I've tried to track down to no avail. One just started. I know I've read something about the steering noises, but I'm not sure this is the same thing....here we go, I'll try to illustrate what they sound like:

Sound 1: Been around since about 10,000 miles...When I'm in a turn, usually on a highway off ramp or something that's bumpy, I hear a rattle that sounds like it's inside the cabin, not under hood, but inside the steering column. Something sounds like it's not tied down well enough and is bounching around in a fairly contained area. Any ideas?

Sound 2: When operating the vehicle with windows closed and stereo off (quiet), I can hear a very muffled low-tone rattle, almost like a clicking. It is only there when the vehicle is in motion, even at very slow speeds. Once I stop, the sounds stops. It's not brake related, and sounds like it's coming from under the hood, near the driver's side firewall. This is a really tough one to describe, and it just started (21,000 miles).

I know things like this are hard to diagnose, but I hate to have the dealer just start tearing into things hunting for a noise...

thanks

rjgogo · August 7, 2003

I to just noticed a "ticking" sound coming from somewhere in the Steering Column. it is Intermitent (not every trip) and is not dependent on speed. This is for a 2003 Suburban but I think It would be the same stuff on a Tahoe in that area.

KMeloney · August 7, 2003

sg -- Believe it or not, I, too, may have had the same noise as in your second scenario! You'll have to be the real judge as to whether or not they're the same, but it sounds like an issue I had.

I did just about everything to find this rattle. I ven drove around with a flashlight and the dash bezel and gauge cluster out just to see if I could "see" the noise any better. So, I know how frustrating these things can be. I couldn't necessarily make the noise any lounder when this stuff was removed, which really had me baffled. Then I realized that I COULDN'T hear the noise when and after it rained. So, based on these two things, I figured it had to be something outside of the cabin, and/or somewhere where it getting wet acted as a lubricant and made the noise stop temporarily.

I found my noise to be associated with the plastic piece at the base of the windshield that spans the width of the truck -- the one on which the wiper bases sit. This piece has a strip of weatherstripping that contacts the windshield. I found that the tab where this piece screws down near the hood hinge was broken, and so the whole piece was able to vibrate on that side. I was able to use a washer under the screw and resecure the piece. I also sprayed some WD-40 underneath of that piece on the driver's side before screwing it back down incase there was something under it that was really doing the rattling. I also sprayed some WD-40 on the actual weatherstripping strip where it contacts the windshield.

All is fine now. But it drove me freakin' nuts!!!

Even if your plastic piece is intact, try sticking the skinny nozzle of a can beneath that stripping, and spray around under there. I'd be interested to see if that's your issue, too.

Let me know what you discover!

-Kirk

Shaners · August 7, 2003

The problem in the steering is easily cured by the dealer. There is a TSB about the steering shaft clunk and the dealer should know all about it.

I had a "ticking" under my truck that would increase with speed. It ended up being a tie-wrap or something like that, that was hitting the output shaft of the transfer case... Each revolution which cause another "tick"

Tucson_02Silverado · August 7, 2003

Just had the dealer "fix" mine yesterday. It would only happen during parking manuevers or in the middle of a left/right turn. The dealer did the TSB fix of relubing the intermediate steering shaft. My problems is all gone, till the lube drys out I guess. No charge as it was under warranty.

sgiangregorio · August 9, 2003

Thanks Guys. Some really good advice.

Kirk, could be...I'll check it out.

Shaners, do you have the text of the TSB? Is it just lube as Tucson said? You'd think that with only 20K miles, it wouldn't need it so soon...Can it be done yourself easily?

And your "tick" issue sounds interested, as that is EXACTLY what it would sound like. And it's consistently timed, like a revolution. I'll have to look on the shaft too.

Shaners · August 9, 2003

sgiangregorio ,

Yes it is a lube issue for the steering shaft... It is very common and your dealer should know about it. Just mention it has the steering "clunk". I had mine done at about 5k miles!!! They (the dealer) should know the TSB by heart now!!!

The other issue I had with the "ticking" took several tech guys and several miles to figure out it was something stupid...

sgiangregorio · August 11, 2003

Thanks Shaners. I have the steering taken care of.

I also get a bit of a "clunk" when stepping on the gas while moving at slow speed. I want that looked at too.

As for the other noise, I listened more closely today. It's less of a "tick" and more of a "clunking" like the steering, just much MUCH softer and sounding deeper in the bowels of the truck...

I hate noises like this!