Chevrolet Cavalier Rattles, Squeaks, and Noises

mybrookwin

My car is making a loud noise sounds like a loud muffler or something and it is smoking from underneath the left hand side underneath the drivers door, does anybody know what this could be. Is it the exhaust or muffler and is this expensive and fixable, also could this be a carbon leak because it kind of smells like that..if anyone has any ideas please get back to me..

bunt21_g

and yes if you have some tools you can fix it yourself or send it in to a muffuler shop. it shouldn't be too much maybe a couple hundred for an all new exhaust.

tifflynn83

I have a 2002 Chevy Cavalier. When I get up to 25-30 mph it has a humming noise that gets louder as the speed gets higher. I have had a couple mechanics say it was my bearing so I changed that and I still have the humming noise. I also (not sure if it's connected) have a clunking, thumping noise that comes from my steering area when I turn my wheel usually when backing out, although can happen at a tight slow turn anywhere. Does anyone know what this is?

gonogo

Changed both sides?

mikeboi

most likely its gonna be the bearing.. i had both of my front bearings changed on my 2002 chevrolet cavalier and its gotten ALOT quieter.. but the mechanic told me my back one has some noise coming out and will need to be replaced in the future.. soon ill have all 4 of my bearings changed which would hopefully make my car REALLY quiet..

sdaeric

I just bought a used 2002 cavalier coupe and so far so good. I am happy with it compared to my old car. There is a soft high pitched spinning sound coming from under the hood behind the right side of my dash board. I can hear it most clearly when I am inside the car. When I turn off the car it slowly stops spinning. What could that be? Also sometimes when I am shifting gears, especially from 1st or 2nd gear, I hear a rattling vibration from under the hood. I would love to know what they are. Maybe I can fix them without taking it into a mechanic. My car has 146,000 k

lburgess

00 cav. here. I too have a loud humming noise which sounds like coming from the wheels. If I turn the wheel even just a tiny bit to the right it will stop. Could it be the hub bearing or what do you folks think? I jacked it up and tried moving the wheel side to side and it didnt seem like there was bearing play, but Im no mechanic either. Is a hub bearing different then a wheel bearing? Any help greatly appreciated. Thank you

lburgess

My mistake, its a 1999 model

analysst

You will need to change both wheel bearings. I changed the left front twice since it sounded like it was coming from that side. IT bothered me for a year or more. It was the right one that was bad and it had no slop or play in it either, it felt good when checked with the tire off. The right one being bad can can make noise like it is on the left side. I had to change out both. Noise gone. Bearings are in the hubs and are not a separate part on my year 1990. Some techs might call them "hub bearings" due to this.

I love the car..30+MPG. It has 160K on it, doesn't burn or leak oil at all. I installed synthetic oils in crank and in gear box too. New headliner and did a Maaco body and paint job...looks real nice now. Cruises 80mph no problem.

lburgess

Thanks for the info. How hard is it to change them? Whats involved?

lburgess

Had the mechanic replace the right side wheel bearing assembly. $132.00. Noise gone

corvettefan427

based n how you described it there is nothing wrong when the thunking noise happens. There's a technical service bulletin on this car describing this exact situation, and it's nothing that is wrong with the car. For the humming, it may just be gear whine if you have a manual, mine does it too.

richonect

I have replaced my wheel bearings (front) three time now in two years. I am getting ready to replace them again because I keep getting the same vibration that goes away when I change them out. I am wondering what would cause them to be going bad so quickly? I sthere any other problems I need to be looking into?

bobcooper20

i have had my bearings replaced once on the front left and lately when i turn left it makes a squealing noise plus when i first start to brake it squeals then stop also my steering wheel does not jerk or its not hard to turn left any thoughts ?

steven0420

There is a rubber seal that goes around the bearing and is easliy damaged when replacing the bearing. Therefore the bearing runs good for a year or two but then salt, sand, tiny rocks, etc. find their way back into the bearing and begin to wear it down again. Hope this helps

rorytate

Hi,
I've just recently discover a rattling noise coming from the serpentine belt area. I don't think it's the alternator. It makes the noise in P and in Drive. If it is one of the wheels in the serpentine, how much am I looking to pay to have it fix/replaced?
On a scale of 1-10 (1 being easiest) how hard would it be to do myself. I do have the shop manual.

Thanks!
Matt :P