Buzzing Noise

[MassHoe04]

I have tried to get video of what happens, but have not been able to catch the noise while trying to record.

In the meantime, I wanted to start getting your ideas on what might be happening.

2004 Tahoe Z71 with 200k miles

Sometimes, I get a random very loud buzzing noise inside the cabin that sounds like it is coming from the front of the console, where it meets the dash. It can come in a burst pattern of two or three buzzes.

While not an exact match, the noise reminds me a lot of this sound...

Catches me by surprise and makes me practically jump out of my seat whenever it happens!
Feels like its the end of a hockey game period.

It happens more frequently just after start-up, but can also happen at random times after having driven around town a bit.

I was thinking (and hoping) it is the lower HVAC temperature door actuator, which is easier to get to.

Strange thing is, the sound has happened even when the HVAC is off.

Any thoughts until I am able to capture video of this thing in action?

I have a Tech 2 and already played with recalibration of HVAC actuators. Plus, the battery had been disconnected a bunch of times for more than 30 minutes, while I had done other work over the past year.

This is not an emergency for me, but I am curious to see if I can try to figure it out without throwing a bunch of parts in.

I have a Z71 roof rack coming this month (my Z71 has no rack now), so I will be getting that before tinkering with this buzzing noise.

Thanks in advance!

 

[iamdub]

I have tried to get video of what happens, but have not been able to catch the noise while trying to record.

In the meantime, I wanted to start getting your ideas on what might be happening.

2004 Tahoe Z71 with 200k miles

Sometimes, I get a random very loud buzzing noise inside the cabin that sounds like it is coming from the front of the console, where it meets the dash. It can come in a burst pattern of two or three buzzes.

While not an exact match, the noise reminds me a lot of this sound...

Catches me by surprise and makes me practically jump out of my seat whenever it happens!
Feels like its the end of a hockey game period.

It happens more frequently just after start-up, but can also happen at random times after having driven around town a bit.

I was thinking (and hoping) it is the lower HVAC temperature door actuator, which is easier to get to.

Strange thing is, the sound has happened even when the HVAC is off.

Any thoughts until I am able to capture video of this thing in action?

I have a Tech 2 and already played with recalibration of HVAC actuators. Plus, the battery had been disconnected a bunch of times for more than 30 minutes, while I had done other work over the past year.

This is not an emergency for me, but I am curious to see if I can try to figure it out without throwing a bunch of parts in.

I have a Z71 roof rack coming this month (my Z71 has no rack now), so I will be getting that before tinkering with this buzzing noise.

Thanks in advance!

Are you married to this thing? If so, it might just be its way of telling you every time you're wrong. Stop having thoughts or speaking out loud, not that that would make you immune to being wrong about something.

 

[MassHoe04]

Are you married to this thing? If so, it might just be its way of telling you every time you're wrong. Stop having thoughts or speaking out loud, not that that would make you immune to being wrong about something.

Interesting theory you suggest! Are you saying I should ignore it and pretend I don't hear anything, like I sometimes do anyway?

 

[Doubeleive]

I have tried to get video of what happens, but have not been able to catch the noise while trying to record.

In the meantime, I wanted to start getting your ideas on what might be happening.

2004 Tahoe Z71 with 200k miles

Sometimes, I get a random very loud buzzing noise inside the cabin that sounds like it is coming from the front of the console, where it meets the dash. It can come in a burst pattern of two or three buzzes.

While not an exact match, the noise reminds me a lot of this sound...

Catches me by surprise and makes me practically jump out of my seat whenever it happens!
Feels like its the end of a hockey game period.

It happens more frequently just after start-up, but can also happen at random times after having driven around town a bit.

I was thinking (and hoping) it is the lower HVAC temperature door actuator, which is easier to get to.

Strange thing is, the sound has happened even when the HVAC is off.

Any thoughts until I am able to capture video of this thing in action?

I have a Tech 2 and already played with recalibration of HVAC actuators. Plus, the battery had been disconnected a bunch of times for more than 30 minutes, while I had done other work over the past year.

This is not an emergency for me, but I am curious to see if I can try to figure it out without throwing a bunch of parts in.

I have a Z71 roof rack coming this month (my Z71 has no rack now), so I will be getting that before tinkering with this buzzing noise.

Thanks in advance!

if it has the digital ac controls and the sensor in the headliner above the drivers head that looks like a little mic, then that could what it is there is a fan inside the sensor that makes a buzzing noise when they go bad. A replacement is about $25 online and is easy to do from the upper drivers side of the headliner

 

[MassHoe04]

if it has the digital ac controls and the sensor in the headliner above the drivers head that looks like a little mic, then that could what it is there is a fan inside the sensor that makes a buzzing noise when they go bad. A replacement is about $25 online and is easy to do from the upper drivers side of the headliner

The aspirator in the headliner was occasionally making a noise, but seems to have since stopped doing that. I may have used the auto system enough to blow whatever dust might have been in there out.

This noise is definitely much louder and seems to be right behind the front end of the center console, between the console and the glove box. I'll try to get it on video, but it seems to know when I am recording and doesn't do anything until some other time I am not recording.

 

[Doubeleive]

The aspirator in the headliner was occasionally making a noise, but seems to have since stopped doing that. I may have used the auto system enough to blow whatever dust might have been in there out.

This noise is definitely much louder and seems to be right behind the front end of the center console, between the console and the glove box. I'll try to get it on video, but it seems to know when I am recording and doesn't do anything until some other time I am not recording.

then it's probably a blend door actuator, usually they make a clicking noise though.

 

[MassHoe04]

I finally caught the sneaky bugger on video!

 

[iamdub]

I finally caught the sneaky bugger on video!

What kind of radio setup do you have? Factory CD changer?

 

[BatsTDK]

What kind of radio setup do you have? Factory CD changer?

I don't see a CD Changer in his video... my guess would be climate control stepper motors?

 

[iamdub]

I don't see a CD Changer in his video... my guess would be climate control stepper motors?

I'm not familiar enough with the GMT800 to know where the changer is located. I thought it was in the center console, down low. Maybe it's where that cubby is in the video?

I would assume an actuator for the climate control as it does sound like broken motorized plastic. But, he said it does it even with the HVAC off. I supposed if there was something erroneously sending a command (or power) to the actuator to turn a certain direction even if it's maxed out, it could be grinding at or past its limit.

 

[BatsTDK]

I'm not familiar enough with the GMT800 to know where the changer is located. I thought it was in the center console, down low. Maybe it's where that cubby is in the video?

I would assume an actuator for the climate control as it does sound like broken motorized plastic. But, he said it does it even with the HVAC off. I supposed if there was something erroneously sending a command (or power) to the actuator to turn a certain direction even if it's maxed out, it could be grinding at or past its limit.

Yeah it's located where the cubby hole is. Typically only found in Yukon Denalis and Escalades. And yes... I think even with the HVAC off, sometimes the doors move anyway. Especially if it's "out of bounds" beyond it's normal stop position, the computer may randomly try to correct it.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Behind the center console, below the hvac head unit is the sub for the Bose system, and right below the cup holder is the Bose amp. I wonder if that buzzing us coming from that sub.

 

[BatsTDK]

Behind the center console, below the hvac head unit is the sub for the Bose system, and right below the cup holder is the Bose amp. I wonder if that buzzing us coming from that sub.

I thought it was under the center console storage bin?

 

[Tonyrodz]

I thought it was under the center console storage bin?

The amp is located there.

 

[MassHoe04]

Source is definitely in the dash ahead of the console.

Radio unit is:
UC6 RADIO - AM/FM STEREO, SEEK/SCAN, RDS, MULTIPLE COMPACT DISC, AUTO TONE CONTROL, CLOCK, ETR

I have no idea where the multi-disc changer is. Do they load into the one slot on the head unit or is there a cassette box in the dash?

It has the Bose with touch screen Nav display... I have not seen how more than a single disc could be loaded anyway.

 

[gooffeyguy]

I bet it's the CD player/changer.

Our 2002 mustang has a 6 disc changer built into the head unit and it doesn't work half the time and makes noises just like that.

 

[MassHoe04]

Behind the center console, below the hvac head unit is the sub for the Bose system, and right below the cup holder is the Bose amp. I wonder if that buzzing us coming from that sub.

Doesn't seem to be from sub or anything down low in the console. Sound like from in the dash about the height of the console. Possibly a little right from center, but before the glove box.

History lesson for the younger kids: People used to wear gloves and needed a box in their vehicles to keep them in. Hence the name glove box... If you looked today, I doubt you would find one pair of gloves anywhere!

 

[Fless]

Source is definitely in the dash ahead of the console.

Radio unit is:
UC6 RADIO - AM/FM STEREO, SEEK/SCAN, RDS, MULTIPLE COMPACT DISC, AUTO TONE CONTROL, CLOCK, ETR

I have no idea where the multi-disc changer is. Do they load into the one slot on the head unit or is there a cassette box in the dash?

It has the Bose with touch screen Nav display... I have not seen how more than a single disc could be loaded anyway.

UC6 is multi disc in the head unit. Could be the disc drive attempting to read a disc, even if there isn't one in the slot.

EDIT: I think multi disc means it can play different types of discs (e.g., CD-R)

 

[MassHoe04]

I bet it's the CD player/changer.

Our 2002 mustang has a 6 disc changer built into the head unit and it doesn't work half the time and makes noises just like that.

Could be. Not sure.

Sound seems lower and to right of the head unit. Like I said, I don't know where the changer is or if it even has one.

RPO code said multi-disc, but doesn't mention nav. Owners manual for nav mentions single disc using slot above screen, but no mention of owning multiple discs..disc's... Confusing.

 

[Fless]

Could be. Not sure.

Sound seems lower and to right of the head unit. Like I said, I don't know where the changer is or if it even has one.

RPO code said multi-disc, but doesn't mention nav. Owners manual for nav mentions single disc using slot above screen, but no mention of owning multiple discs..disc's... Confusing.

EDIT: I think multi disc means it can play different types of discs (e.g., CD-R), not that it can hand multiple disc with a changer. Now that I think about it, mine was a single disc unit and I replaced the drive when it failed. Not a changer.