slight engine resonance through steering wheel

[TommyS]

Hi everyone, new member here. After lurking for awhile, I finally signed on. So far I like this site a lot, and have found the community very helpful before I made a purchase.

I just purchased a 2024 Tahoe LS which is only a few weeks old, Only has a few hundred miles on her. I have been noticing a very slight resonance coming through the steering wheel at certain speeds. Most of the time it is very faint, but it’s there. I mostly feel it while accelerating, but only at certain speeds. I think it’s engine or tranny sound making its way through the steering column. It’s usually felt above 40 mph, and it happens when the engine is in a lower gear. If i’m on the highway doing 65, and then lightly accelerate, it can be felt. Maybe some will say this is normal, I don’t know. I would not call it a vibration. It’s a slight resonance. The steering and alignment feel normal. It’s a minor annoyance but i want to address it. Its a new Truck!! LOL!

Can anyone chime in about this? I plan on getting it checked when in for my first service. what do you guys think? Thank you for any help you can provide.

 

[Joseph Garcia]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

I cannot personally assist you with your issue, but other members of this Forum much more knowledgeable than me in this area will chime in.

 

[OR VietVet]

Welcome to the forum from Oregon.

IMO, it is normal. Go test drive other new models and compare. I have an 05 and like to feel the engine.

 

[15burban]

Is it possible what you're feeling is the engine not running on all 8 cylinders? When you're barely on the throttle I'd assume it shuts down some cylinders and probably doesn't run as smoothly as if all 8 were firing.

What rpm range or ranges is it doing it at? If you're giving it a lot of throttle when it's doing it then disregard what I wrote above.

 

[TommyS]

Welcome to the Forum from NH.

Lots of knowledgeable folks here who freely share their knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. Knowledge is power.

I hope that you will become a participating member in the Forum's discussions.

Pics of the truck, please.

I cannot personally assist you with your issue, but other members of this Forum much more knowledgeable than me in this area will chime in.

Joe, Thanks for reaching out. I’m gonna get some pics up of the new ride shortly. Looking forward to learning about and discussing these beautful machines. Thank you!

 

[TommyS]

Is it possible what you're feeling is the engine not running on all 8 cylinders? When you're barely on the throttle I'd assume it shuts down some cylinders and probably doesn't run as smoothly as if all 8 were firing.

What rpm range or ranges is it doing it at? If you're giving it a lot of throttle when it's doing it then disregard what I wrote above.

Your right. I only feel the engine noise with a lighter throttle. If I’m on the highway coasting at 65, and then lightly accelerate to pass another car, I can feel it resonate through the steering wheel. So it’s probably happening in the higher gear. When I accelerate, it matches the rhythm of the engine. I’m sure it’s not something serious, but it is a little annoying, and I don’t think it should be happening.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Your right. I only feel the engine noise with a lighter throttle.
If I’m on the highway coasting at 65, and then lightly accelerate to pass another car, I can feel it resonate through the steering wheel.
So it’s probably happening in the higher gear. When I accelerate, it matches the rhythm of the engine.
I’m sure it’s not something serious, but it is a little annoying, and I don’t think it should be happening.

If your engine has the Cylinder Confusion feature, it should be happening.
That said, if you are FEELING it, that is a Noise Vibration Harshness flaw,
and it should've been pre-addressed by GM during assembly, well before reaching the showroom.

 

[Doubeleive]

Your right. I only feel the engine noise with a lighter throttle. If I’m on the highway coasting at 65, and then lightly accelerate to pass another car, I can feel it resonate through the steering wheel. So it’s probably happening in the higher gear. When I accelerate, it matches the rhythm of the engine. I’m sure it’s not something serious, but it is a little annoying, and I don’t think it should be happening.

I can only suggest driving another same model at the dealer and see if it does the same, if not then be a squeaky wheel
could be the engine dfm, transmission, driveshaft, tires,,,,,,,,

 

[tom3]

Does that model have the readout in the DIC that shows the V8 and V4 modes in use? There is some abnormal vibration when under load those 4 cylinders are struggling to pull that 3 ton machine.

 

[TommyS]

I don’t think I have that feature in the DIC. I’m gonna check. I can say that it always happens, while accelerating between 1500 and 1700 rpms no matter what speed i’m doing. It’s really starting to tick me off. I mean the truck only has 500 miles on it. I just hope it’s not that big of a deal to fix. At any other rpm range, it’s smooth. I was gonna wait to bring it in during my first oil change, but maybe i’ll bring it in sooner.

 

[Marky Dissod]

Does that model have the readout in the DIC that shows the V8 and V4 modes in use?
There is some abnormal vibration when under load those 4 cylinders are struggling to pull that 3 ton machine.

2024 should not have Engine Half@$$, should have Cylinder Confusion, which varies between V8, V7, V6, V5, V4, V3, and V2 modes.
I'd be very surprised if this feature's operation was made visible to the driver by GM, but I've been wrong before.

I can say that it always happens, while accelerating between 1500 and 1700RpM no matter what speed i’m doing.
It’s really starting to tick me off. I mean the truck only has 500 miles on it.

Except for 1st gear, this makes me think ... torque converter clutch ... ATF?

 

[TommyS]

Are you saying my engine does not have the DFM? The vibration is annoying. Nothing is shaking in the truck, and the steering wheel does not even shake. When i have both hands on the steering wheel and it falls into that RPM range, it resonates through my hands. Only when accelerating. Once I start to coast, and it falls into a higher gear, it disappears.

 

[Marky Dissod]

The vibration is annoying. Nothing is shaking in the truck, and the steering wheel does not even shake.
When i have both hands on the steering wheel and it falls into that RpM range, it resonates through my hands.

Vibration = shake.
Before, you said when you accelerate through 1500-1700RpM. So, NOT when you're coasting or decelerating?

Now my suspicion of the torque converter clutch & the ATF is getting stronger.

Are you saying my engine does not have the DFM?

I'd money I don't have that your engine has Cylinder Confusion.
I'd be surprised if GM lets you press a button (or two or three) toSEE if it is in V8, V7, V6, V5, V4, V3, or V2 mode in anything anywhere near realtime.

 

[tom3]

Can you shift this into low range which might (?) change some of the operations. See what happens with that.

 

[TommyS]

Vibration = shake.
Before, you said when you accelerate through 1500-1700RpM. So, NOT when you're coasting or decelerating?

Now my suspicion of the torque converter clutch & the ATF is getting stronger.I'd money I don't have that your engine has Cylinder Confusion.
I'd be surprised if GM lets you press a button (or two or three) toSEE if it is in V8, V7, V6, V5, V4, V3, or V2 mode in anything anywhere near realtime.

Nothing when coasting or decelerating. ait only happens when i’m giving it gas. For example, if i’m cruising at 65 mph on a straight highway, the truck is working in the lowest rpm. if I accelerate lightly to pass someone, it kicks down to the next lower gear, which brings the rpm’s into that 1500-1700 range and I get the vibration. As soon as it shifts back to the higher gear, smooth with no vibration

 

[TommyS]

Can you shift this into low range which might (?) change some of the operations. See what happens with that.

I did try using the manual setting, and experimented with different gears and still the same thing.

 

[TommyS]

If this does turn out to be a torque converter clutch, is that a big job. I’m sure what the ATF is.

 

[tom3]

Torque converter is a big job and probably require some reprogramming. ATF is automatic transmission fluid, sometimes a magic fix for even a near new transmission somehow. Dealer service might be able to adjust some internal pressures and solve this too.

 

[Marky Dissod]

If this does turn out to be a torque converter clutch, is that a big job? I’m sure what the ATF is.

If it turns out to be the torque converter clutch, you get a torque converter upgrade, which would include a torque converter clutch upgrade.
There are GM torque converters that are OE, but for heavier-duty applications; no need to go to the aftermarket.
It involves separating the engine from the transmission.
Like tom3 says, there have been times when changing the ATF as soon as any transmission symptoms are noticed, makes the symptoms go away.

New idea:
see if this symptom still presents in NEUTRAL while giving it gas at the road speeds it normally presents itself.
If it does in neutral, it's likely NOT the transmission.

 

[TommyS]

Great suggestion! I’m gonna try that.

Hard to believe a new, fresh out of the factory truck would have a problem like this. I was hoping it might just be something loose somewhere in the steering column.

Thank you to everyone for the great feedback. This place is great resource.