Faint vibrating/rattling noise around 1600-1800 RPM
06-14-2019, 02:43 PM
#1
Faint rattling noise around 1600-1800 RPM
Hi everyone, new corvette owner here (2016 Stingray 2LT A8 w/ NPP exhaust, 3 months of B2B warranty left). I just purchased my first corvette about 2 weeks ago, and recently I started noticing this faint rattling noise around 1600-1800 RPM. At first I thought it only occurred right before upshifting to 2nd/3rd/4th gear with light acceleration, but then I started to notice that it was always around that RPM range. If I put it in manual mode while I'm driving and stay in that RPM range, the rattling noise is constant until I get out of that range.
Side note: Another issue I've noticed is that sometimes (not all the time) when I'm under pretty hard acceleration, the upshift from 3rd gear to 4th gear is a little rough and there's like a jerk to it. It's not huge, but it's definitely noticeable. I can usually replicate it by cruising and then applying at least like 60-70% throttle so the car downshifts into 3rd, and then I'll get that little jerk when it upshifts into 4th. It's only from 3rd-4th for some reason.
Any insight is greatly appreciated!
Side note: Another issue I've noticed is that sometimes (not all the time) when I'm under pretty hard acceleration, the upshift from 3rd gear to 4th gear is a little rough and there's like a jerk to it. It's not huge, but it's definitely noticeable. I can usually replicate it by cruising and then applying at least like 60-70% throttle so the car downshifts into 3rd, and then I'll get that little jerk when it upshifts into 4th. It's only from 3rd-4th for some reason.
Any insight is greatly appreciated!
Last edited by Jordywilson; 06-14-2019 at 03:06 PM.
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Jose L (01-25-2021)
06-14-2019, 03:06 PM
#2
Hi everyone, new corvette owner here (2016 Stingray 2LT A8 w/ NPP exhaust, 3 months of B2B warranty left). I just purchased my first corvette about 2 weeks ago, and recently I started noticing this faint vibrating/rattling noise around 1600-1800 RPM. At first I thought it only occurred right before upshifting to 2nd/3rd/4th gear with light acceleration, but then I started to notice that it was always around that RPM range. The car has always been in V8 mode when it happens, and I also tested putting the car in park and revving up to that RPM range, and sure enough as soon as it hits ~1500 or 1600 RPM it'll keep making that noise until I either go past the 1800 RPM mark or drop it below 1500 RPM. I'm not sure if it has something to do with the exhaust system or something else.
Side note: Another issue I've noticed is that sometimes (not all the time) when I'm under pretty hard acceleration, the upshift from 3rd gear to 4th gear is a little rough and there's like a jerk to it. It's not huge, but it's definitely noticeable. I can usually replicate it by cruising and then applying at least like 60-70% throttle so the car downshifts into 3rd, and then I'll get that little jerk when it upshifts into 4th. It's only from 3rd-4th for some reason.
Any insight is greatly appreciated!
Side note: Another issue I've noticed is that sometimes (not all the time) when I'm under pretty hard acceleration, the upshift from 3rd gear to 4th gear is a little rough and there's like a jerk to it. It's not huge, but it's definitely noticeable. I can usually replicate it by cruising and then applying at least like 60-70% throttle so the car downshifts into 3rd, and then I'll get that little jerk when it upshifts into 4th. It's only from 3rd-4th for some reason.
Any insight is greatly appreciated!
06-14-2019, 03:10 PM
#4
Team Owner
What general area is the rattle coming from? inside the cabin? under the car? front/back?
06-14-2019, 03:35 PM
#5
06-14-2019, 03:36 PM
#6
I just took it for a quick drive again to try to pinpoint it, and I believe it’s coming from the front. I also put it in park and revved it to that RPM with the hood up, and it’s definitely coming from the engine bay. Could it be one of the belts? It’s a rattling or rapid ticking sound.
Last edited by Jordywilson; 06-14-2019 at 03:43 PM.
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Jose L (04-28-2021)
06-14-2019, 04:34 PM
#7
Drifting
The (high-pressure) fuel pump often make a rapid ticking sound, especially at idle. Rattling at a specific rpm is often something such as vibrating heat shield under the car.
Last edited by Grand Slam; 06-14-2019 at 04:35 PM.
06-14-2019, 05:48 PM
#8
Team Owner
I think there was a thread on here recently where someone had a rattle/ticking and it turned out to be a damaged serpentine belt, you might want to run your hand around the belt and make sure that it's not damaged at all.
06-15-2019, 12:16 PM
#10
Le Mans Master
Member Since: Nov 2015
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^^^ Yes. It could be the belt tensioner pulley. If it is failing it can manifest different symptoms. Leaking, whining, and what you described. Vibrating rattling noise. 
Last edited by joemessman; 06-15-2019 at 12:17 PM.
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Thunder22 (06-20-2019)
06-19-2019, 05:43 PM
#12
I had something that probably sounded just like this; it was the belt tensioner. It took TWO HOURS of driving around with a very patient service manager before the sound returned and he diagnosed it in an instant. Replaced under the GMPP warranty at 88,000 miles.
06-20-2019, 12:47 AM
#13
Melting Slicks
Belt Tensioner. My 2016 Z51 sounded like a rattle snake at the same RPM and you will also notice it happens in V4 mode, not V8 mode.
Shifting issue is most likely a software issue, that could be fixed with an update at the dealer.
Shifting issue is most likely a software issue, that could be fixed with an update at the dealer.
Last edited by direct007; 06-20-2019 at 12:49 AM.
06-20-2019, 11:29 AM
#14
So I took it to the dealer, but they said it was normal... maybe I didn’t describe the sound correctly to you guys, but they said the sound I was hearing which is like a rapid ticking noise that gets faster as the RPMS climb are the lifters which is just part of the valvetrain noise. It’s not loud by any means, but I can definitely notice it with the windows down and no music or AC. Maybe I’m just being sensitive.
06-20-2019, 02:11 PM
#15
Team Owner
So I took it to the dealer, but they said it was normal... maybe I didn’t describe the sound correctly to you guys, but they said the sound I was hearing which is like a rapid ticking noise that gets faster as the RPMS climb are the lifters which is just part of the valvetrain noise. It’s not loud by any means, but I can definitely notice it with the windows down and no music or AC. Maybe I’m just being sensitive.
06-20-2019, 02:48 PM
#16
Supporting Vendor
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St. Jude Donor '08
As others have mentioned, a light flutter type noise around that RPM range is usually the belt tensioner failing. If you have more a defined rattle or almost a grinding noise, it's most likely the flex plate issue or a torque tube that is beginning to fail. Both of those failures tend to make the same noise. If the torque tube has been out for any related repairs recently, it could also be the crankshaft thrust bearing is wiped out from the torque tube being installed incorrectly. We've had several cars come to us from other dealers with recent repairs that required the torque tube to come out. Several of those did not have the specific procedure for installing the torque tube done correctly and it wiped out the thrust bearing in 1,000-5,000 miles. That requires engine main bearing replacement, crankshaft replacement or engine replacement depending on how quickly it's caught.
Did you get history on the car to see if there's been any recent drive line related repairs?
Did you get history on the car to see if there's been any recent drive line related repairs?
12-23-2021, 02:37 PM
#17
Did you get the rattling when driving in manual? I have the same issue at a certain RPM, but it only happens in automatic when I accelerate or decelerate slowly. Never happens in manual or in auto when I drive more aggressively. Never noticed if it's in V4 or V8.