Good evening all. Looking for some help before taking my H3 in for service. I have a 2007 H3 with 78,000 miles. Original owner with all service completed at GM dealership. The issue I am having is a whine that begins when vehicle is put into drive or reverse. It doesn’t start until then. The whine sound will increase upon acceleration. I honestly don’t think it’s a transmission issue. Trans fluid is fine in level and color. No slippage upon acceleration and no other noises heard. Whine noise predated front and rear differential fluid change a few months ago. I’ve read that it could be the power steering pump (nothing wrong with the power steering); water pump or alternator but nothing seems out of the ordinary with either of those items. I have been on this forum for years and have always used it as a great reference tool. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

usually there are only 3 things that will wine in a vehicle.
power steering pump
transmission torque converter
and the spouse.

 

Add cheese and you are good to go...........

Highly unlikely the T Case is involved, but you did not mention fluid service to that.

Power steering can get noisy when mad.

 

Date PublishedFEB 01, 2011NHTSA TSB #10038349

TSB# PI-0153B.

Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER

GM: THERE IS A WHINE NOISE WHEN IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. THERE IS A BEARING PROBLEM IN THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *RM

 

Haha on the spouse. She drives the H3 and trying to hold off buying a new vehicle based on high prices and low inventory.

Doc, transmission service is the next thing on my list.

HummerZ, I’m hoping it’s the power steering instead but I will check out that TSB.

Thank you to you guys for responding. Like I said before, this is the greatest place for technical know how on all things Hummer!

PS- maybe I can hit the Powerball and afford the new electric Hummer. I’d like to play with the crab crawl function,,,,just kidding.

 

Power steering noise would happen in park too more noticeable when turning steering wheel. Turn steering wheel to either lock position and you will hear the difference from a power steering whine vs transmission torque converter/bearing/pump whine. Upload a video with clear sound to YT and post here. Listen to this:

 

Btw, if you verify the noise coming from the transmission, drop the pan first, replace filter & install fresh DEX VI.
Could be fluid restriction to the pump as the source of noise.

 

+add a can of TransTune

 

Thanks HummerZ. No noise (whine) when in park. Did the steering wheel suggestion but no whine heard. I will try to capture the whine on video, post you YouTube and upload. Only when put in gear does the whine start and increases with acceleration. I will change the trans fluid/filter as suggested and report back. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

Transfer case, when was the last fluid change (as Doc asked previously)? What color was the fluid? What fluid did you refill with?