Strange noise from rear end?

[02VetteCoupe]

I have owned my 2002 for almost a year now, and besides new tires and regular maintenance on her, the only thing I've had to do was get the new Steering Column harness (it's a manual and the lock was removed with the recall in 04, I ended up with that problem). Recently I've been hearing like a vibration noise coming from the rear of the car. It's related to wheel speed, not RPM. I can hear it on the highway or whenever I turn the radio down. Never heard the noise before recently. Earlier today my active handling showed up while I was driving perfectly straight down the highway. It felt a little wavy while it was activated, it was weird. I pulled over and checked around the rear right wheel (where it seems to be coming from), and without the car moving, it's hard to figure anything out... Do you guys think it may have something to do with the Transaxle? It sounds like a tire with a nail in it hitting the road as it spins (but I've had that problem with it and replaced it, this sound is more subtle, and faster). I can't think of anything else besides something wheel or gear related. The only faults I have are historic body codes 0361, 2283, 2284, 2285, 2265 and code U1160 which probably means I need to replace my battery soon (which may also explain the remove key, wait 10 sec that I got again the other day, scary shit!). But other than those, I have no other readings, tire pressures are good. Could this be a transaxle issue? Or something smaller? Thanks for any help.

BTW the noise sounds kind of like road noise but suddenly in the car, louder on the passenger side toward the back (I've thought of weather stripping issues, but my car is very clean and well maintained and this is sudden)

 

[Junkman2008]

You need to post your codes again and this time, include the entire code and not just the numbers.

 

[02VetteCoupe]

You need to post your codes again and this time, include the entire code and not just the numbers.

The body codes begin with B. So those ones are B0361, B2283, B2284, B2285, B2265. And then the U1160. But I have since deleted all of them, they were historical only. They haven't come back. No codes are showing anymore.

 

[02VetteCoupe]

I am going to change my gear oil and diff gear oil today. I'll give updates. The noise just sounds like a hum, like it is possibly coming from the gears. Doesn't sound much like road noise like I originally thought. It doesn't change based on the road texture or anything else. It's a steady noise that gets lower as I slow down. Higher as I speed up, I'm ruling pretty much anything else out until I change my gear oils out. Then I'll update the thread.

 

[Junkman2008]

Make sure you use the correct oil with a LS designation.

 

[gmjunkie]

Check your rear axle nuts,they sometimes tend to loosen up a little.And sometimes the splines behind the axle nuts make a funny noise too!
I think there might even be a bulletin somewhere on it.
My 03 did,I removed the nuts pushed the axle shaft in and Blasted the crap out of the splines with PB Blaster and replaced the nuts.
The book says 118 ft lb for the nuts,but I think I read somewhere that's changed to 140 ft lb.
Maybe C4C5specialist will chime in.

 

[02VetteCoupe]

Sorry about the wait guys. Thanks for the help. I still hear the noise, I'm starting to think it's all in my head. After a few times seeing the Traction Control kick in for no reason, I got the TCS fault code C1281, which is "Steering Sensor Uncorrelated Malfunction". I've seen a few write ups about checking/ changing the steering sensor. Also I have some turn signal issues, I will try the bulbs first, though I think it's unlikely that the front right went out so quick after it was replaced and the front left followed by a couple days. Fuses are good. The lights blink fast in the car, and in the rear, no lights up front. Sometimes the front left light stays lit inside the car, and one time it was beeping... Steady beep when light was on, then fast beep when the light was flashing. I have read about other people's flasher problems, I will look into that a little more.

 

[Junkman2008]

You've got corroded sockets up front due to water intrusion. Until you replace the lenses, you will always have that problem.

 

[02VetteCoupe]

Thanks a lot Junkman. I'll let you know what happens. I was thinking it might be corroded too... I'll check it out. On duty tonight, check it out tomorrow after work.

 

[tankman]

Only strange sound coming from my rear end was.. . . . .actually coming from MY rear end!!!

 

[Junkman2008]

Only strange sound coming from my rear end was.. . . . .actually coming from MY rear end!!!

May I recommend...

I'm not just a suggester, I'm a user too.

 

[02VetteCoupe]

Replaced the bulbs, what lenses are you talking about Junkman? I saw everything in the picture, what is the purpose of that hole besides ****ing up lights??? lol, by the way, they are working good for now.

 

[Junkman2008]

I believe that when GM designed the DRL lens and bracket, they had some type of overheating issue that maybe caused the bulbs to burn out prematurely. Thus, they put that hole in there to help dissipate heat. The hole does help with that but because the bulb burns so hot, it eventually burns a hole right through the lens (they basically just prolonged the problem). That's the lens that I'm talking about that you need to replace. Here's a shot of the DRL lens and bracket as viewed with the bumper off the car.

 

[Red Vette]

I am going to change my gear oil and diff gear oil today. I'll give updates. The noise just sounds like a hum, like it is possibly coming from the gears. Doesn't sound much like road noise like I originally thought. It doesn't change based on the road texture or anything else. It's a steady noise that gets lower as I slow down. Higher as I speed up, I'm ruling pretty much anything else out until I change my gear oils out. Then I'll update the thread.

I had the hum in my 02 coupe and had C4C5 Specialist check it out in 2009. He thought it was the fuel pump making the noise and told me not to worry about it. He hooked up a scanner and could not find a problem. Haven't had any problem related to the noise, so I just turn my hearing aids down. Acutally, the hum was light, but as every corvette owner knows, any sound out of the ordinary seems very loud and is annoying when the source cannot be located.
Barrett