Suspension noise??

[Bevortho]

Any ideas on this one....hello, I'm new to this forum, but not new to being a Saturn owner. Bought '04 Vue AWD 5/04....love it, love it, love it. First had windows tinted, then windows scratched when windows rolled down. Replaced plastic seal with felt..no problem.

Now, for the last almost month, we are hearing a rattling, clunking, squeaking noise coming from the right front suspension area. Have had it in at HB Saturn in CA TWICE...when taking tech for drive, noise is faint and tech cannot make a diagnosis...ugh!! Then left it for a whole day, tech drove a couple of times...cannot hear noise...cannot make a diagnosis.....VERY FRUSTRATED NOW. Does anyone have any ideas on what the problem might be? Taking it into Saturn of Cerritos next week. Noise appears when driving on the road, going over speed bumps..etc...HELP. I love my VUE and it's not even a year old just yet. I know sometimes you have to be your own advocate in life these days. Yes, I am a woman..but I do know when certain noises should not be present. Thank you to anyone who can suggest any ideas. I have mentioned the bushings to the tech....not the problem!!

Thanks in advance...

Bev
So. CA

[D C]

What noise is most prevalent? Rattling (a more rapid thunk-thunk-thunk), a clunk, a series of clunks, a squeak? Does it happen when you're driving straight, turning? Turning and going over a bump, etc...? The more specific you can be, the easier a diagnosis. If it always happens in one particular spot, that's a good start.

[Bevortho]

Hi DC...thanks for such a quick response. As far as the noises'...it pretty much does it while driving, more noticeable at a slower speed and going over a speed bump at a normal speed bump speed...if that makes sense. It is a sqeak and a clunking noise. I do have an appointment with Saturn of Cerritos on 4-17-05...but I would like to have some of my own information to take with me and tell them what I think it might be. Picture a typical woman taking her car in for service and having to explain noises'. Hopefully when I take the tech for a test drive, the noise will be present and not shy that day!! The noise is clearly located with the wheel area...if that helps.

Thanks again...

Bev

[20VUE06]

Does it occur pretty much first thing in the morning or after the Vue has been sitting for a while? Do you notice it more when it is colder outside - or all of the time.

I have had some creaking noised from the area you refer to, but it has disappeared now that it is well above freezing... Guess I'll wait til next winter to take it into the shop.

[tjed]

I had a similar noise on my 2003 Vue, the cause was a combination of noises from the link and the bushing on the stablizer bar.

[yankeefan]

Most likely your stabilizer lnik as we as a company have replaced alot of them.

[Bevortho]

DC and all.....the noise is pretty much any time of the day....whether cold or warm...as it always is here in sunny southern california. I have an appointment next Friday with Saturn....and you guys have mentioned the link and the bushing on the stablizer bar....I know that Saturn of Huntington Beach only checked the bushing, but didn't find anything, of course with them not hearing the noise the couldn't diagnos for sure. I'll pretty much bet it had something to do with the link and if that's what it is, then I'll owe all of you nice wonderful guys a beer.... Don't they have to take some things apart to be able to get to the bushings? And what about the link as well??

This site has been more helpful then Saturn themselves...thank god for forums. Will keep you posted on what the findings were...now see like today while driving to and from work, it didn't make the noise hardly at all...go figure!!

Talk to you all later...thanks again...

Bev

[MtnVUEShadow]

Originally Posted by Bevortho

Any ideas on this one....hello, I'm new to this forum, but not new to being a Saturn owner. Bought '04 Vue AWD 5/04....love it, love it, love it. First had windows tinted, then windows scratched when windows rolled down. Replaced plastic seal with felt..no problem.

Now, for the last almost month, we are hearing a rattling, clunking, squeaking noise coming from the right front suspension area. Have had it in at HB Saturn in CA TWICE...when taking tech for drive, noise is faint and tech cannot make a diagnosis...ugh!! Then left it for a whole day, tech drove a couple of times...cannot hear noise...cannot make a diagnosis.....VERY FRUSTRATED NOW. Does anyone have any ideas on what the problem might be? Taking it into Saturn of Cerritos next week. Noise appears when driving on the road, going over speed bumps..etc...HELP. I love my VUE and it's not even a year old just yet. I know sometimes you have to be your own advocate in life these days. Yes, I am a woman..but I do know when certain noises should not be present. Thank you to anyone who can suggest any ideas. I have mentioned the bushings to the tech....not the problem!!

The problem you are having is normal for the VUE and the problem of the techs "not duplicating" the problem is just as normal. The best thing to do is go over the heads of your Service Department and notify Saturn Customer Care so that your local "techs" can be told to hear it and to temporarily fix the problem. Based on my experiences with the VUE and Saturn Service "techs," this is completely and totally normal. The problem is, I can't seem to duplicate THEIR problem...and wouldn't want to.

[Bevortho]

The problem you are having is normal for the VUE and the problem of the techs "not duplicating" the problem is just as normal. The best thing to do is go over the heads of your Service Department and notify Saturn Customer Care so that your local "techs" can be told to hear it and to temporarily fix the problem. Based on my experiences with the VUE and Saturn Service "techs," this is completely and totally normal. The problem is, I can't seem to duplicate THEIR problem...and wouldn't want to.

As far as the problem being "normal"...I do not accept that. Saturn has not told me that...and if they did, I would fire back at them that these nosies were not present the day that I bought the car,so therefore, the problem is not normal. Now, I'm starting to notice the same noise just slightly in the left rear area as well. Could there be a problem with the shocks? That is where I hear the sqeaking noise is when I drive slowly over a speed bump in a parking lot. Like I said, it's going in next week so we will find out what it is. Will keep you posted....

[Jldet5]

Front lower control arms; left and right may need to be replaced.

[Bevortho]

ONE HAPPY SATURN '04 VUE CAMPER HERE..... Thanks to ALL of your replies and suggestions, I took those suggestions with me to Saturn yesterday. This time I had my husband take the TECH for a roadtest....thank god the noise was present THIS time. The TECH found that the RIGHT FRONT STRUT BEARING was worn. They replaced the bearing. The slight squeak, rubbing noise started in the left rear tire area as well....TECH traced noise to the TORSION BAR LINKS....replaced both links to correct...whew!!

I firmly believe that there is enough well qualified saturn fans here, that you should all open up your own garages and specialize in Saturns.... To all of those who helped me....where can I send the brewski's too???

Bev