Sound when fan is on low

sclindon · 03-24-2006, 05:20 PM

Has anyone noticed a whining/bird like sounding sound when you have your a/c fan on low. My 04 Ion did it and now my new 06 is starting it. I haven't checked to see if it is a common complaint, just wondering if anyone else noticed that off hand.

JAC79 · 03-24-2006, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sclindon

Has anyone noticed a whining/bird like sounding sound when you have your a/c fan on low. My 04 Ion did it and now my new 06 is starting it. I haven't checked to see if it is a common complaint, just wondering if anyone else noticed that off hand.

Funny you mention that because, I noticed the sound when i brought my car home. but, it doesn't do it as much anymore. I'll have to drive with my music off to make sure it's completely gone. But it definently is a sort of a really low whistle/whiney sound.

Uzzy · 03-24-2006, 08:40 PM

S-series do it too. Turn the radio up.

Tethys · 03-24-2006, 10:42 PM

The only new fan noise i've noticed is after I've been playing a CD. When I park the car, eject the disc, turn off the stereo and move to switch off the ignition, I hear a very low humming sound. Maybe it's the car's cooling fans but it sounds too low-pitched for the "hair dryers" as I call 'em.

My '04 had a CD player too and I can't recall ever hearing it make this sound but it made plenty of its own bizarre noises. If this is the weirdest sound my '06 makes, I'll consider myself very fortunate.

NOLA-Vue · 03-24-2006, 11:45 PM

The sound you describe is not uncommon for some IONs. There have been more than a few comments made about it on here in the past. My 04' use to make that same chirping sound when on low speed. It never was very loud, just annoying. My fix was to turn the fan speed up a notch, which usually made the sound go away, and then I'd turn it back down if needed a few minutes later. Eventually, the sound just seemed to disappear all by its self...maybe by wearing in, what ever was causing it. A few people on here either had a extra loud one or were over sensative to the sound and had their retailer replace the fan motor. I just waited mine out.

sattech · 03-25-2006, 08:22 AM

You may want to bring it to your retailer if its in the 3-36 warranty period. There is a bulletin that pertains to this issue. Your retailer can install a cap on the blower motor to deaden the sound. If not in 3-36 I wouldn't recomend it The price far outweighs the benefits. Bulletin #04-01-37-008

David Emmerich · 03-25-2006, 03:11 PM

Yay! I'm not crazy!

Yeah I've been hearing this sometimes. Sounds like something's stuck in the fan but it only makes the noise on low and sometimes not at all. Thanks for the info, sattech. I did talk to service about it last time I scheduled an oil change, and they said they could fix it, but I forgot to remind them while I was there so I don't think it was fixed. Still hear it slightly.

RedLine004 · 03-25-2006, 08:52 PM

Bring it to your local dealer and tell them that you have a squeel on loww blower speeds.Because the way the HVAC case was desighned they will have to cut the case to remove the blower motor.But their is a fix to your problem.

THX712517 · 03-25-2006, 10:31 PM

I say it's not worth it, since you never really notice it unless you have the radio off and you're searching for it. Mine does it too, always has. I like it.

bilcha · 03-26-2006, 02:14 AM

The dealer "fixed" mine a few months back per the TSB. Started again last week, I'm just going to pretend it's a fan on indicator from now on.

lone_wolf · 03-26-2006, 03:16 PM

My fan is pretty quiet, unless I turn it on and it's really cold out.. Then it makes a god aweful grinding/chirpping noise..

delivery man · 03-26-2006, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lone_wolf

My fan is pretty quiet, unless I turn it on and it's really cold out.. Then it makes a god aweful grinding/chirpping noise..

Mine is pretty quite also unless I turn it on.

06lev3x4 · 03-26-2006, 11:16 PM

I dont really have a "chirping" sound. I just get what sounds like a normal whistling sound when on low that gets higher pitched as the engine is revved up (probably since the alternator is making more power).

vintagegz · 03-27-2006, 08:31 AM

my 06 sounds like there is a bad bearing or too much slop in the shaft, but only on low speed, will probably need a new motor. best get any problems fixed during warranty or it may be customer pay later

longdongsliver · 04-04-2006, 12:01 AM

first check if there is debree in the air inlet in the cowl behind the wipers.
Then check your a/c air filter behind the glove box.
Then you have to remove the motor but you have to carefully cut it out and get a kit from the dealer to reinstall whether its the old one or a new one. Theres a service bullitin open for these vehicles. I am a mechanic and have the manuals for the ion. I'm also having the same problem. Just gotta find time to do it myself

10W30 · 04-04-2006, 12:17 AM

I know exactly the sound that you are referring to. I remedied the situation by taking out the blower motor and putting white lithium grease on all the moving parts of the motor. Then cleaning out all of the vents.

Kohnen · 04-06-2006, 05:31 PM

How did you remove the motor without having the dealer's replacement kit?

On the Ions, you have to literally cut the motor out of the HVAC unit, and then screw it back in with a dealer-only ring with 6 screws.

Once you actually have that ring (that is, once the motor has been replaced once) it's easy to do, but the cars don't come from the factory with those metal rings installed.

03-24-2006, 05:20 PM	#1
sclindon Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Saint Clair Shores, MI Posts: 292 sclindon's Photos 2006 ION-3 Sedan	Sound when fan is on low Has anyone noticed a whining/bird like sounding sound when you have your a/c fan on low. My 04 Ion did it and now my new 06 is starting it. I haven't checked to see if it is a common complaint, just wondering if anyone else noticed that off hand. ... Former Saturns: 2006 Ion 3 2.4L, 5 speed 2004 Ion 2, 5 speed; 2004 Vue, 5 speed 2002 SL1, 5 speed; 1993 SC1, 5 speed

03-24-2006, 08:40 PM	#3
Uzzy Master Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Windsor, Ontario Canada Posts: 9,326 Uzzy's Photos 2002 SC1 2005 VUE 2.2L	Re: Sound when fan is on low S-series do it too. Turn the radio up. ... Aut viam inveniam aut faciam ... If your ECTS is not brass...your ass is grass. ... If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find him, maybe you can hire Uzzy.

03-24-2006, 10:42 PM	#4
Tethys Advanced Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 820	Re: Sound when fan is on low The only new fan noise i've noticed is after I've been playing a CD. When I park the car, eject the disc, turn off the stereo and move to switch off the ignition, I hear a very low humming sound. Maybe it's the car's cooling fans but it sounds too low-pitched for the "hair dryers" as I call 'em. My '04 had a CD player too and I can't recall ever hearing it make this sound but it made plenty of its own bizarre noises. If this is the weirdest sound my '06 makes, I'll consider myself very fortunate. ... 2015 Buick Verano Turbo 5 - 2006 Ion 3 Sedan, Manual, Storm Grey 4 - 2004 Ion 2 Sedan, Manual, Electric Blue 3 - 1996 SL2 Manual, Medium Red 2 - 1991 SL1 Manual, White 1 - 1991 SL Manual, Grey

03-24-2006, 11:45 PM	#5
NOLA-Vue Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: New Orleans Posts: 253 2008 AURA XE 2006 VUE 2.2L	Re: Sound when fan is on low The sound you describe is not uncommon for some IONs. There have been more than a few comments made about it on here in the past. My 04' use to make that same chirping sound when on low speed. It never was very loud, just annoying. My fix was to turn the fan speed up a notch, which usually made the sound go away, and then I'd turn it back down if needed a few minutes later. Eventually, the sound just seemed to disappear all by its self...maybe by wearing in, what ever was causing it. A few people on here either had a extra loud one or were over sensative to the sound and had their retailer replace the fan motor. I just waited mine out. ... "The principle difference between a man and a dog is that if you take a dog in and make him prosperous, he won't bite you!" - Mark Twain 2008 Aura XE-4 2006 VUE 2.2L

03-25-2006, 08:22 AM	#6
sattech Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Saturn of Norwood, Ma Posts: 1,466	Re: Sound when fan is on low You may want to bring it to your retailer if its in the 3-36 warranty period. There is a bulletin that pertains to this issue. Your retailer can install a cap on the blower motor to deaden the sound. If not in 3-36 I wouldn't recomend it The price far outweighs the benefits. Bulletin #04-01-37-008 ... ~ If it worked before you messed with it, it must be something you did ~

03-25-2006, 03:11 PM	#7
David Emmerich Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Everywhere and nowhere Posts: 15 David Emmerich's Photos 2004 ION-2 Sedan	Re: Sound when fan is on low Yay! I'm not crazy! Yeah I've been hearing this sometimes. Sounds like something's stuck in the fan but it only makes the noise on low and sometimes not at all. Thanks for the info, sattech. I did talk to service about it last time I scheduled an oil change, and they said they could fix it, but I forgot to remind them while I was there so I don't think it was fixed. Still hear it slightly. ... International Order of Ninjas

03-25-2006, 08:52 PM	#8
RedLine004 Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 18	Re: Sound when fan is on low Bring it to your local dealer and tell them that you have a squeel on loww blower speeds.Because the way the HVAC case was desighned they will have to cut the case to remove the blower motor.But their is a fix to your problem.

03-25-2006, 10:31 PM	#9
THX712517 Master Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marietta Posts: 2,586 THX712517's Photos	Re: Sound when fan is on low I say it's not worth it, since you never really notice it unless you have the radio off and you're searching for it. Mine does it too, always has. I like it. ... 2003 Saturn Ion 2001 Mazda Miata 1997 Saturn SC1

03-26-2006, 02:14 AM	#10
bilcha Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 109 2004 ION-2 Sedan	Re: Sound when fan is on low The dealer "fixed" mine a few months back per the TSB. Started again last week, I'm just going to pretend it's a fan on indicator from now on.

03-26-2006, 03:16 PM	#11
lone_wolf Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: N.B. Canada Posts: 249 2005 ION-3 Quad Coupe	Re: Sound when fan is on low My fan is pretty quiet, unless I turn it on and it's really cold out.. Then it makes a god aweful grinding/chirpping noise.. ... Red 2005 Ion-3 coupe

03-26-2006, 11:16 PM	#13
06lev3x4 Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 230 2006 ION-3 Sedan	Re: Sound when fan is on low I dont really have a "chirping" sound. I just get what sounds like a normal whistling sound when on low that gets higher pitched as the engine is revved up (probably since the alternator is making more power). ... Ion 3 Sedan with 2.4 liter engine stock "Weekends here, good god almighty people, lets get drunk and be somebody"

03-27-2006, 08:31 AM	#14
vintagegz Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: ontario, canada Posts: 175 2006 VUE Red Line 2007 ION-3 Sedan	Re: Sound when fan is on low my 06 sounds like there is a bad bearing or too much slop in the shaft, but only on low speed, will probably need a new motor. best get any problems fixed during warranty or it may be customer pay later

04-04-2006, 12:01 AM	#15
longdongsliver Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: texas Posts: 22 longdongsliver's Photos 2003 ION-1 Sedan 2006 ION-3 Sedan	Re: Sound when fan is on low first check if there is debree in the air inlet in the cowl behind the wipers. Then check your a/c air filter behind the glove box. Then you have to remove the motor but you have to carefully cut it out and get a kit from the dealer to reinstall whether its the old one or a new one. Theres a service bullitin open for these vehicles. I am a mechanic and have the manuals for the ion. I'm also having the same problem. Just gotta find time to do it myself ... Low budget audio is the way to go

04-04-2006, 12:17 AM	#16
10W30 Advanced Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Milky Way Galaxy Posts: 692 1994 SL2	Re: Sound when fan is on low I know exactly the sound that you are referring to. I remedied the situation by taking out the blower motor and putting white lithium grease on all the moving parts of the motor. Then cleaning out all of the vents.

04-06-2006, 05:31 PM	#17
Kohnen Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 102	Re: Sound when fan is on low How did you remove the motor without having the dealer's replacement kit? On the Ions, you have to literally cut the motor out of the HVAC unit, and then screw it back in with a dealer-only ring with 6 screws. Once you actually have that ring (that is, once the motor has been replaced once) it's easy to do, but the cars don't come from the factory with those metal rings installed.

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