Noise...Growl
 

Hello I have a 2007 Saturn Vue with the 3.5 V6 engine. I have a strange question to ask. On cold startup I hear a noise from the engine compartment that I can only explain as a growl. It seems to be coming from the passenger side of the engine. This growl goes away very quickly like within a block or two and then the Vue sounds and runs perfect. I am at a loss as to where I should even start to look for answers. It is only on cold startups and lasts only a very short duration altho it does seem to be tied to the rpms as well. Thanks

How's the oil level? Any disappearing?
How's the auto tranny fluid level? Any disappearing?
How many mi on vehicle?

Would be especially helpful if you could have a friend cold start the vehicle while you stand by the passenger side and try to narrow down the location of the noise.
e.g.
near the pulleys (could be pulley bearing
near the PS pump (if it has one, don't remember when they went electric PS )
Near the bottom of the engine
Near the transmission.

Once you've narrowed it down some, maybe post a pic and describe where on the pic the noise seems to be growling.

Someone else with an actual clue should come along soon to help.

Andy would be that guy.

Follow his instructions.

Thanks
 

Thanks I was able to have someone help me and after researching and listening I think it is the timing belt tensioner. The noise goes away very quickly ( about a minute) so I assume that has to do with pressure. Now I have a few more questions if anyone can help. #1. can I take just the top cover off the timing belt to get a better look without removing a lot of other things first . #2 If it is bad which I suspect which brand of timing belt/water pump kit would you recommend and #3 does anyone know of a good "how to " video or step by step instruction on the timing belt/tensioner/water pump replacement. I have never done this project before but I believe I am capable with proper instruction. I have watched some videos but they are pretty vague and I would like to be able to put everything back together with the proper torque specs. I have done a similar job on a Corolla that skipped a tooth but never actually had to remove the belt because I got lucky and when I went to remove the belt it jumped back into place. Thanks for any advice in advance.

I don't know if this video will help you or not, but you can look at this one. I would also recommend replacing the water pump at this time if you've got anywhere near 100,000 miles on it. Just call it preventative maintenance.

Thanks this will help but I am hoping to find a video or how to of the whole job including torque specs when putting things back together.

Thanks to all for the info. I found this video that I watched and now I know I can do the job. It is from a Honda but it is the same engine. The J35A3.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/searc...b&action=click
I am going to order the parts tomorrow and hopefully do the job next weekend. Does anyone have their input as to what brand kit I should be looking at. RockAuto has decent prices on the Delco kit as well as the Aisin kit. They also have others in the same price range. I will be doing the entire job timing belt/ tensioners/ and water pump so any input would be greatly appreciated.This is the first Saturn I have worked on but so far every job I have done has been a breeze. Very happy so far. Thanks again.

Personally I'd use the Aisin. It's Japanese aftermarket product. Toyota owns part of it and they use the OE specs to engineer all of their aftermarket parts. Back when I had Japanese imports, if I could find the Aisin parts I needed, that's what I used. If my Kia needs parts and I can find Aisin, I'll do the same thing. Good luck with it and above all things, work safe and TAKE YOUR TIME. You don't want to have to go back into again. Make sure you rotate the engine twice and align the timing marks. And it won't hurt anything at all to fire it up and let it run for a minute before putting it all back together.

Thanks
 

Thank You....

Still working on growl
 

Hello again, I am still in the process of doing a timing belt/water pump change. My first attempt was foiled because I couldn't remove the bolt on the harmonic balancer. I bought a good electric impact wrench last weekend and got it off. This is when I made a big mistake. I put the crank bolt back in and was going to line up the timing marks and I didn't notice that the woodruff key had come out. When I went to line up the marks my crank sprocket moved but the other 2 did not. By the time I realized this the pistons had moved. I was in a panic and with a neighbors help I got the crank sprocket back in line and put the woodruff key back in. I however did not know if this would have misaligned my timing or if it would create a major problem in an interference engine. To be safe I used a ratchet and turned the crank bolt through about a half a dozen revolutions. I felt the compression of the pistons but never at any point did I encounter any major resistance. Still leary of the outcome I put everything back together and cranked the engine. Everything was fine. A sigh of relieve but job still not done. So I have been driving the Vue all week and it seems to be running well altho, and this may be my imagination, I sometimes feel as if is running just a hair rough at idle. My question for you guys is this: could I have upset the timing and still have the Vue running pretty good and if so could I be doing any damage running it so? I am going to do my 3rd attempt this weekend so I will have everything apart once again. If I do have anything askew I would like to correct it then if it is possible. Any comments will be GREATLY appreciated including calling my a dumb ###.

As long as you had the camshaft timing marks lined up and didn't turn them, you should be okay. The crankshaft makes two turns for every one turn of the cams. So, every time you rotate the crankshaft back around to the timing mark, #1 SHOULD be at top dead center, (TDC). An easy way to find out is to use a 1/4" wooden dowel in the # 1 piston spark plug hole. Remove the plug, insert the dowel and rotate the crankshaft. As the piston drops, the dowel will too. After 180 degrees of rotation, the piston will be at the lowest point. After a complete rotation, it will be at TDC and the dowel will be as high as it will travel. If you go too far, you will notice the dowel dropping again. I just reverse the ratchet and rotate the crank counter clock wise until I get it back to TDC. You could be off a degree or two, based on what you did. I'd just remove the covers and check the marks again before tearing it all apart and starting over. But I'm old and disabled and want things to be easy.

Hello again..I finally did my timing belt and water pump. I wouldn't say it went smooth but I did get it done and the Vue runs great. I do have a question about my results though. I originally did the job because I had heard a growling noise at start up that disappeared after a minute or so but I also had a strange vibration at all speeds but only at 1400 rpms. I just thought that it was something that was completely unrelated. Since the job has been completed the growling noise as well as that vibration at 1400 rpms has completely vanished. Can anyone tell me what that vibration may have been and why doing the timing belt/tensioner and water pump made the difference. Thanks for all the help and advice you guys have given.

I can only speculate, but MAYBE it was because of the water pump bearing beginning to wallow out. IDK, just guessing.

Mine too!

Crazy but I found the problem by accident. It was a bad motor mount. Replaced it and all is well..

Thank you for coming back 3 years later and posting the solution. Wish there were more people like you.

I'm sorry I must have replied to the wrong post. I thought I was replying to a recent transmission issue. My apologies.

Way to shatter my world, dude...

Jk
No harm no foul