"High-pitched howling" noise while turning?

[jgalt]

What about the bearings in your rear axle?

the right-side differential side bearings were worn.

I love the mystery noise game!! Pretty soon I'll be starting one of these threads myself (*knocking on wood*).

Congrats on winning this lottery!!

[VehiGAZ]

Yup, you called it, jgalt! It took them a while to eliminate all of the easier checks before they realized they were going to have to open up the diffy.

I am quite pleased - my warranty has paid for itself nicely. There did push back a little, though - originally, they were going to pay for the replacement of a valve that was causing the modulating idle, which cost about $190. But since the warranty inspector had to verify the differential repair, he also looked at a valve and decided it wasn't broken, but just clogged with carbon deposits, and so he decided not to cover it, since it's a "maintenance" issue, not a "repair" issue. Nice how he changed the company's mind on that one, huh? Well, considering my $2000 warranty is paying out about $2775 for everything else on this job, I decided to let the valve issue go. All told, I'm paying for the valve, a $100 deductible, an oil change, and the tax on all of it, which is going to cost me about $630. Any other claims I make on this extend-o-warranty are going to be ALL JELLY - up to seven deductibles included!

[VehiGAZ]

Well, it's a week later and I'm STILL waiting for some diffferential parts to get to the dealer so they can put her back together. I want my VX back!!

While they have been cooler than the other side of the pillow in letting me hold onto their loaner while I wait, this is nuts!! They've had it for two full weeks now, and there is no word on when the parts might be showing up form Isuzu, either.

This situation has got me questioning the sense of relying on the VX as my one and only vehicle. If the poor availability of parts is getting worse, then I can probably expect more of these 2+ week repairs. It's fine and dandy when the dealership is willing to hook me up with a loaner, but not so fine when they can't or won't and I need to pay for a replacement ride out of my own pocket.

I think I need another vehicle...

[Ruflyf]

Just tell them your going to go off raoding in the loaner that should make them hurry up a bit.

[VehiGAZ]

In a 2004 Suzuki Grand Vitara? They'd never believe me!

[VehiGAZ]

So I got my fully-repaired VX back after a full FOUR WEEKS in the shop (!!!), and guess what... the howling noise is still there!!! Ugh!!

The differential actually feels noticeably tighter, believe it or not, but nevertheless, my service writer and I have no idea what to do next.

[kpaske]

Well, it looks like I may be joining you on this hunt for the elusive VX moan... I too have been noticing an occassional groan when turning. It only happens once or twice each time I drive, but I want to track it down before it gets worse. I know from previous vehicles that a bad CV Joint will balk during tight turns, and when I had it aligned the other day the mechanic informed me that I have a torn CV boot, so that's the first thing I'm going to look at. I'll keep you posted on what I come up with.

[VehiGAZ]

That sounds like what I'm dealing with kpaske. Mine is definitely comingn from the rear, though, so it's probably not the CVJs.

I'm considering bringing it to the other local dealer just to get a different set of eyes and ears on the job.

[t2p]

Add me to the group. My VX is also making this noise.
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Appeared/appeared to be a problem in the rear end - but my guess is the problem is with/in the transfer case.
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Changed the rear diff fluid changed (additive added) - tires rotated (air pressure checked obviously) .... No difference.

[kpaske]

Yup, confirmed that I have another driver's side CV boot tear. That'll be fun to fix... again...

As for the groaning, VehiGaz, mine seems to always occur while entering or exiting a turn, though it doesn't matter whether I'm turning left or right. I'm thinking it's coming from the rear suspension - it sounds like something creaks as the weight of the vehicle shifts in or out of the turn. Possibly a lack of lube somewhere.

[VehiGAZ]

My sound is definitely a rotating-metal-on-metal sound, rather than a creak of the suspension.

Although since I got new shoes on Saturday (Goodyear Wranglers w/ "Silent Armor"), I have not heard the sound again. Hmm... although the new tires should have nothing to do with the sound, I have noticed that the sidewalls are noticeably stiffer on the new tires, enhancing cornering performance, particularlay on turn-in.

Why do I mention this? Because it is at least a possibility that the new tires are keeping the wheel aligned better, reducing the strain on the suspension and axle, thereby eliminating the cause of the noise. That theory sounds pretty thin, I guess, but it would explain things.

Of course, as soon as I post this, it's going to make the sound again. :-)

[Crowml]

Add me to the list guys, I've been on that search for 2 years now. Same issues, same description. Sporadic slow speed turning. Loud huming/grinding noise which on bad days I can feel shaking the whole vehicle....

If someone finds a solution please email me!! crowml@aol.com

[Crowml]

Intersting "Shortstop" says that changing the LSD fluid with synthetic and using an additive fixed his problem, someone else want to give this a whirl?

[VehiGAZ]

The first thing my dealer did was put in the LSD additive, but it didn't work. And then they rebuilt the differential, but that didn't work either.

But since the new tires went on, it's been silent...

[kpaske]

Interesting... I believe mine may have started around the time I put new tires on. Hmmm...