clunking noise from drivetrain

[gph303]

2007 Nox Noise sounds like two heavy pieces of aluminum bumping together. Does this when you are going slow or coasting and then give just a bare amount of gas. Sounds like maybe the final drive is bumping the drive axle splines or however they are joined. I understand this trans uses a chain similiar to a timing chain to power the drive axles. It could be the chain is missing an idler and is slapping if this is indeed what drives the axles. This was noticed shortly after purchase but didn'y pay any attention until we were in the mountains with a lot of coasting at low speeds. The car has 11,000+miles and seems to be getting worse. Forget the dealer as they can't even fix a squeak that has been there since day one and I showed them what the problem was. Lots and lots of white grease all under my car from them trying though. No wonder GM is going down the tube. Poor Quality & Very Poor Service!!!! Will definately think twice before buying another GM. Please Help if anyone has had this problem. Thanks

[stekemme]

I have the exact same problem with my 07 Nox. I havent heard a better explanation of the problem than the one you just gave. Dealer told me it was normal for the nox to do this due to the chain link transmission. I took it to the dealer on 3 separate occasions and every time I got it back they had done nothing to fix the problem. I also am extremely disappointed in GM for their lack of quality.

[Ruley73]

I have not observed this problem on our 2007 Equinox LT FWD. It currently has 36K miles on it. When does the clunking sound occur? (i.e. only when accelerating, going up hills etc.) Does the noise occur in a pattern (i.e. increases with vehicle speed; engine RPM)? There are no TSBs or recalls regarding the condition you both describe.

I'm confident that it has nothing to do with the chain you both mention. The use of chains in transmissions is certainly not anything new, untraditional, or exotic. GM's FWD Hydramatic transmissions have used chains for over 20 years and don't cause such noise.

Lest it be known that the Equinox uses an outsourced Aisin AF33 transmission that is built in Japan and used in other brands of cars such as Nissan and Volvo.

FWIW the 3.4L V6 engine is manufactured in China, but the build quality trumps that of the 3400s of old that were used in the Grand Am and Alero.

I can assure you that quality is not compromised in the powertrain or drivetrain of the Equinox.

[stekemme]

The problem occurs on mine when I am driving at low speeds usually in neighborhoods. You are coasting and then need to give it more gas when you reapply the gas you will hear a clunk. It is not hard to reproduce the clunk it happens every single time i do this. Like I said before I have taken it to the dealership multiple times and had the head mechanic ride with me on two occasions. He heard the problem and concurred that there was something wrong. After picking up the vehicle I was told there was nothing they could do and that this was normal. It is very frustrating when you buy a brand new vehicle and there is problem they acknowledge but say they cant fix. It does make you lose faith in GM. This is just one of many problems I have had with this vehicle. I truly wanted GM to get through this turbulent market and thats why I bought their brand twice (07 nox and 07 cadillac) but I am sorry to say it will be the last GM vehicle I buy.

[Ruley73]

Originally Posted by stekemme

The problem occurs on mine when I am driving at low speeds usually in neighborhoods. You are coasting and then need to give it more gas when you reapply the gas you will hear a clunk. It is not hard to reproduce the clunk it happens every single time i do this. Like I said before I have taken it to the dealership multiple times and had the head mechanic ride with me on two occasions. He heard the problem and concurred that there was something wrong. After picking up the vehicle I was told there was nothing they could do and that this was normal. It is very frustrating when you buy a brand new vehicle and there is problem they acknowledge but say they cant fix. It does make you lose faith in GM. This is just one of many problems I have had with this vehicle. I truly wanted GM to get through this turbulent market and thats why I bought their brand twice (07 nox and 07 cadillac) but I am sorry to say it will be the last GM vehicle I buy.

I wonder if they checked for other things that might cause this, such has a bad engine mount. Is yours AWD?

[dorman68]

I have seen several of the AWD Equinox/Torrent/Vue with bad rear driveshaft support bearings.

[stekemme]

My Nox is a FWD. If anyone has any suggestions for me to tell the mechanic it would be greatly appreciated. Maybe I could finally get this corrected.

[gph303]

Originally Posted by stekemme

The problem occurs on mine when I am driving at low speeds usually in neighborhoods. You are coasting and then need to give it more gas when you reapply the gas you will hear a clunk. It is not hard to reproduce the clunk it happens every single time i do this. Like I said before I have taken it to the dealership multiple times and had the head mechanic ride with me on two occasions. He heard the problem and concurred that there was something wrong. After picking up the vehicle I was told there was nothing they could do and that this was normal. It is very frustrating when you buy a brand new vehicle and there is problem they acknowledge but say they cant fix. It does make you lose faith in GM. This is just one of many problems I have had with this vehicle. I truly wanted GM to get through this turbulent market and thats why I bought their brand twice (07 nox and 07 cadillac) but I am sorry to say it will be the last GM vehicle I buy.

Still having the clunking problem with no progress from the dealer. Now my dealer who was across the road just up one day and shut shop saying business was bad. Nothing to do with GM closing them. Their service dept was worthless. Now my nearest dealer is 35 miles away amd I am having numerous problems like an oil leak, surging of the engine, blower motor pulsating just to mention a few. Bought this vehicle specifically for a purpose of transportating an elderly person to and from a hospital for cancer treatments because of the abundent room in the rear and the cost and never got to use it for that purpose and now it is worth 1/2 what it cost and it is not even 3 years old. You bet I'm bitter at GM and my dealer. Won't be no more. If anyone ever finds out the clunking noise just post. I got tired of reading from people who don't have the problem so i just quit looking at AF.