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High-Pitched Tuning Fork Noise

17K views 31 replies 13 participants last post by  Palmetto 
#1 ·
New issue with my 2014 WK2 just started a week or so ago.

Occasionally, when I enter a turn (be it a curve or a full-blown turn), I get this maybe 5 second long "tone" from the car. It's like a high-pitched noise (a consistent squeak), like a whistle or maybe a tuning fork noise. It's a very consistent tone, and then it goes away. It's not a scrape or a grind, it's a very clean sound (if that makes sense).

I only hear it at lower speeds (never on highway). I am NOT always depressing the brakes when this happens. Note that the tone can continue passed the turn for a second or two (even when wheel is straight again). It doesn't seem to happen when I am parked and I turn the wheel left or right (so don't think it's steering pump, but I am no expert). Could this be the brake wear indicator on one of my wheels rubbing something when I am turning (as if one of them is off somehow)? I have yet to take it in and have the dealer look at it, but of course, it feels like the beginning of another exercise in frustration since it's quite intermittent.

I've driven with my radio and climate fully off to eliminate any possibilities and to hear it better (also to make sure the A/C is off to ensure it's not an A/C issue).

Note that when I stop at a light or a stop sign, I hear a brief similar noise as I am braking, but it's a lot quieter and very very short duration (it stops when I stop), so I am not certain if it's the same thing.
 
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#2 ·
I have the same thing on my 12' JGC and I have 26k miles. The dealer has no clue. They claim its gear whine. When it happens I switched to sport mode and it goes away. I switch back and the noise is back. I figured its in the trans and based on this crappy trans, it doesn't surprise me. Chrysler doesn't seem to be concerned along with a lot of other noises this Jeep makes. Chrysler has a history of trans problems over the years and I guess this is the norm for their products.:cool:
 
#4 ·
I heard a similar "tuning fork" kind of noise several times yesterday . I think it was related to A/C and fan running full blast. When I turned down the fan the sound went away though it could have been a coincidence. More testing is needed.
 
#5 · (Edited)
I've documented the noise for those that are interested. It's clearly audible in the video:

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee "Mystery Noise" - YouTube

Hard to get the kids to stay quiet for these videos :)

Note that this has nothing to do with A/C. I've tried it with it on and off. Dealer is blaming the "power steering pump" but won't replace it (yet, I am working on it) saying that it's normal. Please....
 
#7 ·
I too hear the noise. It is exactly as I hear it in your Youtube clip. Thanks for posting. I just bought the 2014 Jeep JGC Limited a couple weeks ago. I have 600 miles on it (dealer had 250 on it already). If I put my ear against the steering wheel, I can clearly tell the noise is coming from the steering column area. However, I have no clue what is causing the sound. I did have a bracket removed a week after I bougth the Jeep because of a vibrating noise (which by the can be seen on youtube if you have that particular problem). I plan on taking it on this week or weekend and I'll report my findings. The sound I hear is a consistent, high-pitched, tuning fork like sound as described by previous commenters.
 
#10 ·
I hear this noise periodically on deceleration at speeds anywhere from 60mph to 30mph. The noise can be faint to fairly loud. I have been watching a similar thread on the SRT board as I want to see what is being deemed the root cause before I let the dealer start tinkering. My Jeep runs fine, no impact to performance etc. I would be interested if anyone has had it successfully fixed and what the culprit was? Read could be drive shaft, CV Joint.
 
#11 ·
Mine is so specific, that's why I can capture it on camera. It's never when braking, only on subtle turns, never on 90 degree turns from a stop like at a light. Seems to happen more often after I've been driving a while. It really sounds hydraulic, like something is "letting off steam" so to speak (as you can hear in my video). It's such a precise-pitched noise. Anyway...

Took it to dealer today, they acknowledge they hear the noise (oh boy). There is a "zone technician" from Jeep coming to take a look at it and my videos on Thursday of this week (8/1). I will post anything else that comes out of it. If this is a normal noise for the 2014, which I doubt, EVERYONE would be hearing it and there'd be a lot more people trying to get the issue fixed. Last time I buy a vehicle in the first model year like this (where something major has been redesigned).
 
#13 ·
The bumpback that I am getting from both the dealer and Jeep themselves is that it is normal. However, I am pushing them and trying to explain that "If this is normal, then normal sucks." I've got a STAR case open about it at Chrysler/Jeep, got a Zone Technician coming out on Thursday and they've emailed my video to a tech at the Jeep factory. I am just a bit concerned that this is going to come back as normal, and I'll just have to live with it.
 
#15 ·
Nope, I've tried it with the radio off, fans off, A/C on or off, you name it.

And, on top of that, the Jeep dealer swears its the Power Steering Pump. The problem that I am having is that he thinks it's normal and I simply don't agree. Well passed diagnosing the issue (I think), just trying to get them to help me solve it.
 
#17 ·
I'm pretty sure that thread was referencing the infamous steering column bracket that Jeep has a known fix for, silvermax. This is not a buzz or a vibration related sound... check out my video clip.

If anyone finds a solution from their dealer for this... please let me know. It's very frustrating and the dealer is giving me major pushback. They keep claiming its quiet and normal operation of the the steering system, but I assure you, it's not normal. In the video I posted, I have my fans on "5" with recirculate on (so fans are loud) and the iPhone has crappy mic. It's pretty dang loud. So frustrating that they won't admit it's a problem.
 
#19 ·
I'm pretty sure that thread was referencing the infamous steering column bracket that Jeep has a known fix for, silvermax. This is not a buzz or a vibration related sound... check out my video clip.

If anyone finds a solution from their dealer for this... please let me know. It's very frustrating and the dealer is giving me major pushback. They keep claiming its quiet and normal operation of the the steering system, but I assure you, it's not normal. In the video I posted, I have my fans on "5" with recirculate on (so fans are loud) and the iPhone has crappy mic. It's pretty dang loud. So frustrating that they won't admit it's a problem.
I took my car to the dealership and they fed me some bs that its an electronic issue due to the tech package I have....I spoke to the GM who I know and he is sending the actual Chrysler technician out to take a look after his service guys failed o provide a real solution. I'll let you guys know on Mon or Tues what happened... I have a feeling hat nothing will come out of this....s
 
#18 · (Edited)
Yea you are right, it does seem steering related. I turned off the radio when coming into work parking lot this morning and at slow speeds and I could hear it when turning. Even when I stopped in parking spot I could turn the wheel a little each way and could hear it stop and start. Definitely weird :confused:
 
#20 ·
If this is an issue, the only way we can get them to do something about it is having one of the techs or the dealerships agree that it's a problem. I should have the results of what the field tech said on Monday as well, but I also assume nothing's going to come of it because they never bothered to call me back (what a shocker).
 
#21 ·
Update: The service department heard the sound again today, the factory rep from Chrysler won't be there for another few weeks. The service department notified Chrysler Star Case for my car issue regarding the sound. In addition, I put a call in to the Chrysler /Jeep national customer service number : 1-800-992-1997. Hours: 8am-5pm. Make sure to select the number 3 for Jeep. The service dept said they believe it is coming from the power steering motor (which is electric). Currently there is no fukin fix to this sound, however, if people keep complaining them a tech service bulletin will be released by Chrysler and they could provide a fix. Needless to say, I'm pissed off. I hope you call the national number after exploring all the options with service dept like I did. The service manager is making an appointment for me to meet with the Chrysler Factory rep the next time he comes to the shop. Sorry for the bad news...maybe down the road there will be a fix.
 
#22 ·
So here's what we've come up with:

Service technician from Chrysler analyzed all of the data (drove other 2014's on the lot, consulted with Jeep, watched my video "evidence" and whatnot).

The sound is from the electronic steering assist. As the steering system uses hydraulic pressure, it builds up inside and occasionally, needs to bleed the excess pressure off when it's not needed. The sound we're hearing is that pressure being released from the assist's valve. In some cases, it's louder than normal, just because that's the nature of the beast. If you turn everything that makes noise off in the car as you drive, you can hear it happen more often, just a lot softer (I hear it when I slow to a stop sometimes, just a hell of a lot quieter). The tech says there is no fix for this, because it's doing what it's supposed to be doing. I asked if there's a way to dampen the sound and he said no (which I am dubious of... if I knew exactly where that pressure outputs I wonder if something could be rigged).

Jeep knows the results of this, I've spoken to them. They said they've logged all of the results of this, but say there's nothing to be done for now. I guess at this point, we'll have to wait until enough people complain (when a lot more 2014s are on the road) and then maybe they'll release a TSB for it.

I don't really see what more can be done. I've taken this as far as possible I believe. Am I missing something?
 
#23 ·
It seems as though we had very similar experiences with our service providers. The issue is just as you described it. So what options do we have at this point? I'm not sure...wait till a fix comes out I guess (which may never happen). I'll just have to elevate this to a legal matter as they've taken away the convenience and luxury I've paid for. It's really frustrating driving this Jeep every single time I sit in it...they've ruined my experience buying and enjoying this car, they need to resolve this matter...
 
#24 · (Edited)
Thanks for digging into this and getting Jeep to research and log it. Guess we'll just have to be patient wait and see if a fix comes up in future. I only hear it at low speeds with radio off so isn't a deal breaker for me but is the kind of thing that once you hear it your ear tunes into the noise so you pick it up more easily.
 
#25 ·
I am going to rest on it a bit as well. I think I've taken it as far as I can. As a side note, my sound is a occasionally louder than "normal"... that's the only time it annoys me. I can hear it with Fans on 5 and Recirculate running. Radio drowns it out though. I wish I didn't have to rest on it and they'd come up with a solution. I wish I knew where the air from the steering assist is being expelled, maybe I could make a damper for it, but I have no idea where that is.
 
#26 ·
I noticed this exact same problem today, a high pitch tone. I was driving on level ground going straight and was hearing it when I was just touching the accelerator at about 50 MPH. At first I thought it was the radio, but I turned it and everything else off and was still hearing the sound. I stopped at the next set of lights and haven't heard it since.

I guess Jeep created a whistle when they built the release valve.
 
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