My 2010 Cobalt SS/TC started a very low pitch whine noise from inside the car with teh windows up. Its not anythign in the engine. The noise varys by speed. The faster you go the louder it gets. Having the clutch in or out makes no difference at all. Also if I'm in an enclosed space (between two walls for instance) going a decent speed say 30mph I can hear a scratching grinding noise very similar to what rust on a rotor being scratched off sounds like. I've jacked the car up and I can't find any slack in the wheel bearing and turning the wheel I don't get any scratching noise but I do get a little clunk clunk from the axle. I can move the driver tire and attempt to hold the yoke or whatever you want to call it (part of the axle that actually slides in the transmission and they're about 1/4" of slack in the boot (slack between the actual shaft and the yoke as I call it so I'm assuming the axle is bad). But what are the odds this is whats causing the whine/grinding noise I never heard a pop driving the car ever. What do you guys think?

 

Subd, having similar troubles

 

Checked it out a little closer today. It sounds exactly like gear whine from a rear wheel drive vehicle. I got both wheels of the ground and let some one go through the gears and it sounds like its coming from the middle of the transmission. Looks like its going to the dealership to let them uphold the 100,000 mile powertrain warranty. The car does have 1/4 slack in the axles though.

 

It was the transmission. Dealership is covering it.

 

ahh nice they are covering it. my trans is whining a lot now too i can hear 2nd gear whine and all sorts of chatter and grinding noises.

 

Time for 6 gears

 

lucky