[dnoishere]

...so I'm new here...1st post. Dean from KCMO.
I just bought a 2014 Captiva Sport LT..a white one and so far really like it.
The 1st few times I started it up, like the test drive...pick up..etc...everything good.
One day I start it up I got short "whistle" kind of sound...? weird.
Next day or so I got two short "whistle" sounds..
Another day I got three "whistle" sounds...
Next four "whistles"...then again five...see the pattern?
So, it has only done this on a cold start up.
Any ideas on a why?
Thanks and look forward to getting lots of good info from this site.
I have belonged to other automobile sites and have enjoyed the knowledge...

 

[Phil Price]

Welcome @dnoishere. This isn’t anything specific to Captiva, but a water pump on the way out can make such a noise. Keep an eye on that. BTW, I’m trying to encourage Captiva owners to post more, but hopefully the low volume of activity is simply a reflection of low volume of vehicles and that people aren’t having a lot of issues. When you resolve the issue, please share the answer here!

...so I'm new here...1st post. Dean from KCMO.
I just bought a 2014 Captiva Sport LT..a white one and so far really like it.
The 1st few times I started it up, like the test drive...pick up..etc...everything good.
One day I start it up I got short "whistle" kind of sound...? weird.
Next day or so I got two short "whistle" sounds..
Another day I got three "whistle" sounds...
Next four "whistles"...then again five...see the pattern?
So, it has only done this on a cold start up.
Any ideas on a why?
Thanks and look forward to getting lots of good info from this site.
I have belonged to other automobile sites and have enjoyed the knowledge...

 

[dnoishere]

Thanks for the welcome...its not the water pump...I forgot to mention its coming from inside the car, by the data port...I believe its from the dealers "theft deterrent" device...am checking into it...

 

[Kggr99]

Hi & welcome @dnoishere !

One person's "whistle" is another person's "buzz". It's a bad analogy, but I think you catch my meaning.

Here are some random thoughts....maybe one might guide you in a direction that would help with your problem.


Since it happens during cold starts, it sounds like the device warms up enough that the "whistle" stops (am I correct?)...which could be an electronic component, or even something with the HVAC system (HVAC blend door actuator for the rear floor vents for example example).


Verifying...
The "data port" being within (inside) the center arm rest?


Thinking. Does it happen with ....
1) A/C (HVAC) on or off?

2) Radio on or off?

3) Smart phone plugged in (data port or power port) or not? ie, do you plug your smartphone (iPhone / Android, etc) into the data port....or do you use the power port (ie, "cigarette lighter" port) with an adapter (power port to USB) to charge your device?

Reason I ask is that, I had what I would interpret as a "whine" (sound) while using my smart phone with an adapter (similar to this:
http://bit.ly/2nRf2tP ). It was a cheap device (my bad), but when I purchased a more expensive adapter, the whine went away.


Theft deterrent system....
If you have an after-market security system, it could be emitting the sound if the installation wasn't done correctly (ie, it wasn't grounded correctly, or didn't have line filters installed). Some after-market installers cut corners.

That said, if you believe it is your after-market theft deterrent system, if your familiar with it's usage, you could possibly (temporarily) disable it (or remove it's source of power) and see if your "whistling" goes away.

If your referring to GM's factory theft deterrent system, then it might be something different. However, it would certainly be plausible that a ground connection could become loose or dislodged.


As @Phil Price mentioned, PLEASE be sure to post your solution so that we all can benefit.

Best wishes!

 

[JackE]

I hadn't even thought of the electrical "buzz" thing, I'm more envisioning the "whistle" of the cat calls at a construction site when a pretty girl walks by. I recently bought a cheap charging cord for my phone while on the road and forgot my good one. It had a kind of a very quiet buzz sound when I started the suburban if there was anything plugged into it. Until it crackled and popped and blew it's self up anyway. Had to stop again and buy a much better quality charger this time. No more buzz either.

 

[Kggr99]

@JackE

ROTFL.... ("whistle" of the cat calls at a construction site).
Your envision made me think of this movie scene.

Made my day!
Thanks!

 

[JackE]

I am here to help sir!

 

[dnoishere]

..okay so it was from a "swat" device installed by the dealer...apparently they forgot to turn it off or remove it...so I did. It was hooked into the OBD port. I broke the wire taking it out so I spliced a wire on it till it gets a little warmer out and I can fix more permanently...no more whistle/siren bleep kinda sound...thanks for all the input!

 

[xPosTech]

And just what is a "swat" device?

Ted

 

[dnoishere]

...see above?

 

[xPosTech]

When I see swat I think special weapons and tactics. The pic is of a GPS tracker. If I were you I would hope a dealer put it on. And if the vehicle isn't paid for I'd read the contract closely. You might have just defaulted a payment contract. Used car dealers install them so they can imobilize and track a vehicle when a payment is missed.

Since it was wired into a voltage source it was put there semi-permanently, far longer than a battery would last.

Ted

 

[dnoishere]

...yes that's what has been stated..and it's paid for...besides it was pretty easy to disable and remove so don't think it would be much trouble for a thief to do the same..

 

[xPosTech]

I didn't say anything about a thief. It makes the vehicle easier to repossess. Used car dealers that use them write the contracts so you can't remove them until title in hand. Law enforcement devices are a little more discrete.

Ted

 

[Kggr99]

@dnoishere
WOW. I wouldn't have ever considered that was the culprit. I'm glad you located it, and were successful in removing it from your vehicle.

As @xPosTech mentioned, I've heard used car dealers using those devices for vehicle recovery. I agree that it should (would?) have been disclosed at the time of your purchase.

That said, I'm curious now who(m) installed this device. The dealership you purchased it from, the previous vehicle's owner (remember our Captiva Sport vehicles were "fleet" vehicles).

I purchased my Captiva Sport from a Chevrolet dealership CPO....but your endeavor has made me want to go look under my dashboard now <g>.

I'm not advocating living in a "tin-foil" (sorry, that dates me, lets say "aluminum foil") world, but I now wonder if your OnStar might also be tracking you. Several years ago, there was concern that even if you weren't an OnStar subscriber, that it still reported metrics. I'm sure someone here might have more info about it....but I think disabling it is as easy as removing a fuse.

Keep us in the loop.