i'm experiencing a whining noise that sounds like a combination of a cat going "raer" (but more "tired" and flat than a cat sound) and the engine noise you get when going fast in reverse, but significantly louder.

anyone know what this is? I've done searches and heard all sorts of things: torque converter bearings, tranny, alternator, loose intake, headers....

But to help narrow down this problem:

- Same noise in Park, Neutral, and Drive in all cases
- Same noise in Warm and Cold engine
- Makes noise more readily after I've been driving hard
- can hear it most clearly from 2000 to 4000 rpms, very clear and abnormal whining if downshifting to a gear at a higher speed than normal and then not braking or accelerating. (i think engine noise drowns it out after 4k)
- No differences in the way the car drives or shifts, just...a noise as if something is about to break!
- tranny fluid is OK and filled
- no noticeable problems with power or dimming or starting problems

Does anyone know what this noise is from or has had experience with this kind of noise with these symptoms?

 

almost all cars do it, especially hondas.

 

I know that whiny noise you are talking about, I have that too, but this particular noise I'm talking about...I didn't used to have this particular whining noise. It's fairly loud like trying to turn a motor that isn't powered.

 

oh ok my bad, i thought you were just talking about in reverse, i didnt read the entire thing. so its in park and drive, all the time.

 

yep, unfortunately =/

any ideas what is causing the racket?

 

i got the same shit, no clue wtf it is

 

yeah, beats me also...it's a very annoying noise too

i wonder if anyone has had this problem and had it fixed or diagnosed?

Aznxtallxboy if you're still following this thread, how long have you had this problem?

for me, the noise has just recently gotten pretty bad, and I'm trying to figure out what's wrong without dropping by the dealership...last time I brought my car in for an oil change I ended up dishing out 700 for "needs to be fixed" things that in retrospect, I should have just gotten fixed elsewhere. That was only about 3 weeks ago...

coincidentally eough, this whining cat noise started right after my last visit to the dealership! Maybe the crooks there drove the shit out of my car or did something to it... when I opened my trunk after getting my car back from the dealership, I found that my washing bucket had gotten loose and my car wash stuff was scattered everywhere. That washing bucket is tied TIGHT to the corner of the trunk...it doesn't move even the way I drive... Meh.

 

maybe alternator ?

The Alternator in the TypeR got water in it big time. The car sat for about 2 weeks without moving it.. and when I fired it up, it was like: WHAANNGRRRRHHHHNNRRRR I turned the engine off immediatly after i started it.. looked under the hood, cranked it.. seemed to me like the sound was coming from there. So that got replaced and it's nice n quiet now.

 

Hmmm. Well, I was parked under a stupid sprinkler head at my apartment complex that was getting the underside (and my car in general) wet. Must have been at least several times. Can water get into the alternator because of that?

One of my mechanic friends said it could also be a loose bearing or something. No idea. I still have the noise though that didnt' used to be there. Isn't getting worse or anything for the moment :-/ I sometimes wish whatever it is would just break so I can get it fixed lol.

 

it may be compressor bearing or tensioner

 

i've had this noise maybe for 6-7 months now. i just recently had an oil change done. after the oil change, i noticed the noise got louder. when i use D1 ---> D2, i can hear that whinning noise when the RPM's increase, like a big fat cat got stuck in the timing belt or something.

 

i have a whine too. but it sounds much more like a SC whine as to a cat. i noticed this right after i had my tranny replaced about 6 months ago. like you said, it's mostly heard in the lower gear shifts.

 

I've never experienced this problem, but people who have...well hate to say it...they've had their trannies replaced.

 

Hmm, tranny going bad? That would suck. I'm not really experiencing any shifting problems or jerkiness... Sounds like something's turning that doesn't want to turn?? Very gross noise.

Going to a family mechanic back in Houston that does Hondas this labor day weekend. If I figure anything new out i'll let yall know.

 

Oh yeah, about the SC whine, yeah that's the noise that I mean. SC whine = big fat cat. Maybe someone stuck a supercharger in my car as a present

About the whole transmission thing, what leads me to believe it's some other problem is that my car will make the stupid noise when revved in park as well as drive. Seems linked to something that the engine always turns in proportion to the RPMS.

 

still on the first tranny, 64,500

 

do you realize that you have just jinxed yourself.

 

Ya, my car does it too, in the lower gears. (it's a different noise than I had with the alternator though. That one was way louder, this one sounds like a muffled sound somehow). My noise, however stops when I'm in neutral or park. I can get it up to 6k rpm and only engine noise. I noticed it doesn't "always" do it when I drive. I have 78k now and i'm on my 2nd tranny. (1st was replaced at around 50 or 55k miles)

 

My 99 CL 3.0 56K orig. mi. - recently started making same whining noise from engine bay. Interestingly the whining started after having it detailed and run through a car wash that sprays water from above and below the car. Maybe water in the engine bay was a contributing factor to the onset of the problem. I'm doubtful it's the transmission b/c the noise is present in park or neutral when not in motion or in drive and moving at speed. Dealer said it's likely the Alternator on its deathbed. Due to my distrust for dealer advise, and the $800 quote they gave me, I'm taking matters into my own hands by checking this forum, and investigating myself.

My mechanic brother gave me a tip that I tried and I think it worked. I took a piece a 1/4" I.D. vacuum hose and attached it to the tapered handle end of a 12 inch 1/4" dia. round file [poor mans mechanics stethoscope]. I placed the hose up to my ear while CAREFULLY touching certain places on the RUNNING engine where I though the whining was coming from. Surprisingly, it was quite effective. The loudest sound was coming from the serpentine belt tensioner below the alternator? The alternator was making a similar sound, but it wasn't nearly as loud.

I think my first approach will be to replace the belt and tensioner b/c both look worn and are probably original to the car and due for replacement anyway; not to mention it's the cheapest thing to try. If that doesn't do it then it's the alternator next.

Anybody else have any better ideas?

 

ive started to hear this also.....just like a faint SC whine, and gets louder as i accelerate, i never heard it before. hopefully my tranny blows so i can get a new one, its starting to shift like my girlfriend does when she is trying to drive a stick.

<<<< more everyday!! not one problem with that stud

 

I have that faint sc whine also. I searched the forum and no one knows what it is, But alot of people have it. My cars driving fine and every thing seems normal. I had this problem for about 3 years now

 

Yeah, I have no clue. Well, when I took it to my mechanic back in Houston, I showed them the noise and they looked at me funny. At first my car wouldn't make the noise because it doesn't make the noise until it's been revved a few times after startup. Then it makes the noise consistently. Still though, he says the noise is not out of the ordinary.... BUT then this mechanic also goes by the "if it ain't broken don't fix it motto" lol. Broken don't fix it or not, if it's something like the alternator though, broken in the middle of nowhere doesn't sound very appealing :-/

I mean, are alternators usually slow or spontaneous in failing? If it's the alternator, then it's been dying for a long long time. Noise became noticeable about 6 weeks ago and I drive this car pretty often.

 

i found out what the sound is, Its the tranny about to blow. I took my car to get the tranny fliud changed and he told me my car has a whineing sound, and that sound is the bearings rubbing each other. And he found metal particals on the magnet drain plug. and i never even told him about the noise or the recall so he must know what hes talking about.

 

i concur

 

Same Problem here.....got it right after I installed my Strut Brace last summer. I couldnt take it anymore, so the other day I checked every hose/line/connection, took the intake off and cleaned everything upp. Now she works fine, and theres no more noise! Who knows what it actually was....My guess would be that it was a loose connection to the intake, or perhaps a vacuum line that came loose....Whatever the case, I seemed to have fixed it, and no more whiny annoying sound when I accelerate!!

I suggest just thoroughly checking everything...i.e. Intake/hoses/vacuum lines/any other lines you can think of, and you just might get lucky like me and solve your problem!

Good luck!!~

 

You guys check the brand on your alternator. If it's a Delphi replace it the noise all you guys are stating is a common honda v6 problem. Shitty GM built alternator honda used.

 

hey interesting...I'm gonna check that out later. whatever the problem is, the noise has been going on for a long time with no adverse effect....though it is really stupid noise that I would like to get rid of! thx

 

Well, I don't get that noise in Neutral when i'm revving.

 

Are all you guys Autos? Do any of you have underdrive pulleys? My thought was the the pulleys spinning the accesories slower may be causing the whine, but I haven't checked into it yet. It is VERY annoying though. That and the stupid mystery clunking.

 

I have a auto with the UR pulley set. But u had the noise way before i installed them. I don't think its the alternator because i can only hear it when im going about 20MPH

 

hmm. lol, seems like a lot of people have this problem. Mine happens when I'm stepping on the accelerator somewhat gently (can't hear it if I floor it) or if I am in SS and downshift to a gear where I'm engine braking but don't step on the brake immediately, it may make the noise as well...but onlywhen it feels like it! . . .

I wonder if it sounds as whiny and retarded to others outside the car as it does inside the car...lol!

 

oh... and i get the noise in neutral when revving it

but like i said, only on occasion.. I can't figure out the pattern of when. it's been so long i just live with it when it wants to be whinyyy