Well, my new ride is free of engine noises and solid as can be with respect to rattles (so far) but it does have a very irritating A/C fan whistle/howling noise coming from behind the dash/vents.

I have found that the howling goes away whenever
A. I switch the system to "re-circulated" air, OR B. If I'm drawing in outside air, whenever I open ANY window or door the whistling/howling noise will quit? This happens with or without the air conditiong turned on. It's strictly a function of the dash vent fan blower...

I'm not in the mood to take my car back to the dealer again, after what I've recently been through. SO I was wondering if anybody knew where the outside air intake was for the ventilation system? And also where is the micron filter that they talk about? I'm hoping that I could get lucky and find the source of the problem somewhere within one of those two places, because the whistle goes away as soon as I vent the cabin or switch to not using outside air... Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I love my new ride, but I have to keep opening the window to keep from going nuts... THANKS!

 

The problem is right next to the blinker fluid reservoir

 

Hey Thanks NSW, Have you heard the same noise before, yourself? I'll go try and check it out tomorrow, but can you please elaborate for me a bit?

I hate to sound too stupid, I usually do all of my own maintenance on most of my car problems. BUT what is the "blinker fluid reservoir"? Are you saying that the fresh air intake for the ventilation system is located near the windshield washer fluid bottle? or the radiator overflow reservoir? Is that where the micron filter is located? Under the hood, or under the dash?

If you've heard this type of problem yourself, just what exactly did you find wrong?

I am excited to hope that I can locate the source of the problem myself... and I am very grateful for any more help that you can give me

 

you are a true newbie

 

Yeah, I'm a newbie... SO WHAT?

I've had nothing but grief with my TLS experience thus far, and have not had the time to dig around for things. I have found this board to be a great source of information and assistance.

Are you here to help me, or just yank my chain?

I thought that this board was to help create and maintain comaradarie and support for fellow TLS owners.

If I'm wrong, then that's just sad... If I have to go through some kind of ritual before I'm taken seriously, then that's just sad...

If you or anyone else can give me some actual help, I'm all ears. I'll even say "I OWE YOU" if that will help someone to be more straight forward with their responses. I'll even call you "November-3-Whiskey-7-3/2... if that'll make you feel better about yourself. I'm not too proud to beg... or admit that I'm a newbie... AT LEAST I CAN SPELL!

Seriously folks, any and all help is appreciated! NO HARD FEELINGS!

 

I am not sure on this car, but I know on my previous Nissan the filter was located behind the glovebox. You actually had to remove the door to get to it. Just a idea...

 

So-called AC filter is behind the glove compartment and you have to remove it to get access. Here is how:
Remove the small shock, which is on the right side. Then, there are tabs in each top corner of the box. Remove them by applying pressure on the backside of them (you may need to use flat head screwdriver or similar tool). Next, remove screws, one in each bottom corner on the outside of the glove box. That is it for the box.
There should be tabs (they should be labeled) that need to be cut for the square shaped plastic. And FYI there are two filters.

 

now that was uncalled for and you have been absolutely no help whatsoever.

he is trying to do valid ts'ing and all u can do is mock him? at only 100 posts, ur not much more of a newbie urself.

 

I may be a newbie, but I'm not stupid... I'm smart enough to know that there's no "blinker fluid reservoir", but on the otherhand, some other stupid people may explain it as such. I was only trying to be polite and not flame anyone in my posts. Instead I got bit and made to look like a fool...

Well, so be it... I've got more important things to do with my time than to get into forum battles with losers.

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL OF THE LEGITIMATE HELP AND CONCERN THAT I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THIS FORUM! I guess there's always "one apple"...

It does sound like getting to the micron filter is a chore... I may have to save this problem until I have a punch list for the dealer to deal with... BUT Does anyone know where the outside ventilation air path comes from? Is it from the vents outside at the bottom of the windshield? Or is there some other channel coming from near the front of the hood?

 

Almost all Hondas have the fresh air vents located at the bottom of the windshield. I know that my 95 civic was like that and the accord, so i would see no reason as to why the Tl would be different. There is a simple test you could do, put one of those glade plugin things at the bottom of the windshield and then turn the fresh air on, if you smell the glade plugin scent, then thats it. Otherwise, it might be somewhere else, but i doubt it.

 

This may be a remote possibility but I have had this problem on other cars. When you operate the fan a slight overpressure is sometimes created in the car. If one of the door seals is not working properly, you will hear a hiss very similar to wind noise. It may be as simple as tightening one of the door latches. There is not problem in recirc because the air has an outlet back into the fan.

 

Yeah, it's something like that. I did verify that the fresh air vents are at the bottom of the windshield. When using outside air, I evidently build up too much positive pressure inside. I can make the howling noise go away by opening windows, doors, or even the trunk? If the door is wide open, I can also re-create the noise by covering up the outside windshield fresh air vents with a towel?

So by either blocking the intended path of fresh air intake, or by venting the cabin, the whistling/howling goes away. The howling comes from behind the dash, so I don't think it's a whistle going out through a poor door seal. BUT, I'll check that out. It's more like the fresh air intake path is restricted or has a leak from some other inside cabin source. That may be why when I open up the doors or windows, this other path gets more air to draw from and I no longer have the positive air pressure inside? Or it may give the intended yet restricted path somewhere else to draw from and bypass the obstruction causing the howling?

Can anyone else cause this howling noise by placing a towel across their front outside air vents at the bottom of the windshield. The engine doesn't need to be on to hear the noise. Just the fan blower, different speeds, different howl... The cabin does have to be closed up with all windows and doors shut. Well actually, I don't think that's true. Come to think of it, with the doors open the howling went away but when I covered up the outside windshield vents with a towel the noise began again. So I guess that leads me to believe that there is some kind of restriction in the fresh air duct system. Too thick of filter? mis-aligned filter or ductwork? or just something that doesn't belong in the path? Thanks for all of the help and ideas!

This could happen to someone else, and I'll pass along anything I find out. Any more suggestions are always appreciated!

 

 

exactly, no one gives a sh*t about what you said, you got that right.

 

To those respectable posters on this board, thanks for standing up for its reputation!

and "Hey N3W", I'm sure that you don't give a sh*t about what you say or what other people think, but that kind of attitude will inevitably double back to expose and alienate you as the low-rent worthless piece of sh*t that you are. Someday you will meet another 16 year old with their parent's TLS and maybe then you can fit in... I guess your name was D!CK afterall!

No need for anyone else to respond, nature will take its course and worms will eventually eat the rotten apple... that's a simple fact that even a simpleton should understand... it's just a matter of time... not to worry...

 

maybe i should be more clear

 

Once again I warn you newter. Knock your sh!t off.