Matt W

Wow, I thought I had propeller shaft "whine" before today but now I know I was wrong. It was 7 degrees out today and about 10 minutes into my drive to work I start hearing this whining noise over my radio and my muffler. I thought the storm siren was going on outside but nope it was the car.

Is the propeller whine really this loud or is mine another issue? I can hear it starting around 25mph up to 40mph and then it goes away, it sounds like a low volume storm siren between 33mph and 40mph and when I open my window is audible.

I think I also can begin to hear it once I get around to 75-80mph. Is this the shaft whine issue? I really hope it goes away in the warmer weather, I cannot stand this noise. I feel like I am riding in my friends beat up 300k mile 1990 Civic.

Matt W

I am thinking this must be a different issue, it is very audible and I can even fill some vibration at certain speed when I am holding onto the shifter. I think I am going to need to get this checked out. Anybody have any ideas?

getakey

I've had the 30mph whine in cold temps now for 3+ years
hasn't gotten any worse and goes away when car warms up
That said, cold here is 40 degrees

Matt W

Mine must be a different issue because it is loud, doesn't go away, and is very annoying. I can feel it when I hold onto the shifter and accelerate.

oo7spy

This thread documents the noise issues very well. I also think there is a potential issue with some bearings, but don't remember exactly.

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rl-2005-2012-76/002-propeller-shaft-whine-differential-whir-754805/

fatty

Does it sound like engine noise in the radio? Mine was like that and exactly in the rpms you mentioned. I got the my shaft replaced......that sounded weird.

Matt W

Wow it looks like it is definitely the propeller shaft looking at the post stevesrl. I mean I have never heard this before at all. Its like it just went from great condition to instantly bad.

mitchkramez

Mine was pretty high pitched (and only at 60ish mph), they originally thought it was the prop-shaft. They replaced it under warranty and I still had the noise, though I'm still glad they replaced it . The end result ended up being the Transmission, which was also replace last year under partial warranty and partial AcuraCare services since I had just bought the car.

I could def. feel more vibration on the shift lever before the swap, now this is very little, but I can still feel it - which I imagine is normal. I could always hear the "whistle", as I'd describe it, over my music and such at those (60mph) speeds, so that being said, it was loud to me, and it varied depending on where you were in the car, if you were in the passenger seat you could barely hear it. If I moved my head around the volume level would change drastically.

If you want know for sure, your dealer or service shop can use a tool (mine called it chassis-ears) where they stick microphones on suspect areas of the car and can drive around and see which one the sound is coming from, should be a quick diagnostic and you can know exactly what the problem is.

The dealer told me that my U-Join in the prop-shaft was totally jacked, though I noticed no difference after they only replaced that. Once the TX was replaced all was good.

getakey

I'm hoping your 60ish sound and transmission issue is different than the 30ish sound
When I first heard my 30ish sound, I thought it was interference in the raido because it sounded like it was coming directly from the center speaker. It is pretty loud.
Like I said before, the sound has been there for at lest 3 years and pnly occurs at 30 during the first few minutes of driving the car in cool temps

mitchkramez

My 60ish transmission sound sounded like it was coming form the center speaker too, and I'd agree - it was pretty loud - though my wife didn't think so. It was like a high pitched siren several hundred feet away... higher pitched than an ambulance/police/fire siren gets I think though.

The dealer seemed pretty confident it was the drive shaft at first since it was so sloppy and had lots of play in the joints. They seemed surprised when it didn't fix it.

Our 2003 Pilot has the same kind of whistle/whine, and has had it for almost 60k miles so I doubt it's really a problem either, just a noise you get used... though on the pilot, it's so loud in the cabin at those speeds that you can't really hear it unless you're accelerating.

I think the difference in the sounds is that mine was always there around 60mph, it never went away unless you went 65+ or -55, regardless of temperature - So I suppose you can take some comfort in that getakey

Matt W. that doesn't bode well for your TX though You'll never know for sure until it's checked out, but like I said, you could probably learn to ignore it.

I just knew I had the warranty to help take care of it. I think total out of pocket for me was $500 - AcuraCare picked up the rest which I think was $1600 after the dealer warranty paid $1600 (total cost was ~$3500 I think). The dealer warranty had a max output of $5k, which between the drive shaft and the transmission I would have gone over, that's where Acura Care stepped in.

If it is the transmission; have the dealership put in a Acura Re-man transmission - you'll get 3yrs /36kmi parts and labor warranty on it. Mine's been great. Anything else would be a crap shoot, and if you look at it this way - $3500 is WAY less than a different car. Especially since once you replace the transmission you basically have a new car since those engines are bulletproof

Matt W

Wowww, that doesnt sound good. Did you notice any weirdness in shifting at all? My transmission shifts perfectly fine. BUUUT the day before this happened I was driving about 80 MPH and something weird happened and it felt like my transmission grabbed for a second and then everything was fine....I am thinking I should have stuck with the regular Honda transmission fluid and I should have not done the Amsoil...

And the siren sound you describe sounds exctaly what I am hearing. And I noticed the sound doesn't completely go away until I am between 60-70 it only gets quieter when I get past 45ish.

mitchkramez

I didn't really notice any issues in shifting really, everything seemed fine other than the whine. I never really noticed it doing anything else, but I had only had it for a few months, so I'm guessing this was why the previous owner was trading it in Who knows what symptoms she experienced.

Yeah, after this, I'd never put anything in my transmission but what's supposed to be in there. Even Amsoil stuff - I'm sure there's a good reason Acura says to only use their transmission fluid - other than for $$$ b/c they'd get more money from you always replacing transmissions using the wrong stuff

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

why no video?

Matt W

Well I'll go give it a shot now. The exhaust is so damn loud that I figured it wasnt worth it.

Matt W

Well I am annoyed I took two videos. The second one was really good and it ended up not saving, fuck. Well I will post the first one soon.

EDIT: Got the second video to work, you can hear it VERY well. Just got my new Samsung Galaxy S3 so I attribute it to the dual microphones.

Matt W

Alright here it is!

You should be able to very clearly hear the noise, you may need to turn your volume up a little more than normal, but the noise is very audible.

I have showed in this video that the noise is not RPM, gear, or load dependent so that leads me to believe it is the propeller shaft.

By the way the service past due is for the oil change, and its actually not past due I just reset the oil change light late after my last change.

NOW TELL ME THAT DOESNT SOUND LIKE A STORM SIREN!

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

damn, thats pretty bad

depending on how loud it is outside the car you might pull people over LoL

ichi d

^lol dealership time.

Matt W

Hahaha I was thinking the same thing. Well I was just going to keep driving like this until summer but I guess if it is something other than the propeller shaft It could cause worse damage in the long run.

Want to see if the guy with the transmission problem was hearing similar noise.

The car drives perfectly otherwise.

At least I can clear the traffic in rush hour lol!

oo7spy

Can you use manual mode to see if any one gear is worse than the rest? Have you checked all of your fluid levels?

mitchkramez

Wow - that's way worse than mine ever sounded!

Matt W

Ill check fluids now.

I tried manual mode, all gears sound the same. The only thing that will consistently produce the sound is traveling at that certain speed range.

Matt W

Well I checked the fluids. Engine Oil is normal. Transmission fluid is a little over the upper limit, I don't think that would be causing this problem though would it? I have been driving like that for about half a year now and it has been completely normal.

I am going to get this checked out Friday or Wedensday probably.

oo7spy

Trans fluid sits above the limit when the car is cold. That's normal. What about the transfer case and diff?

gumbaz357

Please remain seated until the pilot has turned off the seat belt sign...taught u was on American airlines for a second jk lol....but I had a similar noise in my 2nd RL and it was my altenator it was annoying as F too aperantly my bearing was gone...changed the Altty no more siren....but urs sounds very serious tho

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

that could be too, the dealer will hopefully pinpoint it.

Matt W

Transfer case and differential should be perfect, did them myself this summer and I made sure to lower the car before putting the plug back in so it should be at the exact level....I used Amsoil though so it could be anything....

I have been driving around like this...school and work are killing my schedule to get into the shop. Going to try tomorrow morning.

If it is the drive shaft I got a quote from a place I had the car fixed before and they said they have a couple used ones and they would put one on for $500 dollars (including labor) and would guarantee it a year. Do you guys think I should go for this or do a new one (if its the drive shaft)?

The place is pretty good, the specialize in Honda and Acuras. http://www.smimportauto.com/service.htm They will also give me a loaner vehicle this time which I need since I have work and school.

oo7spy

Seems like an alternator noise would be rev dependent due to being on the belt system.

Matt W

Well I took it in this morning. They think it is probably the transfer case but are going to get it up in the air and run through the gears to make sure.

I have never heard of one of those going bad on here so I will probably go for used transfer case. They have one for $815 with 52K miles on it. Will warranty it for a year. $150 labor to change the cases. If anyone knows the part number for a new transfer case let me know.

Matt W

Wow I am finding these transfer cases from wrecked cars online all over the place cheap. I found one for $250 with 22k miles. This looks like something I might be up for trying myself.

Matt W

Well I just got the call...its the rear differential!

Apparently it had a very small leak and not at the drain plug either. My guy said he drained it and there was a couple small metal shavings but nothing big. He is going to fill it up with the Honda fluid, add some limited slip additive and let me know how it goes.

So I definitely should have taken it in right away, stupid me.

So moral of the story if you here the sound in my video don't wait to take it in!

EDIT: Glad my grandfather offered to let me use his car...I was thinking about waiting until summer.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

you are a lucky dude if its not damaged... buy a lotto ticket

Matt W

Well there was a hole in it (or there is now at least lol). I asked them to weld it shut and they said they couldn't do it there. I'm going to weld it and see what happens. I don't have anything to lose at this point. He said something most have pooked through.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

what the hell? thats crazy.

Im not a welder but you might be better off with JB weld to fill that hole.

Matt W

Im going to give this a try. Thanks for the recommendation Heavy.

http://www.jbweld.com/product/j-b-highheat/

EDIT: Well maybe I will give the real weld a shot first. I think pressure builds inside these things don't they?

I would like to take it apart now and really see what happened...is it possible to buy replacement parts for the inside?

NVM this doesnt look like anything I want to take apart....here is where the hole is at..



There is two fluid chambers on these things so at least its only the front one...

Matt W

I don't know what could have came loose in here and even caused something like that...

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

I can tell you first hand that when mine blew the dealership would not take it apart.

They got a replacement, swapped them out, and shipped the old one to Honda, per their request, for analysis.

The down side to welding is cleaning the area.

oo7spy

Matt W

Well I drained the old fluid and used the air compressor to clear it out at the same time. Forgot there was this much damn fluid in there.

Going to use JB Weld like Heavy suggested. Ill fill her back up tomorrow.

I doubt the whine will go away...but this should give me enough time to examine my options...

A new one is basically 1/4 of what I paid for the damn car...

oo7spy

Makes sense. That's the work horse of the car's best feature.