CVT transmission "growl" 2004 Insight

[4bfox]

Welll...bought my Insight Dec 2009, and have put 35,000 miles or so on it without major problems. Changed trans fluid when we got the car. It has 145,500 miles on it now.

Until now....when shifted into "drive", the transmission makes a noise (sounds like a "growl" to me), which gets louder with higher RPMs. Don't hear it in Park, Neutral or Reverse.

Any ideas? I'm hoping the trans hasn't gone out already...

Ben

[4bfox]

Any ideas on this? I really need to get this car back on the road....we could pull the trans. and ship it somewhere for rebuilding...any suggestions there?

[Hitech]

I would change the transmission fluid (use Honda fluid) take a good look at the magnet (an even coating of black powder is normal). If no "chunks" press on.

[4bfox]

I wondered about this...so it COULD just be telling me to change the fluid? That would be real nice at this point in time!

I'll repost if that doesn't resolve it...thanks!

[4bfox]

OK...changed CVT fluid with real Honda CVT (that's what I've always used), trans is still noisy when in Drive (not neutral, Park or Reverse).

Am I making too big a deal of this? Anyone had this happen to them? What did you do?

Ben

[Rick-Dallas]

How did the magnet look?

Does the noise sound like a bearing noise (higher pitched as speed increases)? You said it sounded like a growl. Anything to add to the actual noise description itself?

The noise starts as soon as you put the car in drive even if you are not moving. Correct? So if you are sitting at a traffic light, the noise is still there. Or does the noise not start until you are actually moving?

Does the noise change as your driving speed changes up or down or is the noise sound consistent no matter what speed you are driving? I know you said it gets louder but other than a volume increase, does the noise itself change? Pitch/vibration? Is there any condition that makes the sound change in ANY WAY?

A lot of questions I know but answering them the best you can will help us help you.

[Hitech]

What did the magnet show when you changed the fluid?

[4bfox]

Magnet looked gray..like you said it should. Old fluid didn't have "chunks". I drove the car just a few minutes ago to refresh my memory.

I'll stick with the "growl" for the sound it makes when put in D or L (no noise in P or N)...it's a low gutteral sound, not a high-pitched whine. It DOES increase in pitch when accelerating, and decreased in pitch when slowing. Nothing else seems to change the pitch/intensity of the sound, no vibration noted. Noise is there as long as the engine is running in D or L, when it auto-stops so does the noise.

No change in gas mileage or performance that I've noticed....though we haven't been driving it, until we can figure out where to go from here. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help!

Ben

[50mpgdave]

Originally Posted by 4bfox

Magnet looked gray..like you said it should. Old fluid didn't have "chunks". I drove the car just a few minutes ago to refresh my memory.

I'll stick with the "growl" for the sound it makes when put in D or L (no noise in P or N)...it's a low gutteral sound, not a high-pitched whine. It DOES increase in pitch when accelerating, and decreased in pitch when slowing. Nothing else seems to change the pitch/intensity of the sound, no vibration noted. Noise is there as long as the engine is running in D or L, when it auto-stops so does the noise.

No change in gas mileage or performance that I've noticed....though we haven't been driving it, until we can figure out where to go from here. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks for your help!

Ben

My 2002 CVT has the same ''growl'' (sounds more like a very loud ''bearing'' noise as well)
I have 175,000 miles now....has been getting progressively louder since about 135,000. I have just been living with it for years now because Honda dealer said they aren't allowed by Honda to rebuild CVT's...only replace.....$7000!!!!
Everything was fine until just had o2 sensor replaced at Honda and tech drove car (not as gently as I do I'll bet) and now transmission is REALLY loud and am getting vibration and weird noises from shifter that changes with pitch and intensity with hand pressure.
What should I do ? Honda shop said they could not do the 40 mile test drive to see if o2 sensor replacement was the correct diagnosis(it was not! check engine light came back on in 30 or 40 miles...that's a whole different story). I love my little Insight and do not want to ''junk'' it (my impression from Honda).

[50mpgdave]

Originally Posted by Rick-Dallas

How did the magnet look?

Does the noise sound like a bearing noise (higher pitched as speed increases)? You said it sounded like a growl. Anything to add to the actual noise description itself?

The noise starts as soon as you put the car in drive even if you are not moving. Correct? So if you are sitting at a traffic light, the noise is still there. Or does the noise not start until you are actually moving?

Does the noise change as your driving speed changes up or down or is the noise sound consistent no matter what speed you are driving? I know you said it gets louder but other than a volume increase, does the noise itself change? Pitch/vibration? Is there any condition that makes the sound change in ANY WAY?
A lot of questions I know but answering them the best you can will help us help you.

MY ''GROWLING'' DOES INDEED SOUND LIKE A LOUD ''BEARING'' NOISE THAT ''WHINES'' LOUDER WITH SPEED. HAS BEEN GETTING PROGRESSIVELY LOUDER OVER THE LAST 30 THOUSAND MILES OR SO. RECENTLY A STRANGE VIBRATING NOISE COMES FROM SHIFT HANDLE THAT CHANGES IN PITCH WITH PRESSURE.
THE MAIN LOUD NOISE STARTS AS SOON AS I PUT IN DRIVE EVEN IF NOT MOVING. NOISE GOES AWAY IN NUETRAL.
I THINK THE PITCH MAY BE HIGHER AT HIGHER ROAD SPEEDS BUT ROAD AND WIND NOISE AT HIGH SPEED DROWNS IT OUT.
SEEMS TO BE A LOW PITCH LOUD GROWL AT IDLE IN DRIVE...NOT AS LOUD AT IDLE IN REVERSE.
THANX, DAVE.
ps-thank-you for all the questions
ps-please see my quick reply to 4bfox below as well