2004 Honda Accord LX
2.4L VTEC
140K miles
5 Speed Manual

Hey everyone I have searched this site for answers but I am getting mixed results since my cars symptoms are not constant. The issue seems to be in the drivers front area but, this could be false. Please see my symptoms and my troubleshooting and see if you can help or if I have missed something.

Thanks,

Symptoms:

- Inconsistent humming/moaning noise and slight vibration (appears to be drivers side front).
- When noise is present, it only occurs above 55 mph.
- If noise becomes present it usually occurs after the first 15min to 30min of drive time.
- No unuasual noises at low speeds or cornering.
- Slight roughness when high speed braking.
- No unuasal pulling.
- No clunking, clicking, or banging sounds on smooth or rough surfaces.
- Pitch of humming/moaning sound increases/decreases with acceleration/deceleration.

Checked:

- No grinding sounds in front wheels.
- Ball Joints: Normal
- Tie Rods: Normal
- CV's: Normal
- Stuts Normal
- No unuasual up/down or side/side play in both front wheels
- No change with (problem noise) while clutch engaged or disengaged.
- Engine mounts: Normal
- Brake Pads: Normal
- Brake Calipers: Normal
- Brake Rotors: Normal
- All front suspension parts/bushings appear in (normal/good condition).
- Tested Car on multiple left/right corners/curves at various speeds: Normal
- All tires in good condition and proper air pressure: No unusual or uneven tire wear.

 

Swap tires around to see if the sound moves. Subtle problems with uneven tread-wear might cause something like that.

Shift to different gears. Does the noise follow RPM or road-speed?

 

1- Thanks I will rotate tires tomorrow do another test run. It's really hard to tack this problem down since it happens only about 2 out of 5 times of driving. Weather temperature does not seem to change the symptoms either.

2- The sound increases/decreases with road speed. I held the clutch in on the interstate this morning and noticed that a change in RPM's had no effect.

 

#2 good to know - I was just trying to rule out anything like a vacuum leak or strange resonance in the aircleaner etc.

 

Been waiting for someone with this specific problem to post and wella here it is.. I have just about the same weird issue, "sounds" like the throttle body intake is wide open with no air cleaner/hose installed, also have the very slight high frequency vibration at highway speeds. I can also feel the vibration while I'm reving the engine at the throttle body while the car is parked.. Could this been a torque converter problem??? Kinda wacked I know but could it be producing a vibration?? On an unrelated issue this spring I'm replacing the rear main seal and if the T/C is screwed I might as well replace it at the same time...
I have a 92 Accord..

 

Colorado, if yours DOES change with engine RPM then it probably belongs in a separate thread. I'm not sure how much help I can give for either of you, because sounds & vibrations are tough to deal with over the net.

I just thought it's good to separate engine noise vs. wheel/suspension noise.

 

I appreciate your help anyway Jim. Colorado, your problem sounds similar but, mine is completely road noise. This is my lady's Accord so it is even more difficult to diagnose since I do not drive it on a daily basis. I am starting to believe it is a rear bearing or a tire problem. I drove the car at a low speed yesterday with the windows up and I noticed an extremely deep (Bass type helicopter sound) kind of like it would sound with a bent rim or uneven tire wear. I have to say I have had many vehicles (mostly chevy) but, this Honda has been an excellent car. 140K and we haven't had to change anything except brakes, belts, tires, and a battery. I have 30k on my Hummer and already got an engine light yesterday...what's wrong with that picture.

 

Swap rear tires around this time?

I've had 2 different things that might be similar - try to rule out each of them.

1 - Bad belt on a tire. Out-of-balance feeling, except I could never get them balanced. Eventually the steel wires from the belt began sticking out of the tire; by that time the tire was pretty much worn out anyway. Look for someplace with a Hunter GSP9000 balancing machine. That machine presses the tire against a roller while balancing & it's supposed to find stuff like that.

2 - Bad wheel bearings can make different noises. Everyone says they're supposed to change sound when you steer, but I've had a bad rear bearing (98 Accord) that didn't change. Another bad bearing (89 Saab) felt & sounded like a big knobby mud tire like you'd put on a jacked-up jeep.