I have a 1997 Honda Accord EX, 4-cylinder VTEC with 180,000 miles. Occasionally, long after the engine has been turned off, I hear a humming noise that sounds like it's near the firewall. The noise occurs about once every 3-4 minutes and lasts about 5 seconds at the most. Tonight it was making the noise over an hour after the car was parked.

Any idea what this humming noise may be? Not sure if it's related, but the car has intermittent ABS brake light. Also, my wife thought she smelled gasoline today while driving.

(P.S. The noise is NOT the electric cooling fan.)

Bill

 

Even before you mentioned ABS, I was thinking that could be the source of your problem. There is a service connector that you can short on 94/95 accords to get abs codes. I think the 96/97 has the connector, but I am not sure. Let me know if you have the connector in the link below.

Follow the instructions on this web site using a thin paper clip to count the abs light flashing (not the ECU as in the directions). Post the code(s) on here. ABS codes have a main code then a sub-code. So a 1 then a 4 is 1-4.

http://www.dhost.info/accordinfo/howto/cel.html

 

The noise could be the Evaporative Emission control system venting pressure from the tank through the carbon filter. System appears to be On all the time, assuming the ECM can supply ground w/ the keyswitch OFF. Manual does not rule out this happening w/ engine off, and it is located on the firewall on pax side near the cruise control actuator.

good luck

 

Adding to Texas, the way that EVAP system worked in my 98, there's a valve that releives pressure, but doesn't need any electric power. That makes a subtle quiet noise when it opens. On the 98 it's located under the car near the tank, but the 97 probably operates about the same way.

Open the hood & pinpoint the location?

 

I have a 1998. Same issue. Was a solution found. Its def not ABS. I believe its Emissions. Is there a way to fix it. I called the dealer and they seemed stumped. Any help you guys could give would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks!

 

On my 1998, the sound of the EVAP canister venting was pretty quiet, and located under the car, roughly below the left-rear seat. If that's the sound you're talking about, it's normal.

 

This is definitely not normal. I called the dealer and this is not something that they had heard of. It is of motor sounding. For 5-10 seconds. Almost a small pump going off. Not the fuel pump. Again, the power to the car is off.