We picked up our 2004 Element EX 4WD Automatic before our optional roof rack arrived at the dealership and drove it for a couple of weeks "naked". When we had the roof rack installed it makes a low pitched moan once you get up to 40 mph and above. It sounds like when you install very high traction "nobby" tires on a truck and drive it on the freeway. It's the wind as it passes through the two horizontal slats on the roof rack. My dealer verified that the front bar is mounted in the front (it still has the sticker on it that says "Front"). They also tell me there in no difference in how the slat is installed because both edges are the same. However, I can see that one edge is thin and the other is fatter. They have the thin edge leading into the wind on the front slat the fat edge leading into the wind on the rear slat. Does anyone know, would it make any difference if I turned the slat(s) around. My dealer says there is nothing that can be done now and that Honda knows about the problem and they are working on a fin that mounts on the slat to deflect the air up and may be out within about four months. All of the demos we drove had roof racks and non of them made this noise. Does anyone have any suggestions?

You are correct. There IS a difference in the width of the edges. Both front and back slats should have the thin edge toward the front.

I verified this through the installation instructions found here:

http://www.handa-accessories.com/element/elementroofrack.pdf

Ramy, thanks so much for your reply. With the installation instructions you posted I was able to verify that my dealer had in fact installed the front portion of the roof rack backwards. If you look at the horizontal slats of the rack system, you will see they are actually shaped like the wing of a jet airplane. Following the installation instructions, I removed the front portion of the rack and turned it around. After a quick test drive we are back to complete silence once again. I thought this was something I was going to have to live with. This restores my faith in Engineers. Thanks again!
By the way, you also solved my other problem of how to remove and re-install the ski rack. I didn't realize the end caps snapped on and off allowing the mounting bolts to slide out the end of the channel. My dealer told me I had to remove the star head screw and take the slat out (I tried this before I got your posting - it doesn't work).

[quote:9bc419765b=" "]Ramy, thanks so much for your reply. With the installation instructions you posted I was able to verify that my dealer had in fact installed the front portion of the roof rack backwards. If you look at the horizontal slats of the rack system, you will see they are actually shaped like the wing of a jet airplane. Following the installation instructions, I removed the front portion of the rack and turned it around. After a quick test drive we are back to complete silence once again. I thought this was something I was going to have to live with. This restores my faith in Engineers. Thanks again!
By the way, you also solved my other problem of how to remove and re-install the ski rack. I didn't realize the end caps snapped on and off allowing the mounting bolts to slide out the end of the channel. My dealer told me I had to remove the star head screw and take the slat out (I tried this before I got your posting - it doesn't work).[/quote:9bc419765b]

you probably should report this screw up to Honda, considered you paid a huge premium for dealer installed roof rack.