Has anyone noticed a vibration sensation in the steering wheel that is RPM dependent. I notice a vibration in my steering wheel at the 2300-2500 RPM range. It is not speed related, but RPM related. It almost feels like the rack and pinion steering is touching the engine or the exhaust somehow. I have looked, but don't see anything obvious.
My Element is a 2004 2WD automatic. The Honda dealer cannot find the problem. Has anyone heard of this???

[quote:f81650254a=" "]Has anyone noticed a vibration sensation <snip>[/quote:f81650254a]

Nope.

Describe the vibration...it could be out of balance tires, stuck caliper.

[quote:0d689dabbf=" "]Has anyone noticed a vibration sensation in the steering wheel that is RPM dependent. I notice a vibration in my steering wheel at the 2300-2500 RPM range. It is not speed related, but RPM related. It almost feels like the rack and pinion steering is touching the engine or the exhaust somehow. I have looked, but don't see anything obvious.
My Element is a 2004 2WD automatic. The Honda dealer cannot find the problem. Has anyone heard of this???[/quote:0d689dabbf]

Since you say it is rpm and not speed dependant... have you tried driving in another gear other than D and seeing if you still feel the vibration? How about in reverse?

Since you have an automatic, the 2,300-2,500 rpm range is always the same speed... unless you stomp on the gas and then my guess is the vibration either rises in the rpm range or is not there.

Have your front tires checked for balance, check your air pressure, look for some uneven wear in the front tires. Make a few hard stops from 40mph and get the brakes cleaned up a bit. After doing any of the above is the vibration still present? If yes, please describe under what conditions the vibration occurs. What is your speed, rom, gear, type of road.

The more details you can provide the more info we can use to diagnose the problem.

I still don't believe the vibration is speed related. I will feel the vibration in the steering wheel as I come up to 2300 - 2500 rpm in each gear. As the automatic shifts from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd, there will be no vibration until the engine hits 2300, goes away about 2600 and again disappears when it shifts again and drops below 2500 rpm. The other night I put a long screwdriver handle next to my ear and put the screwdriver on the power steering pump. (a poor mans' stethoscope) and had my wife rev the motor to 2300 rpm. As I listened, the noise from the power steering pump got noticable louder. I could not hear the noise without using the "screwdriver technique", but it did get much noisier when it motor hit 2300 rpm. I seems to make sense, as the power steering vibration would be transmitted into the rack and pinion and felt in the steering wheel.
I am going to take it to a different dealer and see what they say. My other Honda, an Accord, has no such sensation in the steering wheel. My other thought is to drive another Element at Honda and see if I am nuts or there really is a vibration in my Element.
Thanks for the reply and I appreciate anyone else's thoughts.

[quote:5ff875f557=" "]I still don't believe the vibration is speed related. I will feel the vibration in the steering wheel as I come up to 2300 - 2500 rpm in each gear. As the automatic shifts from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd, there will be no vibration until the engine hits 2300, goes away about 2600 and again disappears when it shifts again and drops below 2500 rpm. The other night I put a long screwdriver handle next to my ear and put the screwdriver on the power steering pump. (a poor mans' stethoscope) and had my wife rev the motor to 2300 rpm. As I listened, the noise from the power steering pump got noticable louder. I could not hear the noise without using the "screwdriver technique", but it did get much noisier when it motor hit 2300 rpm. I seems to make sense, as the power steering vibration would be transmitted into the rack and pinion and felt in the steering wheel.
I am going to take it to a different dealer and see what they say. My other Honda, an Accord, has no such sensation in the steering wheel. My other thought is to drive another Element at Honda and see if I am nuts or there really is a vibration in my Element.
Thanks for the reply and I appreciate anyone else's thoughts.[/quote:5ff875f557]

Ok, you have done some diagnosis and it makes sense. Check the power steering fluid. Very possible the power steering pump is bad and is transmitting vibrations through the steering column. I don't have any vibrations in my steering wheel. Go back to your original dealer and ask to speak to a mechanic so you can explain the issue to him/her directly. Hopefully they will have a stethoscope so they can listen, otherwise offer to go and pick one up and then go get one and come back with it.

If that doesn't work, buy a stethoscope and head to another dealer.

Good luck.

I also have an automatic. When I am on the interstate going to work and get above 65mph, my steering wheel vibrates. I will have the alignment on the tires checked but this should not be happening. When I get it to about 80mph, the vibration stops. Crazy. It drives me crazy and will get it up to speeds the officials don't want me going at just so there is smoothness in the wheel.

[quote:ac92a5e430=" "]I also have an automatic. When I am on the interstate going to work and get above 65mph, my steering wheel vibrates. I will have the alignment on the tires checked but this should not be happening. When I get it to about 80mph, the vibration stops. Crazy. It drives me crazy and will get it up to speeds the officials don't want me going at just so there is smoothness in the wheel.[/quote:ac92a5e430]
I had that problem and one of the belts in my tire was bad. How old are the tires and how much air pressure is in them?

Originally posted by
Has anyone noticed a vibration sensation in the steering wheel that is RPM dependent. I notice a vibration in my steering wheel at the 2300-2500 RPM range. It is not speed related, but RPM related. It almost feels like the rack and pinion steering is touching the engine or the exhaust somehow. I have looked, but don't see anything obvious.
My Element is a 2004 2WD automatic. The Honda dealer cannot find the problem. Has anyone heard of this???

Well, I took the Element to another Honda dealer, this time telling them where I think the problem is and it turns out that they agreed with me that the power steering pump is making the noise. They had to order a pump(should take about 2 weeks). I will let you all know if this fixes the problem.

Thanks for the update. Good luck and keep us posted.

Bill

I have actually noticed the same type of vibration, on occasion, but thought it might be road or tire dependent. Just had an alignment done and it was slightly off. I haven't noticed any more wheel vibration. Even when it was present, in the past, the vibration was so slight and intermittent that it wasn't bothersome.

I will check the next few drives. Thanks bob49 for the research into this. Certainly hope the power steering fix works.

John

John,
The vibration in the steering wheel wasn't all that noticable, but what bothered me was the fact that it wasn't present below 2000 rpm or above 2300 rpm. I knew something wasn't right, even though it wasn't a particularily bad vibration. My fear was that the harmonic balancer or some other engine component was out of balance. Also, when it comes to my cars, I tend to be a perfectionist. Bad character trait!
I will let you guys know how this all works out. Thanks for the feedback!

Well, I took the Element to the dealer for them to install the power steering pump they had to order. I am happy to report that the mystery has been solved...it was the power steering pump causing the vibration sensation in the steering wheel. Glad to get that fixed! Very annoying to have your hands get a constant massage when driving. I hope this helps someone else if they experience this problem.

[quote:aa55bd85a4=" "] I hope this helps someone else if they experience this problem.[/quote:aa55bd85a4]

Thanks for posting the solution. Congrats on getting it fixed...

Bill

I too have felt a vibration in my steering wheel beginning as I approach 70mph and calming at about 80mph. It seems most prominent during my first 15miles of driving during my 54 mile commute, but it never fully goes away. I have believed it was due to the tires which I intend to replace as soon as they are worn down a bit more.

whats sad here is that my E only has 2600 miles on and it vibrates from 53-to about 77


no hard driving no bad bumps, cant wait to hear what the problem is ...this time

I’ve put my new wheels on few weeks ago and didn’t notice the vibration until I hit more than 65 mph. you guys think I need a wheel alignment? I didn’t lower my car. What do you guys think?

the dealer says my wheels wer unbalanced pretty odd to me with owning it less than 2 months and all interstate driving.

i got it back the wheel vibrates alot even idling i can feel it


i really dont want to go back (they had my e for 5 days!)

the dealer says my wheels wer unbalanced pretty odd to me with owning it less than 2 months and all interstate driving.

i got it back the wheel vibrates alot even idling i can feel it


i really dont want to go back (they had my e for 5 days!)



Hey that never happened in my Chevy :shock:

:roll: i'm sure there's alot of things that didnt happen to you

Hey that never happened in my Chevy :shock:

You DON'T want to go there!!!

well back to the dealer again, i am losing my mind. i had a "tech" drive with me and then drive it, he couldnt get it to vibrate until 70+. i feel it alot in daily under 40 driving I had to keep telling to put his hands at 10 and 2.


he checked the steering components he said he found nothing

he wants the honda rep to drive it in a week, i swear i am not crazy and the tech did throw out the words "characteristic of the car" i am soo depressed right now. anyone with anything? out there? i could really use some help or advice. the vibration is enough for me to notice but not the tech. *sigh* :|

bump.................

Maybe this vibration diagnosis flowchart from tirerack will help:

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/vibechart.pdf

What did you drive before the Element? another SUV? a luxury sedan?

Do any friends or family notice the vibration?

Does your vibration always occur at specific speeds, or does it depend on the road? The short wheelbase of the Element together with its stiff suspension, can give problems on roads with bad expansion joints.

I noticed strong vibration shortly after I had my tires rotated this summer. Looking at the wheels it was obvious that a front one was missing its balancing weight. After balancing, the vibration was significantly reduced, but I still thought I noticed something - a bit around 40, and then again closer to 70. It does though vary with road smoothness. I am unsure whether the initial unbalanced vibration sensitized me to vibration that was there all along, or whether there really is a problem. Maybe the unbalanced tire developed some out-of-roundness, or maybe all the tires need rebalancing. The Element tracks straight, so I don't suspect allignment problems.

Years ago I got noticible roughness at around 50,000 miles. The tire shop said the problem was tread separation. A new set of tires cured the problem.

paulj

Maybe this vibration diagnosis flowchart from tirerack will help:

http://www.tirerack.com/images/tires/vibechart.pdf

What did you drive before the Element? another SUV? a luxury sedan?

Do any friends or family notice the vibration?

Does your vibration always occur at specific speeds, or does it depend on the road? The short wheelbase of the Element together with its stiff suspension, can give problems on roads with bad expansion joints.

I noticed strong vibration shortly after I had my tires rotated this summer. Looking at the wheels it was obvious that a front one was missing its balancing weight. After balancing, the vibration was significantly reduced, but I still thought I noticed something - a bit around 40, and then again closer to 70. It does though vary with road smoothness. I am unsure whether the initial unbalanced vibration sensitized me to vibration that was there all along, or whether there really is a problem. Maybe the unbalanced tire developed some out-of-roundness, or maybe all the tires need rebalancing. The Element tracks straight, so I don't suspect allignment problems.

Years ago I got noticible roughness at around 50,000 miles. The tire shop said the problem was tread separation. A new set of tires cured the problem.

paulj

around town it vibrates during random times driving usually turning, but driving straight it can vibrate depending on the slant in the road. i only have 3900 on these tires they were in balance as of last monday. i checked and adjusted the pressures today which made the ride smoother but the vibrations still there. i am thinking of going to another dealer, not sure yet. almost want to go to a tire place and have them check it out. my is not even 3 months old yet. it also vibrates at stop lights but when i shift my at into neutral it goes away. i still think its the power steering pump at around town speeds.

aloha -

i have purchased a 2003 element all wheel drive, and after a few days i noticed two kind different vibrations that felt suspension related. after having my mechanic look at the car, he discovered a bad bushing on the front right tire of the car. even after that was fixed, i still feel the vibrations and have gone so far as to have the tires balanced and rotated. because of the bad bushing that particular tire had worn unevenly from inside to outside, but that tire is now in the back of the car. none of the tires are original. the subtle vibration seems to be constant at speeds above 30mpg and then there is yet another shuddering type vibration that only happens for a few seconds periodically when im going 35 - 45mpg.

does anyone have any suggestions on what else i can have the mechanic check? the tire that was worn unevenly was off balance but only sightly so i dont know that it could be that tire...my mechanic has driven the car and doesnt seem to feel the constant subtle vibration or the periodic one and im getting more frustrated every day.

Welcome to the club and fill out your profile so we can help you better as to where your at ect. As to the viboration it could be a lot of thing like a bad CV joint. Aftermarket rims. The worn tire being out of round. Does it shake the steering wheel slightly at that speed or are you just feeling the viboratons. If you have a automatic it could be a tourque converter. Hard to say without seeing the car.

hi, sorry i havent filled out my profile. regarding the vibrating, it seems that there is always a constant underlying vibration but then between 35 - 45 there is another addtl more severe shaking, that only lasts for about 3 or 4 seconds, although the other night it seemed that it lasted longer, and i was going to time it but i had to come to a stop light so i couldnt.

Rims are original. My mechanic seems useless in the matter. Doesnt want me to "spend my money" on him checking the things you mentioned. He drove it and said it was the road, Ive been driving the same road for 6 years and i have to disagree. He says that if it doesnt happen consistenly to not worry about it until it gets worse. living on an island i dont really agree to this philosophy. I dont need to be stranded on the long two lane highway and then find out that more damage occured to other parts because of this problem.