Well, not really - but it sounds like it at times.

I've seen this issue mentioned once or twice here, and on other forums, but I don't recall every seeing it resolved. Here's the issue:

At speeds of about 50 MPH and above, I get a flapping sound from what sounds like behind my glovebox, below the passenger airbag area. This sound is linked to the amount of air coming into the ventilation system from the cowl area, I believe. There is no loose trim in the cowl or pillar area. When I turn the fan up high it gets a little louder. This is a flapping, fluttering sound, almost like an animal inside the dash (I know that's not the case).

Does this ring a bell? Has anyone experienced this or found a resolution to it? I really don't want the dealer touching my car. Truck. Whatever the thing is.

Thanks in advance -

Chris in MD
GGM EXS AWD Auto. (2004)

1 1/2 year with my E and i have never experienced in this.. see your dealer, and let us know the resolution.. but this is not normal.. obviously!

I have often noticed a similar sound, but didn't even know how to approach describing it here on the forum.
The strange thing is, I notice it after I have driven some distance and then park and turn off the engine. Maybe it's because I usually have the stereo on that I don't notice it while driving.
It has happened often.

Borrow a neighbor's putty tat and chase that bird outta the dash!

Hmmm, sounds like something might have made its way into your blower, which happens to be located underneath the glove box. I had this happen in my pathfinder, it was filled with little acorns, but the noise was more of that of being a strain on the blowers motor.

I had this problem with my Ford Countour once. I had a bad habit of stuffing everything into the glove box. Once a bank recipt was sticking up and there was a flow of air whipping it back and forth inside the glove box while I was driving. A good cleaning of the glove box fixed my problem (the easiest fix I ever had with that car).

Follow-up:

I gained access to the blower/filter system. Removed the filters, felt around down in the impeller (sp?), detected no foreign objects.

I have definitively found, however, that the sound only occurs when the system is in fresh-air mode. When I switch over to recirculate, the sound stops.

Any clue? Anyone?

I guess my problem is as unique as the Element itself!

--Chris in MD

You know, in my case of it happening when sitting still, I think it must simply be one (or both) of the rubber flaps around the wheel well near the engine that are flapping in the breeze.

This "Bird" problem just started happening to me. I have almost 5000 miles and I have had my E since the Saturday after Christmas 2003. Anything above 50 some mph I start hearing this chattering sound. It even sounds like I have a plastic shopping bag caught underneath my truck. The A/C, heat, and fresh air change the sound. I am not sure what is happenning. I seem to hear the sound on the drivers side also (this may be an echo). Everything else seems to be tight other than the normal creaks and squeaks. If this is an air problem hopefully there will be a fix for this. I wouldn't take it to get it fixed until someone figures out what is going on.

Like I said before, I've noticed that it stops when I put the system in recirculate. So I'm thinking that it has something to do with the door that opens and closes above the fan housing (behind the glove box, where the cabin filters are) when you switch from fresh air to recirculate mode. Perhaps when it's open (fresh air mode), the airflow causes the door itself to vibrate for some reason. I'm going to go in there again and take a look whether the door is stable when open. Not sure what the fix for this would be, though...

If I find anything out I'll post. Especially since someone else has the "bird" now.

-Chris in MD

I tried turning on the resurculater today. The chatter did not stop completely but it almost disappeared to a point where it was hard to hear with the radio off. It also took a little time (30 secs) for the sound to almost go away. Do you know if the door is electric or on some sort of vacuum. I normally don't get the sound really going until I am going on the interstate for about two minutes. Even on a regular road at 50 I have to be going medium strech before it starts. If I stop and go, which happens frequently it won't do it. The problem does seem increase speed meaning that whatever is flapping is flapping worse when more air is moving. Have you checked any of the plenum stuff next to the engine? The problem may start sooner on the air inlet than it sounds. I still have no clue. I will let you know if I find anything.

The noise kept getting worse as I got closer to the 5000 mile first oil change. Doing different things with the air controls changed the noise, as I said before. The noise started happenning even at 40 mph (occasionally). Moving the air controls didn't change the noise as it got worse. I took my E to the dealer for its first oil change and told them about the problem. They said that my drivers side A-Pillar was rubbing my dash (outside). They put felt in under the edge of A-Pillar black cover. It got rid of the noise completely. The problem now is that I have a cracked windshield starting where they put the felt. This was probably caused by the bad frame around the windshield that most if not all E's have. Pushing on the winshield started the crack and the hot sun heating up the window caused about a 12" crack. I have a good dealer (Antrim Way Honda in Greencastle PA), they just hurried along something that was bound to get me anyways. You may want to a similar fix with felt, thin foam or even paper before you go to the dealer. I have heard about similar A-pillar problems coming from the passenger side as your sound seems to be. I have also heard about the sounds coming from the drivers side as my happened to be.