Honda Element Owners Club banner

Steering noise, golf ball rolling noise

13219 Views 14 Replies 12 Participants Last post by  seannymurrs
I have two noise problems develop over the last couple of months. ONE is a creaking nose ONLY when I turn the steering wheel to either side going slow such as backing out of a parking space or making a slow tight turn into one. This one can only be heard while actually turning the steering wheel and seems to be coming from the steering column itself or the steering gear box. Sounds like a rusty spring winding in a can or a wood door is opening. The SECOND one sounds like a golf ball is rolling on a flat piece of metal or a marble on asphalt feely rolling away. This one sometimes occurs on acceleration fro a dead stop such as at a traffic light or accelerating from a stop sign. Almost like something is rolling away in the opposite direction to the E’s movement right under the seat. Yes, I did check the “under the seat” space, the overhead storage and even the back air vents on the floor. I searched previous posts but almost everyone thinks it’s the rear diff fluid but that and the tyranny fluid was done by an H dealer less than 3k miles ago. Anyone have the same issues? Any thoughts or recommendations genuinely appreciated!
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
Well the first one sounds like the strut pivot plates creaking while turning and I have the same thing when its cold. The other one would be hard to diagnose without seeing it but check and see if anything is in your overhead compartment.
Thanks!

Cleaned out the overhead to no change in the sound but it is coming from underneath the car like something is rolling in the subframe of the body. I see others are quite preplexed by the same creaking sound all through the forum - must be something common.:|
Could be the drain hose for the AC is clogged & water is sloshing around inside the E.............or I remember reading a Honda bulletin where the heater core gets air trapped in it & makes a gurgling sound under acceleration. :|
Water! this sounds palusable, will take a look into this!

A-ha! This I never thought of, thanks! I will search for this heater core issue, that might be it. The sounds materialized during winter so this might be the case here. It is surprising how many other people are having noise problems that are a mystery even to the dealer.
Creaking noise could be the sway bar bushings. Golf ball noise could be in the spare tire well.
Going out on a limb here but have you checked the struts? Maybe they're creaking when the front end lifts during accel? I have an '03 and the front struts were shot. They didn't make noise but anything is possible. Or maybe motor mounts? When the engine torques it could vibrate a mount? I dunno i'm just trying to think of things that would move under accel. And anyone who says the whole car moves under accel gets slapped with a trout.
Creaking noise could be your trans/motor mounts as well.

I had mine replaced and no more creaking, at least for now...
Me Too!!

I have the same "golf ball" noise as well. For me it usually occurs when turning soon after turning the car on. I have checked the spare tire well and there is nothing in there. It sounds like water sloshing somewhere behind the dash to me but I don't really have any ideas what it could be. If you figure it out please share.
It sounds like water sloshing somewhere behind the dash
Well that certainly does sound like air in the system, specifically in the heater core. How well is the heater working? Is the coolant bottle full? The system really should "burp" itself (assuming the fluid level is correct) but sometimes it may have to be actively purged.
The heater works just fine. I will check the coolant though. If I don't find anything I'll be right back here for more suggestions :)
golf ball rolling noise

I, too, have experienced the golf ball rolling noise in my 07 Element EX. I only notice it during cool months and when the temperature dial is moved into the red zone and I'm either turning or accelerating from a stop. I had first attributed it to something getting into the ductwork since it sounds like a marble rolling on hard plastic. Did my due diligence and removed everything from the vehicle bins, glove box, etc. to make sure it wasn't something else.
Has anyone had a successful resolution to this problem? It's driving me NUTS!
I, too, have experienced the golf ball rolling noise in my 07 Element EX. I only notice it during cool months and when the temperature dial is moved into the red zone and I'm either turning or accelerating from a stop. I had first attributed it to something getting into the ductwork since it sounds like a marble rolling on hard plastic. Did my due diligence and removed everything from the vehicle bins, glove box, etc. to make sure it wasn't something else.
Has anyone had a successful resolution to this problem? It's driving me NUTS!
Same here!
Golf ball noise

I have experienced this too. I have a 2003 EX and i hear this noise after starting the car when the weather is cooler. It almost sounds like ice cubes in the dashboard.
I'm experiencing the same golf ball rolling and/or sloshing noise on my '08 EX. Haven't noticed whether it only happens when the heat is on, but I will watch from now on. Does always happen when accellerating from a stop. Has anyone successfully fixed this problem?
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top