I've finally caved in and got a Honda Element.

2003 EX AWD. 208K miles. Now for the question:

I've obtained this car knowingly with issues. There is oil leaking from between the engine and transmission after it is being ran, about a baseball sized leak. It is leaking only at the bottom of the engine assembly. The transmission will always whine in park and neutral, but not while in gear. I have not changed ATF fluid yet, but will do so as soon as possible. I wanted to get several opinions first in case I have to drop the transmission. I would like to fix what's needed and if possible first before spending time and 3.3 quarts doing a drain and fill.

Has anyone come across this on their Element? Thank you for your response

I have a 2005 Element with 190k. I would pour a qt of Lucas Transmission fluid in it. Drive it. See if that helps. The tranny has probably reached its service life if fluid never changed b4 now. JMHO...


2005 Element 4wd. Purchased new. 180k so far... love it.

 

Lucas doesnt have any secrets that Honda hasn't tried.
Id get the Honda fluid. Nothing else.

 

I noticed a new-looking starter when I looked up from underneath. Would a starter make a sound like that?? (to the likes of a faulty/badly connected alternator)

I'll toss in some stop leak stuff (lucas, at-205) and see what happens. At this point, nothing to lose.. will report back.

 

Goggled this.......
"Transmission pumps are driven directly from the engine through the torque converter. ... This is why a worn or faulty pump makes a whining noise in all gears including park and neutral. A restricted or clogged transmission filter will make the same whining noise as a faulty transmission pump."

 

I changed atf fluid and filter (had to anyway), but still the same thing. Ignoring the leak, I just realized in the video I posted that the sound is more apparent on top of the engine and not the bottom. Perhaps is not the transmission?

 

after giving thought, i have a nudge on the issue being torque converter. all gears shift fine. park and neutral has noise and there is a leak at the bell housing. not exactly a simple task...

 

Hey all. Long time lurker, first time poster here.

My 2005 AWD EX (197k manual transmission) just started to make this exact noise with the same symptoms this morning.

Did you or anybody find out for sure what was causing it?

I don't think it can be the water pump, alt, or anything else on that side of the engine. My noise, like yours, is coming from the right side near the top of the tranny/clutch area also. goes away when clutch is pushed in...goes away after warm up and a 5-10 min of driving from what I can tell.

This year has been pretty cray for my E. The closer I get to 200K its been one problem after another. starters, lots of suspension problems, and now this. *sigh*

 

The alternator, A/C, and water pump can make noises when they are on there way out. Sometime when the serpentine belt is not under load you hear the noise more prominently than when you are driving.

 

Pretty obvious the problem is inside the transmission.

Do you hear noises while driving in 1, 2, 3 ?

To me it sounds like gears worn. When in neutral or park they will spin, in drive they stop until the car moves.

The transmission pump is always pumping when the engine is turning.

Don't bother with the fluid, or leakage. The trans is coming out.

 

I just drove mine home from work and played and listened. Its louder when the engine is cold. PS mine is a 5 speed w/ exact same noise...kinda weird?

Clutch in while parked = No noise
Tap the clutch about 1/4 the way in while parked = noise goes away for a min when cold, then comes back.

I did hear the whining noise slightly in 1st,2nd and a bit in 3rd gear while still not fully to temp. But 5 min into driving it seems to go away completely

My gut tells me clutch, throw out bearing, spring(s) Or clutch free play adjustment has changed as my clutch pedal feels a bit different that it did last week. Its seems to be engaging sooner, and I have less clutch pedal play. It shifts perfectly fine, no leaks anywhere, and no slippage otherwise. (its the OE clutch still

 

7 years and 60k miles later, I'm still living with this noise. No amount of drain and fill has helped.

I've only gotten one hint from the CRV forums with suspicion that there is a bearing on the side casing thats causing the noise (bad bearing). I'd have to find the thread again. I haven't dropped the transmission since owning it and the reality is that the transmission is actually holding up despite the high pitch whine.