2003 Honda HRV - possible transmission problem

leck

I've a 2003 Honda HRV (1.6L petrol automatic) and for the last few weeks there's been a kind of chafing sound when the car is moving. Can't hear the sound when the car is idling. I brought it to a local mechanic who put it up on a lift and said the sound was coming from the transmission. It's not something he could repair, but said there is a place in Dublin where he could send it to be reconditioned and that the other option would be a used part, which might not be a great idea since they stopped making this model in abt 2004. He still has to get back to me with an approximate price.

Does this sound like an expensive repair or something that would not be worthwhile in a car this old?

Special Circumstances

2wd or 4wd? (Were all the autos 4wd???)

If 4wd - Noise from gearbox or rear diff?
Noticeable in a straight line or only when turning?
If 4wd - Was you car ever tested on the rollers in the nct? One way to shorten the life of their 4wd. (Thanks limerick nct centre...)

I don't think the cvt gear box in them has a great reputation unfortunately.

leck

Special Circumstances wrote: »

2wd or 4wd? (Were all the autos 4wd???)

If 4wd - Noise from gearbox or rear diff?
Noticeable in a straight line or only when turning?
If 4wd - Was you car ever tested on the rollers in the nct? One way to shorten the life of their 4wd. (Thanks limerick nct centre...)

I don't think the cvt gear box in them has a great reputation unfortunately.

4wd. I think they were all 4wd.

Mechanic just said noise from the transmission. I've no idea what the rear diff is.

Had an NCT in Feb or March. Don't know if they tested it on rollers. Noise when driving in a straight line or when turning.

Special Circumstances

The rear diff does two jobs on these. It's a metal box in the middle between the two rear wheels. It activates 4wd when the front wheels are spinning 5% more than the rear wheels and it allows the rear wheels to travel at different speeds to each other.

So, for example, when you are turning a tight corner the diff will make a grumble noise if it needs new fluid or if something more serious is up.

They are not a heavy duty off roading diff and putting them on the nct rollers will overload them completely - front tyres being turned, rears can't move. The system will slip when the pressure reaches critical level but it just shouldn't be tested like that.

If it was tested on the rollers you will have figures on the sheet for ovality balance etc. If they took it outside and tested it with a decelerometer then you just have pass on that section with no details.

However, if the diff is the problem and repair or replacement is not justifiable, the 4wd system can be altered. Redacted even. Great word that.
I removed the prop shaft to get another few months out of a crv (same system). Very easy to do. If the diff is really bad then that may have to go too but that's more complicated, at least on the crv. There were some 2wd only hrv (maybe manual box only) so maybe you could use hubs or axles from them.

All of the above is FYI rather than suggesting it is definitely your problem. A gear box problem is a definite possibility with those cvts iirc.

leck

Special Circumstances wrote: »

The rear diff does two jobs on these. It's a metal box in the middle between the two rear wheels. It activates 4wd when the front wheels are spinning 5% more than the rear wheels and it allows the rear wheels to travel at different speeds to each other.

So, for example, when you are turning a tight corner the diff will make a grumble noise if it needs new fluid or if something more serious is up...

Thanks for such a detailed answer. I don't think the rear diff is the cause of this latest noise as I saw the mechanic under the car while it was on the lift and he used a stethoscope to listen to something located near the front.

Special Circumstances wrote: »

They are not a heavy duty off roading diff and putting them on the nct rollers will overload them completely - front tyres being turned, rears can't move. The system will slip when the pressure reaches critical level but it just shouldn't be tested like that.

If it was tested on the rollers you will have figures on the sheet for ovality balance etc. If they took it outside and tested it with a decelerometer then you just have pass on that section with no details.
...

I found my last NCT report. It was from January. There are no figures for Ovality - 0% listed for Nearside/Offside at Front/Rear.

Special Circumstances

Sounds like gearbox so.
Can't help there I'm afraid.