walsh@ihuxi.UUCP (11/08/83)
I bought an '83 Honda Prelude in April of this year. During hot weather,
the fuel pump (I guess) makes a very loud humming noise that can be heard
even while driving with the stereo on and continues (intermittantly) even
after the car is off! The dealer told me it was perfectly normal, but I
can't believe such a loud annoying noise is 'normal' in a Honda. Anyone
out there have a similar problem or know what it is?
Thanks,
(I can't believe I paid that sum for so much
noise!)
B. Walsh
P.S. The problem only appears in hot weather.pal@crystal.ARPA (Anil A. Pal) (11/09/83)
I don't know if the noise level is normal, as I don't have a Prelude, but I think the noise is probably coming from the radiator cooling fan. In many newer cars, this fan is electric, rather than belt-driven, so it can switch on and off thermostatically, thus reducing fuel consumption when cooling is not needed. Most cars I know switch off the fan motor when the ignition is switched off, but some (Renault Le Car, at least) let it run even when the engine is off. Hope this is of some help. Anil Pal U. of Wisconsin - Madison
rob@lzmi.UUCP (11/09/83)
I also have a Prelude, and have experienced a noise (more of a whistle than a hum) in the summer during extemely hot days, as you described. It was explained to me that it was the pressure release valve in the gas line between the gas tank and the carb. As the tank gets heated by the ambient tempature, the vapor pressure inside the tank goes up, and the valve tries to equalize the pressure. This whole scheme is implemented to get around the problem of the gas cap blowing off in your hand when you stop to fill the tank (so they say...) on a hot day. It also helps the carb perform better if the vapor pressures are equalized. I pressed the dealer to change the valve, which he did under protest, claiming that it wouldn't help, and he was partially correct. The noise did NOT stop, although the volume did drop somewhat. My wife drives a Civic Wagon, and we have heard the same thing with her car, but not as loud. It must be a badly designed (i.e. - NOISY) valve. If anyone has a solution, please (PLEASE) post it to the net......rob
rb@beesvax.UUCP (11/10/83)
I don`t know if it is the same with everyone but my noise on my 1983 Civic FE is more of a rattle when you hit even a minor bump. Feels like the front end is loose. By the way just for information, other than the noise my Civic is great. Commuting between Ogden and SLC,(about 70 miles round trip) I have been getting 46 mpg with reasonable performance for a 1300cc engine. At lower altitudes in Las Vegas for example I was getting an even 50mpg.
kevin@beesvax.UUCP (11/11/83)
If the dealer claims some problem is 'normal' then call the Service Rep for your area (in this case the Honda rep). The Service Rep has solutions to many so called 'normal' problems. I have experienced surging problems in a 1982 Accord LX. Three different dealerships said that the surging was 'normal'. The Honda Service Rep gave a technical description of the problem and asked to have the car brought to the Regional Zone Office so they could solve the problem. The Service Rep said that the problem was a marginally defective EGR valve (the dealers said it was good). However, the Honda Rep said that he couldn't tell me this, but if it was his car he would put a golf tee in the vacuum line leading to the EGR valve. Works great !!! (and I avoided the trip to the Regional Zone Office). The moral to the story is that if your dealer gives you 'crap' then request the phone number of the regional service rep. Most dealers are required to give you the phone number.