Honda Civic Sedan 2006

travis77

This growling noise that you are hearing,,,, i believe i have heard it a couple times to,, just when i'm cruising at about 35mph and give it a little gas. It is at 1500rpm when it does it,, but it sounds the same to me as if i were driving a 5 speed manual and going 30-35 in 5th gear,,, just a grrrrr noise when it is givin gas until it shifts up a gear or 2.

blane

Reading all of the above posts on the subject, I'm wondering whether this is just a tempest in a teapot. Every model of vehicle on the road has its own unique sounds.

sheldo1

If you had the problem on your car you wouldn't call it a "tempest in a teapot". Do you have a 2006 Civic AT? I've driven many cars in my life and never had such an annoying noise. I simply don't accept it and I get tired of people on this board telling me I should. My Honda dealer recognizes it as a problem as does Honda itself. I'll wait for their fix. I don't accept mediocrity.

qddave

blane,
That's what I was alluding to in my post #3322:

Auto trans equipped Proteges have an interesting high pitched whine while at highway speeds. Owners complained and Mazda replied by saying that it was the natural resonance of the transmission. In no way is it a part failure, just a design flaw. Definitely something that the dealer cannot fix. So do you still hang hte issue over the dealer's head? Furthermore, Honda likely wouldn't put it at the top of the list for fixes. I personally don't see it as high priority. It's not like the loose gas pedal issue. Maybe that's the way the car is supposed to sound.

That's just the way the tranny ended up being designed. The noise was natural, perhaps not normal, but nothing was functionally wrong with the tranny. I go on record not ever hearing this issue with the Civic, but it could be a similar thing. By the way its described, it might take a big redesign in the tranny. Hopefully for all the owners, it could be as simple as a computer re-flash. In any case, I wouldn't expect Honda to say anything official until a fix is established. Just like any TSB/recall. Just be patient. The best thing to do is work WITH your dealer.

Dave

sheldo1

Dave,
Do you own a 2006 Civic AT? I am not trying to be belligerent but If you don't own one, I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss this sound as "the way the car is supposed to sound" or one you don't see as a "high priority". My dealer has had numerous complaints about this and he is waiting for Honda to come up with a fix. Obviously, judging from what my dealer told me along with the number of complaints on this board, this is a real problem for Honda. I am working WITH my dealer as you suggest and he has never said to me that it is normal. He has been very helpful and has assured me that they are working with Honda to get a fix. Whether this is a design defect or a workmanship is immaterial to me and I would think, to Honda. They need to sell cars and if too many customers complain, they stand to lose sales.

vinnyc

Agress 110%. You have to own one to understand.

mrmusic

Is it possible that where the 06 Civic was built has something to do with it??? Other that the awful Bridgestone tires which I replaced, my 06 has seen none of the problems mentioned here... and I love it. I call our 05 TL Voyger and 06 Civic the shuttlecaft.

My car was built at the Ohio plant in early November 05. I hear others were made in Canada, Mexico, or Japan.

sheldo1

Mine was built in Ohio around the same time as yours.

I live in the Chicago area and have been in a couple of significant snow storms with the Bridgestones. I found them to be very noticably good in the snow. What did you find so bad with them?

gp46

I've test driven a few Civics and did not notice any irregular vibrations, although I wasn't looking for them. I'm not trying to start anything, just curious. What if the Honda comes back and says, "that's the way the car is supposed to sound." What will you do, get rid of the car? (implies that owners are being too picky...(what more should a buyer expect for 20 grand?)
Some posts had people complaining about a rattle hear and there, or easily hearing the sounds of the road through the floor. It isn't a Lexus, it's an economy car. Do you think the fully loaded EX gets more insulation than the stripped down DX? I guess I'm sort of saying, "keep and open mind."(they are just too demanding.)picky,picky,picky

drexelnet

Hi everyone-

I noticed when looking at the manual, it stated that using Honda power steering and braking oil is perferred. But, I was wondering if I could use some other oil/fluid brand instead of the Honda Brand. Would it damage my engine? By the way, when I purchase my 06 Civic LX sedan, I noticed that some edges and other interior parts/surfaces were either chipped or sratched, is that normal in a new car, I don't mean to be picky but it just doesn't feel right. I thought that a civic would have better fit and finish that this. Is this a sign that this is a demo car? And is it normal when everytime I turn on the car, there's this cruise main icon that showed up on the dashboard. Finally, is there a way to turn off the daytime running lights. In addition when turning on the car, I noticed that one of the temperature knob always turn on, its the one that is located on the middle of the top column, is that normal, can i turn it off? do other noticed that when gently stepping on the gas pedal the car gives it a jerky feeling, like it accelerating off the line.

crissman

I learned on a different Honda forum that the daytime running lights can be turned off by removing fuse #37, under the dashboard. I have not tried this, so I don't know if this is true. Concerning the light in the middle of the upper row of buttons, this is normal. A light will always be on indicating the heating/cooling directional setting.

targettuning

replying to a few concerns...the main cruise icon remains on until you manually turn it off(turning "off" cruise control). It is of no concern and only reminds you that the you can engage cruise control as desired because cruise is enabled. Regarding the climate "push to choose" air flow button, it will remain lit at that setting unless and until you choose to change the direction of airflow i.e. to defrost, or a mix of floor and dash vent, or all dash vent, or all flow directed to the floor etc...you choose where you want the airflow then push the appropriate button.

targettuning

I am virtually 100% certain the noise I, and probably most others here, are hearing at approx. 1500 rpm is not detonation or pinging sourced within the engine, but instead is a harmonic vibration caused by some underbody mount or exhaust shield vibrating at a specific rpm. Lugging the engine isn't the cause mainly because the automatic transaxle won't allow for lugging...but regardless, it is able to be duplicated even in 1st gear passing through 1500 rpm. Honda does need to find the cause of this and it shouldn't be so difficult. My car was also an early model Ohio built car. I should take out a recently built car for a drive to see if Honda has addressed this by some running change.

crissman

I have to agree with you regarding the "growling" noise. I will occasionally hear it, but it doesn't seem to be getting worse. I have no doubt that Honda is working on it, and probably knows the cause and has eliminated it on new units. They're likely trying to determine how many actually have the problem and what the cheapest was to fix it will be, before announcing a TSB.

hangaralf1

I have a manual. i took it down to 1500 rpm. i heard what i think is the sound you guys are talking about. the car does not like this rpm under load and i'd be afraid of driving there for too long. at 1700, just 200 rpm more, the engine was much happier.

good news! the car is about 3k miles old (and 2 mos) i drove 240 miles today on the PA turnpike and after filling up again, if figured out that i got just a hair over 40 miles to the gallon. i did drive conservatively and the first ten miles were not highway, no 90 mph stints today. (that only gets me 33 mpg). i don't know how you feel about it, but i'm excited.

remoteraycer

Mine was also built in the Ohio plant. No problems or concerns whatsoever. Only "issue" I had was hitting a raccoon at 55mph. The end result is that its still in the shop getting a bumper cover and one dead raccoon. Love the car and the mpg!!

warner

Mine was also built in the Ohio plant. No problems or concerns whatsoever. Only "issue" I had was hitting a raccoon at 55mph. The end result is that its still in the shop getting a bumper cover and one dead raccoon. Love the car and the mpg!!

Okay, here's probably a stupid question...Where is it marked on the car which plant it was made in?

Let me know and thanks,

Warner

midnightcowboy

remoteraycer

Warner, The window sticker denotes where final assembly takes place.

warner

Okay...thanks. I'll have to see if I kept it...

Warner

PS - It's not marked anywhere else on the car?

targettuning

Technically it shouldn't matter where it was made. Honda has ( I would guess) gone to great lengths to make sure the Ohio cars are equal to those made in Japan. Further, I figure since they have been built in Ohio for quite a few years it isn't something new to them. The only thing new is the design.

targettuning

I think that somewhere within the first few letters of the VIN on your registration is a letter to designate where it was made i.e. a "J" for Japan. Mine is marked: 1HGFAXXXXXX and I think one of those letters is the Ohio plant code.

dave59

Is the Civic only made in Ohio or Japan?

aviboy97

I believe that the engine and tranny are still made in Japan, and shipped over here for final assembly of the vehicle

dave59

Thanks for the reply. In message #3517 it mentions assembly in Mexico and Canada also. Is this info. correct?

targettuning

It is my understanding that when the new 06 Civic was first released the cars were mostly imported from Japan in order to help production ramp-up in the Ohio plant. About the time I bought mine (late Sept) the Ohio plant was pretty much on line (mine was one of the first couple thousand made there) although there were still a % imported. When I bought mine the engine was made in the USA but the transaxle was imported from Japan. There were a few "made in Ohio" cars on the lot with both engine/transaxle made in Japan when I picked mine up. I don't know what the current situation on that is. Honda may, and probably does, have manufacturing plants around the world so they may make Civics elsewhere although I haven't heard about them specifically.

crissman

Just checked my window sticker and found out the engine in mine is U.S. made and the tranny from Japan. In fact, it's 70% U.S. and Canadian parts, 15% Japanese, with the rest not mentioned. This one was also assembled in East Liberty, Ohio in October '05.

qddave

Here's a VIN tip:

if it starts with a...

J, its made in Japan
1, its made in USA
2, its made in Canada

I think I posted once where I said that all all Civic sedans are made in Ohio. But I just found on canadiandriver.com that according to them, all CDN market Civic Sedans are made in Canada.

US market Sedans are made in Ohio. I know Coupes are made in Canada. Not too sure about the Si though. The last one was made in England.

Dave

dave59

Thanks. I should be taking delivery on a silver LX this week.

butterflyjones

I have a Chry.T/C van that has the lug bug at 1500 rpm. It's part of the characteristics of a 5speed overdrive tranny. It is annoying but I don't stay at that speed if I can help it. Hopefully Honda will get this problem fixed. I and others are waiting to see what they will do before we buy a Civic. Does anyone know if the Accord has this same problem? Any of you doing your own maintenance on your 06 civic?

targettuning

"it is part of the characteristics of a 5 speed overdrive tranny" On this I have to disagree. I have either owned (2003 Hyundai 3.5 Santa Fe) or driven (2006 Hyundai Sonata) cars with 5 speed autos and it isn't a feature of them. It IS a harmonic vibration of some underbody mounting point/heat shield/something else that has a sympathetic resonance at that specific rpm.

midnightcowboy

... Or just plain ole engine lugging :sick:

targettuning

As I have said this noise isn't the result of lugging the engine, it isn't pinging..knocking or any other noise generated within the engine as the result of lugging (defined as forcing the engine to operate at too low a RPM for the gear selected or road speed). Further, the automatic, at least, has enough electronic sense to downshift a gear or two to match road speed to engine rpm to keep it from "lugging". Finally, the noise can be duplicated by simply passing through the 1500 rpm engine speed range in any gear. This does not fall under the definition of the term "lugging".

midnightcowboy

Okay you convinced me: harmonic resonance. So all Honda needs to add is an ANC TSB

warner

As I have said this noise isn't the result of lugging the engine, it isn't pinging..knocking or any other noise generated within the engine as the result of lugging (defined as forcing the engine to operate at too low a RPM for the gear selected or road speed). Further, the automatic, at least, has enough electronic sense to downshift a gear or two to match road speed to engine rpm to keep it from "lugging". Finally, the noise can be duplicated by simply passing through the 1500 rpm engine speed range in any gear. This does not fall under the definition of the term "lugging".

Does the noise occur when you leave the car in park and slowly rev the engine up and down through 1500 rpm's? If not, why not?

Warner

sheldo1

I can also hear the sound in first gear as I pass through 1500 RPM. I agree that this eliminates the "lugging" theory.

I don't hear it when the car is in Park. Could it be that it only resonates under load?

stockmanjoe

I always tought 1 stood for USA too, but the 2006 Sonata's made in Alabama start with a 5. So the USA must have several numbers.

junk_car_owner

I am in Canada and I have also noticed this muffled grrrr sound. Happens about the same way as y'all have described. I first noticed it after driving out of my igloo one morning on one of our cold Canadian days and when going up an incline a bit. But it's hard to reproduce exactly. Didn't notice it today but then its a bit warmer. Car is still in break in period of 500 miles or so and so I expect this will work itself out over time. BEsides, the honda is not a sound proofed car and i bet that If it was, none of us would be even hearing this and therefore we would not be complaining about it since it does not seem to affect how the car drives at all.

nollaig

...the torque converter. I have a confirmation from Honda that this is the case. Mine is very pronounced after 7000 miles. The fix is a sofware update that they have yet to provide. Be also on the lookout for an oil leak. Mine is currently in the shop to replace a plug on the rear of the engine. Lost half a quart before oil change. Also had airbag sensor fail. Waiting for next failure...

miamicrv1

This is a question that I guess can be asked of any major car manufacturer. But how does a car as important as the 06 Civic get all the way to production without anyone at Honda knowing a problem exists....whatever the problem is? Did this noise never occur during development or testing or didn't anyone pay it any attention. What are all these picture of cars being driven through the Arctic and the desert to confirm their ability to perform under extreme conditions? Does the President of Honda USA or Canada ever drive one of there cars before it's launched?

targettuning

Torque converter...mmmm, I'll have to think about that before agreeing. I'm not entirely sure it would produce that type noise, locked or unlocked? I still lean toward an underbody component, bracket, mount etc.

junk_car_owner

If the sound came from a piece of some component vibrating, then you would expect the sound to be louder. But, this muffled grrr is no louder then what the engine sounds like normally. It is a change in the engine sound when it happens. Not louder.

warner

I can also hear the sound in first gear as I pass through 1500 RPM. I agree that this eliminates the "lugging" theory.

I don't hear it when the car is in Park. Could it be that it only resonates under load?

Exactly. Although I have NOT experienced this problem on my Civic, I DID hear what you guys are hearing this morning! When I started my car is was around 20 degrees this morning outside, and when I put the car in reverse to back down my driveway I notice a slight "rattle" sound as it passed through the 1500 rpm range. So at least now I know what you guys are talking about! However, this sounds only lasted not even until the end of my street at which point whatever it was got warmed up or loosened up or something. But now I know the noise you are talking about and if my car made that noise while I was driving down the road, I'd be pissed off! Hopefully (and it sounds like they are onto something in the previous posts) Honda will figure out a quick and easy fix for this.

Warner

targettuning

would I expect the noise to be louder? Not necessarily, the component could be small, yet with just enough flex within it or its mount to have a sympathetic or harmonic resonance at that particular RPM. Besides the noise is audiable over the radio at low volume so it isn't that small. I would describe mine as moderate, others may be louder.

junk_car_owner

Ok thats fare, but, I have only heard this when driving. Not a an when in reverse.

junk_car_owner

I checked www.vtec.net and civic owners there have described a similar problem and I have found two explanations for the noise on the web site. Not totally conclusive or proven yet however:

#1 Could it be the torque converter ???:

I am not aware of a 'torque converter' being the cause of the vibration. Some research and talking with other owners seems to just simply be the enging lugging due to the transmission in such a high gear at low speed. I'm not saying its not a problem, just that you specifically pin-point it to a torque converter issue.

#2 Could it be the belt ???

is not the Torque Converter, it's a problem with the belt. My dealer did some troubleshooting for the same kind of noise at the same speed and they said the belt tension (?) is vibrating. They couldn't fix it though.

What y'all think?

dave59

I am taking delivery on a LX AT today. I have spent some time reading about the "lug bug" and now am second guessing myself. What are your thoughts. Thanks. Mrs. Dave

targettuning

I don't think it warrants "cold feet". In fact it is entirely possible, although I haven't driven a recently made Civic, that Honda has attended to this via a running change on the newer made cars. My best advice would be to test drive a Civic and carefully listen for a...how to describe it?...well, a low to middle pitched vibration type noise at around 1500 RPM on the tach. The translates to about 40 MPH +/- road speed in high gear. If it is there (the noise) you should hear it as the tach passes through that 1500 rpm range and it will disappear above that rpm. Keep the radio off during this test as the noise if present isn't too loud. I should point out that there is no real vibration in either the car or the steering wheel, just the impression something under the car is vibrating producing the noise. I do not feel it is in any way unsafe only annoying

dave59

When did you first notice the noise. Has it change any over time? Thanks

targettuning

Since my wife is the primary driver, (I only wash it!),the noise didn't come to my attention until reading about it here. I then went out and drove the car specifically listening for it...I can't "un hear" it now though. Since the car only has about 1500 miles on it although about 5 months old I can only presume it was there from new. No, it hasn't gotten any worse that I can determine.