help with grinding noise from front, full lock, only in forward gear

Hello,
I have a September 2003 plate (53) cr-v (petrol, manual) with low mileage (40,000).

I've now got this kind of grinding noise from the front (it's definitely not the back), it only happens when on full lock and moving/turning forwards and is ok with no problems in reverse. I couldn't swear on it but I'm sure it's worse when the car is moving slower on full lock - unless it is just getting worse).

A friend (mechanic for another dealership) had a quick look and couldn't really pin-point but said it was possibly either the diff or the gearbox.

Has anyone had this problem or know what it could be. I'm hoping somebody will say it's a common fault and it something simple like cv joint or something :)

Honestly though, this is about the last straw as I've had loads of issues with this car since new (needed the front disc grinding after 6 months due to rust, I've had about 4 clutch pots refitted due to the 'known clutch pot fault') and don't particularly want to hear I need about £1000 to fix a gearbox on something that is a Honda and done hardly any miles :)

Thanks for any advice.

I can't be sure on a manual what problems can occur with the transmission, but if you want to swap the fluids in the diff yourself, that costs about $12, and if that doesn't stop it (which it should) then I'd say you have some form of gearbox issue, since the AWD doesn't engage in reverse (I'm pretty sure) that's why you don't hear it in reverse. I'd switch the diff fluid before you do anything costly, as that's all it may be. The front rotors shouldn't be too big of an issue, they were only $25 a piece when I bought them, and took nothing to install, but manuals come with their own set of problems, so that may be what you've been dealing with as you said.

One of your CV joints is worn, replace with a new one.

Had this happen in several other cars, it was always the CV joint.

Thanks, I've been searching and from what I can read (read: I know nothing) cv joints make more of a popping noise than a grinding, mine is definitely a grinding noise - first it's like something at the front is rubbing against something else then it turns into more like you are driving over gravel.

Is this any better a description?

Thanks :)

Worn CVs can click around turns or make a scraping or grinding noise around turns.

Have a shop put the CRV on a lift and check them out. Cracks? Splits? Has grease been spun out into the wheel well? Sometimes the boot looks ok at first then on further inspection you may find a very small tear. It doesn't take much for the grease to be thrown out and dry out the joint.

The only other idea is the front brake pads are down to the wear indicators and only make noise around sharp turns. I had a Toyota Camry do this some time back. Installing new brake pads fixed the problem. Check the brakes up front also. I doubt this is the issue but worth a look while you have the tires off up front.

My money is on the cv joint as the problem.

turns into more like you are driving over gravel.


From that sound alone sounds like a dry diff. Swap fluids. The CV joint creaks and pops when it's messed up. Had that happen, no big deal to fix either.

Thanks everyone, I took it into a Honda dealer for them to give it a 'test drive', ahem.

It's the diff fluid.

Thing is, the car's only done 40,000 and is 5 years old; according to the service manual the diff oil only needs checking at 75,000 or 8 years. So I think I'll try and get them to pay for it due to build quality or something. I did this out of warranty when my clutch went and they fixed it then.

By the sounds of things you did well! Most people change more often. Check out some of the threads on this issue. Good reads:) Hal

USually it's 75,000 and then every 30,000 after that till the car dies or explodes.

Sometimes you get faulty, or different things. Not every 2nd gen's big maintenance is going to be done at 110,000 like it's supposed to, sometimes it needs to be done sooner.

Hello,
Apparently (according to the dealership) the noise is caused by the oil in the diff becoming stagnant due to the 4WD not being used much (there are two pumps I'm told) causing the clutch plates to rub together.

On the off-chance I rang Honda (who are usually very helpful) and explained it's done half the recommended mileage and age for diff check as per the service schedule and the inherent fault I see in that most people don't use 4WD (being a largely tarmac driven car). Sadly they didn't see it my way.

However, the moral of this is that don't believe the service schedule. I just wonder what else I should be doing that isn't in the standard service schedule...

Still, bit of a design flaw I think.

For the rear differential the service schedule is fantasy. On the generation 3 V with the Maintenance Minder, Honda has the contraption programmed to have the rear differential oil changed every 15k to 20K miles.

The problem seems to be that the fluid is hygroscopic, that is it tends to absorb moisture. Interesting thought on the lack of use causing the problem also.

There is a TSB regarding this problem:

http://www.in.honda.com/Rjanisis/pubs/SB/A07-024.PDF

In your earlier posts, you said the noise was from the front, I ruled out the rear differential because it comes from the back. Interesting, that the noise seemed to come from the front.

it's a lie! well, more like a typo, or else a mistake when they tested the systems long ago. the differential fluid wearing out seems to be one of the most common problems discussed on these cars. 35-40k miles seems to be a common time to see problems. mine (which I just purchased at 50k miles) had seen it done before I got it, and I redid it as a preventative measure. honda has clearly decided that since it's a very common yet not vital problem, they aren't going to admit the schedule is incorrect - a bit below par for Honda but what can you do. i would say that in general the service schedule seems to be ok (ie the intervals are in line with what i'd expect for various fluids & components), but if you are cautious like me you can adhere to the "severe use" schedule.