Honda Car Forum

Hi all,

I have 1991 Accord SE.

It has started making a high pitched whirling sound somewhere under
the hood.
It sounds like a bird singing for about 2 or 3 seconds then stops.
After about 45 seconds or a minute it does it again. This repeats
again and again. Like a fan starting, rubbing on something then
stopping. It makes a sort of high pitch matallic sound. It starts
somewhat fast and slows a little then stops until the next time it
repeats. It only does this when the car is moving, NEVER when the car
is stopped. It isn't the fans as I've run beside the car with the
hood up and heard the noise and saw the fans where not moving. It
seems to be coming from the front of the car but is very difficult for
me to isolate.

Thanks for any thoughts.

2003@hibbs.info (hibbs) wrote in message news:<39c6ae69.0310261916.17cb7a4e@posting.google. com>...
> Hi all,
>
> I have 1991 Accord SE.
>
> It has started making a high pitched whirling sound somewhere under
> the hood.
> It sounds like a bird singing for about 2 or 3 seconds then stops.
> After about 45 seconds or a minute it does it again. This repeats
> again and again. Like a fan starting, rubbing on something then
> stopping. It makes a sort of high pitch matallic sound. It starts
> somewhat fast and slows a little then stops until the next time it
> repeats. It only does this when the car is moving, NEVER when the car
> is stopped. It isn't the fans as I've run beside the car with the
> hood up and heard the noise and saw the fans where not moving. It
> seems to be coming from the front of the car but is very difficult for
> me to isolate.
>
> Thanks for any thoughts.

Turns out this, I think, is the ABS pump. I pulled the big fuse from
the ABS fuse box and the noise has stopped.

Any thoughts out there about what this means? What repair is
required etc. Sounds like a great deal of cash. Is the car safe to
drive with the ABS fuse pulled and the "Anti Lock" light glowing on
the instrument cluster?

Thanks for any thoughts.

If my LX had anti-lock brakes, I'd be pretty pleased.

Even from Majestic Honda the modulator is like $700, so that's probably
just not the way to go. Someone here may have a recommendation of a third
party, or reman retailer with more reasonable prices.

I guess I would try to get a replacement at a wrecking yard (maybe just go
for the complete modulator assembly, rather than try to disassemble to
replace the motor). Remember, these are brakes though, so check the fluid
reservoir of the wrecked car to make sure the brake fluid is clear...if
it's cloudy or muddy red, don't waste your money. Keep looking until you
find a car that seems like the brake fluid was flushed every few years.

----

As far as whether it's safe, I believe that with the ABS disabled the way
you have it, your brakes should be just as serviceable as the non-ABS ones.
As long as *you* understand the limitations of that, I think you'd be OK. I
am certain these systems are designed to fail safe. The only question would
be if contamination caused your modulator to fail, then you may be in for a
master cylinder failure too.

What color is the brake fluid in *your* M/C reservoir?

Good luck,
Arthur


> Turns out this, I think, is the ABS pump. I pulled the big fuse from
> the ABS fuse box and the noise has stopped.
>
> Any thoughts out there about what this means? What repair is
> required etc. Sounds like a great deal of cash. Is the car safe to
> drive with the ABS fuse pulled and the "Anti Lock" light glowing on
> the instrument cluster?