# Another Automotive Question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 10, 2004, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004 "2004-11-10T12:47:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/1 "2004-11-10T12:47:38Z")
We have a 2001 Honda CRV. Recently it began making this ogawful sound / shaking at lower speeds. It’s not consistent, although becoming more consistent. Car has about 40K miles. The car has an automatic transmission, and the problem seems to occur as it gets at the top end of the first gear and second gear or around 2000 rpm. At this point it starts to vibrate A LOT and I feel it through the doorframe on the driver side (I’m never a passenger so not sure it’s not also on the other side). It sounds almost like something wrapped around an axle and thudding against the bottom or side of the car. But it goes away at higher speeds and also seems to go away when the car has is really warm. Not just 5-10 minutes of warming up, more like 30 minutes or more of driving. My guess is something with the CV joints but it could be an engine or transmission problem as well. Any thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/2 "2004-11-10T13:21:13Z")
Could be any one of a number of things or a combination of two or more. Ignition cables, fuel injection, plugs or ignitors, acceleration, etc. Take it to a good mechanic for an inspection and check out. May have to leave it all day or even overnight so they can check it out cold. ---
**Author:** ![acoop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@acoop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/acoop)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/3 "2004-11-10T18:41:44Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > My guess is something with the CV joints but it could be an engine or transmission problem as well. Any thoughts? it could be the engine or transmission mounts ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/4 "2004-11-10T19:23:30Z")
torque convertor? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/5 "2004-11-10T22:26:31Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > torque convertor? What’s a torque converter? [/dumb question] ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2004, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/6 "2004-11-10T22:28:08Z")
Also, I should mention that this doesn’t seem to occur in neutral, which again points to something in the drive chain and not the engine itself. (Mrs. Shibb says she first noticed this phenomenon after one of the hurricanes. How it could be related is beyond my ken.) ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/7 "2004-11-11T16:18:26Z")
CV joints shouln’t be affected by engine temp, whereas tranny parts will act differently. Many trannies make use of the torque convertor differently depending on how warm the tranny is. The torque convertor will act differently at different temps and speeds. Bad convertors can cause bucking and slipping. So, if it isn’t the TQ, you still might want to focus on parts that are affected by operating temp and/or speed, but which can still cause the symptons you feel. All points to the tranny. If it isn’t that, then definitely look into the flux capacitor. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2004, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/8 "2004-11-11T16:28:24Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > If it isn’t that, then definitely look into the flux capacitor. My DeLorean doesn’t have a flux capacitor, but I recall seeing a diagram for one once in Dr. Emilio Lizardo’s lab. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/9 "2004-11-15T19:28:39Z")
Mrs Shibb took her car to the shop today, finally. They lubricated the spline on the front axle and that seems to have cured the problem. Now, of course, I must ask, WTF a “spline” is? ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2004, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/10 "2004-11-15T19:55:53Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Mrs Shibb took her car to the shop today, finally. They lubricated the spline on the front axle and that seems to have cured the problem. Now, of course, I must ask, WTF a “spline” is? Sort of like a long gear and mating piece that can slide longitudinally but not rotate with respect to each other. [Splined Shaft and Mating Internally Splined Sleeve](https://sdp-si.com/eStore/Direct.asp?Exp1=102&CP=Shafts.htm) ---
**Author:** ![NutMagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ea5d25/32.png) [@NutMagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NutMagnet)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/11 "2004-11-16T12:27:55Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > What’s a torque converter? > [/dumb question] Inside an automatic transmission is a “drum” filled with transmission fluid, attached to the engine flywheel. (The torque converter). It, of course, spins at the same speed as the engine. This motion creates pressure in the fluid in the various channels and valve bodies within the non-rotating parts of the transmission. Pressure is manipulated and directed to the “outgoing” rotating parts of the transmission to engage the correct gear for the demand. Naturally, there’s more to this than I can explain here, but that’s the general principle. Additionally, this is a pretty old design. More electronics are used to perform the function of the torque converter, although hydraulics are still used to engage clutches and bands. Here’s one, bout 1/3 of the way down. [http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/49798/](http://www.chevyhiperformance.com/techarticles/49798/) ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/12 "2004-11-16T16:35:07Z")
The torque converter is a fluid coupling…a liquid-charged clutch which works on hydraulic pressure rather than friction to transmit engine torque to the transmission. Imagine a short squat cylinder or big fat donut with two fans inside, filled with oil. At low rpm, the driving fan dosen’t put much pressure on the driven fan, but at power, the driven fan approaches the speed of the driving fan. Newer converters made in the last 25 years or so have friction clutches in them to truly achieve one to one direct drive through the converter…called lock-up converters, managed by the car’s computer. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/13 "2004-11-16T17:08:32Z")
I am no auto expert, so take my post with a mountain of salt. I had a similar-sounding problem with a van that I owned, and it turned out to be the spark plug wires. They conked out at about 50K, and then again after another 50K. What was very, very, very frustrating was, in six trips to the mechanic, 3 of which I rode along on, the car \*would not \* reproduce the problem. As soon as I picked it back up from them, it would do it again. Seriously annoying. Anyway, just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![jkirkman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ac8455/32.png) [@jkirkman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jkirkman)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/14 "2004-11-16T17:35:14Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > We have a 2001 Honda CRV. Since this appears resolved, I’ll just note that this site: [http://www.hondasuv.com](http://www.hondasuv.com) The forums are filled with well-informed CRV owners. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2004, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/another-automotive-question/274004/15 "2004-11-16T17:39:43Z")
I somehow completely missed \*\*Shibb’s \*\* update. See how bright I am? :smack: