2002 18k miles. Last night I was doing about 20mph and shifted into 2nd gear (rush hour traffic)... BOOM-- crunch crunch crunch...

I had noticed a "whirring" sound coming from the rear end this week (the vehicle hasn't really been driven much in the last 6 months because of weather, and the fact my primary car is my RX-8) and had a friend of mine mention that it sounded funny also (he works at mazda, and formally at honda). I was planning on taking it in, but it looks like it just didn't wanna make it that far.

I had the dealership replace the rear-diff fluid about 2k miles ago (with my 15k service).

Whats odd, I didn't notice a "lot" of oil at all... I could see it dripping a little when I pulled it over, but I didn't find (what I expected) a big oil puddle in the road.

Odd thing-- I can still make it "move" in gear, it crunches BAD about every 1/2 turn or so of the wheels..but it still does move... I'm guessing its the diff but I don't know for "sure"

... anyway, its on its way on a flatbed to the dealership now.

 

Bummer. Let us know what it was.

 

Ouch I hope everything works out ok, but yeah make sure to see if it the dealer messed up, I believe you're pretty lucky you have the last diff change on their records. Then again they would have probably told you if metal shavings were already present when they did the change to charge you more money at that time (dealers ways), and probably within 2k with not alot of fluid or a bolt not tightened all the way, i would think it would be very possible your diff would have gone to crap.

 

Check and see if the dealer put the rear diff oil for the CRV in your car. That would cause the failure and this appears to be a growing problem. If there is a part number on your work order and it is the CRV diff fluid than Honda will have to get you a new diff and a rental car for free.

 

Check on your last invoice receipt to see if they put in the correct fluid in your diff. To my knowledege, Honda doesn't have a readily available diff fluid for this car. If they put in that VTM or dual pump crap that was made for their SUVs, your diff is toast.

 

Yes, find out (without being too forthcoming - don't want to tip them off) exactly what kind of fluid they put in there. If they put in VTM-4, you get a free diff.

Also, can you elaborate on the previous diff fluid change interval and history? Was this the first change? What kind of driving you subject your car to and the kind of driving the hour or so just before this happened. Can you determine how low the fluid is, the appearance of the drain bolt magnet and if possible a fluid analysis might help your cause.

 

agree with all the posts above.
1) find out what diff fluid they used.
2) find out if drain bolt is still securely fastened.
3) find out if the washer is on the drain bolt.

You only put like 0.8l of diff fluid in....so you'd likely not see a big puddle if it were to leak out......

 

Yep. I was told not to even ask the Honda parts dude for diff fluid because they have been known to give out the wrong stuff. I was told to use Mobil 1's 75-90.
Sorry to read about your differential.

CB

 

Well, the car only has 18k on it... When I did the 15k service (at around 16.5k I believe), I had them change the rear-diff fluid too.

Its my weekend sunny-day enjoy the top down car... casual driving, nothing crazy...as far as the kind of driving the hour prior-- well, it was more like 20minutes prior because it was parked in the parking lot all day at work, I was driving home in slow rush-hour traffic, merging with traffic off the bridge at about 10-20mph..when I shifted into 2nd gear and BOOM.

As far as drain-plugs, and/or magnets,etc.. I have no idea, it was late and getting dark, so I parked it... had the tow-truck driver take it to them this morning, so I didn't get a chance to look. The kind of fluid used should be on their records-- or I'll have to go dig it up.

Whats "odd" is I could hear a noise (kind of like a metal rubbing) from the rear for a few days prior, which is why I was going to bring it in, but this happened before I could.

Whats also odd-- the car will still "move" (albiet slowly), with a CRUNCH sound every time the wheels rotate about 1/2 around. It certainly wasn't from abusive driving, how the hell can you abuse a car at 20mph in bumper to bumper traffic???

 

Sounds like they put the wrong kind of fluid in there. Dumbasses. I'm constantly surprised by the ingnorance of dealers.