I was having same exact issues everyone is describing here. Dealership found bad torque converter. A grinding noise from AT should not be normal, bug them until they find it.

 

Same problem here. You've all described it perfectly and I've noticed it for the past five months on my '09 with 36K. When I talked with someone who knows cars his first word was "fluid." So I'll do the change and go from there. Sure can't hurt.

 

I had this very same problem at 10k and got help from many inputs from the postings here. Did the 4 x "flush & refill" with Honda ATF DW-1 and got rid of the noise all together. Since then, I have performed "flush & refill" DW-1 every 15k. Now my 09 Fit is 75k and still runs perfectly without any engine/tranny grinding noise.

 

I have this noise. I wouldn't call it a grinding noise. It almost sounds, as Steve described earlier, like a heat shield that's loose or a hydraulic type sound. If I thought it were a grinding noise, it would be in the dealership ASAP. I only hear it when the car is cold. Once it's completely warmed up, I never hear it. To hear the noise the radio has to be off. The car is running great, so it doesn't bother me and it could be normal function of the vehicle. I did have the dealer do a fluid change at 30k and that didn't change a thing.

 

Yes, this is the noise that most of us talking in this thread. I asked our dealership tech, he believed that it is the AFT Z-1 that does not work well with the torque converter in the tranny, especially in cold morning when you first start driving. My 09 Fit did have the very symptom at about 10k. Once I did the initial 4 x "flush and refill" with DW-1, it went away. I think that most of us expressed the same experience here. Based on this tech's recommendation that every 15k perform a 1 x "flush and refill" with DW-1 to keep that tranny and torque converter in good running condition. I have kept that since and it has been working great.

 

Mine is a 2012, so it's been on DW-1 since the beginning of it's life. Still have the same noise described in this thread. I think Steve described the noise and possible cause the best. 40k now on vehicle. I think it's normal and since I'm use to it, it doesn't bother me.

 

Hate to bump this thread, but I've noticed the same issue. This usually happens during cold starts, and usually goes away. Or if I come down from 50 MPh, slow down into a turn, come out of the turn in 2nd and hit 3rd, I hear this noise. Sounds like fluid isn't lubricating quick enough or something. Will need to take the car in to get it looked at.

 

When my car is totally warmed up, it goes away. After it warms up, I can't reproduce the noise under any circumstances. The noise almost sounds like a loose heat shield. My car has 42,000+ miles and has been doing it as far back as I can remember. I don't think it's an issue. It's most probably the the hydraulic noise Steve described. If I'm not listening for the noise and have the radio on or the windows down, I really don't notice it. I could have had dealer check it, but I was worried they would tool around in there and cause other issues. haha!

 

Here's a video of the sound I hear...almost to the T. Found this with some Googling.

 

That sounds more like a grind. Mine doesn't do that. Mine sounds more like a heat shield is loose and goes away after full warm up. That could be a different issue.

 

Yeah, I called Honda and will show this video. I will also record one, just because.

 

Good idea! If you can, post your video up as well.

That definitely sounds like a momentary grind/shudder. I've never heard that on mine or experienced that type of shudder, but will pay close attention this afternoon when driving home.

 

I had some experience with that sound also when my fit was at 80k.....I've since drain and filled at 80, then 90k, and finally at 100k when I changed all the other fluids and havent heard it since....I'm at 108k now on my 09 GE8 SSM....good luck!

 

Experiencing same noise here. Have always had manual transmissions until i purchased this car, so not sure where it is coming from or it if is normal. I read about the one (literally, one) person who had the dealership replace the torque converter. Is that what this noise is? I just purchased the vehicle certified used and could easily just take it in, but don't want to get the run around...

 

DeySilver's vid link sounds like the "flushing" noise to me (aka heat shield). it's not grinding, it's a short noise that sounds (to me) like fluid being released under pressure, such as would happen when a solenoid releases ATF from an accumulator to control either the torque converter or some other mechanical aspect.

Get it documented at the dealer. I don't think a transient noise like this is reason to tear it down, and it went away for me after it warmed up, and never occurred again after the first ATF drain fill with the newer DW-1 ATF.

If it happens all the time I'd definitely get it documented.

 

Mine must be a completely different noise. Just doesn't sound the same. Ruh-roh Shaggy!

Interesting that he describes it in his comments as a grinding:

May have to turn on the anal retentive ears this afternoon on way home.

 

I tried filming it on the way home, camera never caught the noise. I heard it faintly though. But only once. It was colder than usual today, here in Florida. So not sure if temperature causes the effect.

The noise I hear is almost exact from the video. 1.5seconds of noise, then it goes away. Usually can reproduce it going quick into a turn lane onto another street. I have an appointment this Friday morning with the dealer. But I am not hopeful he will hear the noise.

Note that when I hear this noise, I don't recall specific feeling of the throttle or any shuddering of the gas or brake pedals. It's just an odd shift, where it makes more noise than usual. Keep in mind, this car has 7500~ miles on it.

 

Just an update, going in January 14th to get this worked out. Been hearing it a little more often lately.

 

Been having the same problem as all you folks. Just bought a used '09 fit sport with 80k. After a week or so the sound started. Jost got it back from the dealership I bought it from (non-Honda) and they had no idea. Tried to tell me it was an issue with the air filter. Pretty sure I know more about this than their mechanic after all the reading I've done here. My plan is to do the 4x DW-1 and see if that solves it. Will update once the work is done.

Thanks to everyone here for all the insight. As a new Fit owner this forum has been invaluable.

 

Yes, please give us an update...