CVT sound. What's normal?
 

Hello all. I'm new to the Honda CVT world. I just bought a 2017 EX last Friday and am enjoying it so far. This is my first Honda since my '87 Civic! I've been (and still am) a Subaru guy for the most part. But I love the practicality of the Fit.

I'm wondering what are considered 'normal' sounds for this car, specifically from the CVT.

I have a 2016 Forester with a CVT, so I'm aware they sound a bit different from normal automatics.

What I'm hearing is a somewhat hollow resonance between 2-3k RPM. It's not loud, I just have very good hearing and noticed it. It sounds like it could be normal CVT noise like my Forester has at low speeds. I'm just paranoid about new cars and would like people's opinions.

It doesn't sound like a heat shield. I've owned 7 Subarus. 5 have had heat shield noise. This sound is not that rattly.

Anyway, thanks in advance!

Can you make a recording? The GK is my first Honda, first Fit and first CVT. It's loud during acceleration but quiets down at cruising. HKS exhaust makes it less uncool sound CVT haha:vtec:

Also loud ticking is normal GDI sound from the engine bay.

It's subtle enough you wouldn't notice it in a recording. I suppose if I tried using my AT4040 mic to record it, it might work, but that's one sensitive mic so it'll pick up EVERYTHING. I'll play around with that.

It's not the "angry sewing machine' of the engine, lol. This is my first direct injected engine. Man, that thing is loud at idle. It doesn't exactly purr. As long as it's Honda reliable.

It sounds like it's coming from under-ish the driver's seat, which I understand is about where the CVT is. Come to think of it, I hear the sound I'm describing only under load. I don't hear it when idling or revving at idle.

Only thing under the driver's seat is going to be the gas tank. If you have a full tank, you'll hear a liquid moving sound when you first turn off the car. It's an odd experience haha

The CVT transmission is on the driver's side in front of you in the engine bay so maybe you can pick up the resonance. I probably don't notice, but years of riding a motorbike will do that :)

Right. Hence I say under the driver seat-ish sort of area. It's probably my paranoia. But that's what warranties are for, right? Anybody else hear what I'm hearing?

i drive my wife's GK on occasion but i dont notice any odd noises. i too have very good hearing although my age has started to make my ears a tad lazy compared to when i was in my 20's more than 2 decades ago..

Yeah, that's kind of what I'm wondering. Whether the sound I'm hearing is 'odd' or 'normal'. It's not like I don't expect mechanical notes from the car. I just want to assure myself they are the correct ones.

Trying to offer an opinion on whether a sound is normal based on a written description of the sound over the internet is pretty challenging.

Yea, I know. I wish I could offer more for y'all to go on. It's subtle enough that a recording would do no good.

Maybe I should just relax and not be so concerned with every little thing, lol.

If it gets under your skin too much (I understand those sorts of things), could always swing by the dealer and have the service adviser go for a ride with you. See what they think.

Or go test drive another Fit to compare.

Both good ideas which I already plan to at an appointment at the dealer in a couple weeks. Thanks.