aleeterninja

As the title provides my 1996 Honda Accord LX 4cyl starting making a "whirling" noise all of a sudden. But for some reason this only happens when im going 50+ miles per hour whenever I "glide" or just flat out brake.

I'm racking my head on what it could be, a subject I found says it's a loose pinion, maybe a loose bearing or even transmission. I'd plug in my OBD but my OBD port on the car itself doesn't work.

The car starts, run, brakes, ect except for that whirling noise.

1997blackaccord

First thing if tires are old and cupping then can make this noise. Take it to a road with lots of bends when you turn left if the noise goes away its a bearing on the right side. When turn right if it goes away its a left side bearing.
Or jack up the front end put it on jack stats start car and put in drive. You wont here the whirling sound because there is no weight on the wheels but if you can hear a noise like a roller blade or skateboard wheel turning its that wheel bearing.
Jack each rear wheel up and spin by hand same thing if you hear a sound like a rollerblade wheel its that bearing
This noise will have nothing to do with a CEL

jvr

I get a weird whirling noise too, but it's only when I am decelerating and try to pop my 5-spd tranny into first (with the clutch pedal depressed.. I'm not downshifting into first before stopping or anything) before I come to a full stop. The two noises are probably unrelated though, I figured my noise was just the synchromesh spinning up first gear and I should probably wait to pop it into first until I'm completely stopped... Mine sounds like Zoidberg from Futurama when he scuttles away frantically, lol

To the last poster, I'm curious what makes you think it's a wheel bearing issue and not something to do with the transmission? I'm not criticising your conclusion, I just want to learn more about diagnosing various noises (I'm a total noob and eager to learn)

1997blackaccord

The op hears this noise while "gliding" (no pressure on transmission) and breaking (pressure on bearings) over 50 mph as you slow down noise goes away.
You hear your noise when almost completely stopped like you said putting into first gear. Try stopping the car before you put into first see if noise goes away if so then you have a problem like you stated.

jvr

Yeah, there is no noise if I wait until I completely stop before popping it into first. Is that noise just the synchro spinning the gear up to speed, or an indication of an actual problem with something? I didn't think it was a sign that anything needed to be replaced since the car has made the same noise under those circumstances for as long as I can remember (several years), and there are no issues with the tranny when shifting normally (it's a little tough to get it into reverse from a stop, but I thought that was normal since i was told that gear has no synchro).

Sorry OP, I don't mean to thread jack. I hope you're able to figure out what's causing your whirring noise!

1997blackaccord

Its a Honda! If you can shift into first gear while stopped with out a problem then I wouldn't worry about it and your right about reverse.