My 2008, standard transmission, Honda Element just turned over 100,000 miles recently. Over a year ago the engine started making a “hurrr hurrr hurrr hurrr hurrr” noise and shaking the whole car while I’m sitting at a light or stop sign without touching the gas pedal. If I turn the air on it will stop, but starts up again if I turn the air back off. It doesn’t do it all the time, and of course didn’t do it when I took it to a mechanic to have it checked out in June. They hooked it up to check for engine codes, and got nothing, so they weren’t really sure what to fix since they couldn’t make the engine do what I was describing. They did bring a whining noise the engine is making to my attention, and suggested replacing the alternator and 2 associated belts in the engine. While they were in there fixing things, they noticed the lubrication looked contaminated - like water had somehow gotten inside - but couldn’t say how.
Unfortunately, my car is pretty much right where it was before visiting the mechanic - only now I notice the constant whining that gets louder when I press the gas pedal, as well as the occasional shaking and “hurrr hurrr hurrr hurrr hurrr.” Please advise - people who ride with me notice the whining too, and whenever the engine starts shaking they think I should have it looked at. to which I reply, “yes, I have. fat lot of good it did me.”