Honda NBox Trans Issues: Grinding Noise + ABS Warning

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars, not a pro but I've dealt with my fair share of issues. I had a really similar problem with my 2011 Honda CR-Z. The symptoms were almost identical to what you're describing. Turns out it was a fault in the stability control system that was causing havoc with the transmission signals. Weirdly enough, my mechanic found it was covered under a technical service bulletin, so the fix was completely free! From what you're describing with the ABS light and transmission behavior, it sounds very familiar. Does the whining get louder when turning? Are there any other warning lights on? Have you noticed any changes in fuel consumption? BTW, if it is the same issue, you might want to check if there are any open recalls or bulletins for your N-Box. Could save you some money! Feel free to share more details, happy to help further based on my experience with Honda electronics.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! My NBox just hit 135184 KM, and I'm really hoping it's not something major since I just had it serviced last month. The whining noise is definitely louder during turns, and fuel consumption has gone up a bit lately. No other warning lights except for the ABS one though. It's interesting that you mention the stability control system, that could explain why everything seems connected. I'll definitely check about those technical service bulletins. Really appreciate the tip about potential recalls too, hadn't thought of that! This helps narrow things down before I head to the mechanic.

Hey again! Thanks for those extra details about your NBox. those symptoms are even more similar to what I experienced with my CR-Z than I initially thought! When you mentioned the whining getting louder during turns, that's exactly what happened with mine. It's actually kind of a relief to hear that because it really confirms my suspicion about the stability control system. My CR-Z had about 140,000 KM when this happened, so we're in the same ballpark mileage-wise too. The increased fuel consumption is another dead giveaway, my car was drinking more fuel for about two weeks before I got it fixed. Here's something I didn't mention before: my mechanic explained that when the stability control acts up, it can make the transmission work harder than it needs to, which explains both the fuel consumption and the whining noise. Just a heads up, when I got mine fixed, they had to keep the car for a couple of days because they needed to recalibrate some sensors after replacing the faulty component. Might want to plan for that just in case. Keep us posted on what you find out! Fingers crossed you've got the same issue I had, it's annoying but definitely fixable.

Thanks for the detailed follow-up! That's super reassuring to hear about your experience, especially since our mileage is so close. The part about the stability control causing the transmission to work harder makes total sense, explains all the weird symptoms I've been experiencing. I just checked online and found a technical service bulletin that seems to match our issue perfectly! Already called my mechanic and booked it in for next week. They mentioned they'd need it for 2-3 days, just like you said. Gonna arrange for alternate transport, but honestly, I'm just relieved it's likely not something more serious. Really appreciate you taking the time to share all this info, definitely helped calm my nerves about the whole situation. I'll check back in once it's fixed to let you know if it was the same problem. Thanks again for all your help!