Groaning Noise
 

Anyone notice a groaning noise when they start their RDX? I think it is probably coming from a HVAC damper changing positions. It seems to happen most of the time when car has been sitting a while, such as, overnight. I was wondering whether this is relatively normal for everyone or an indicator of some problems to come. I have a 2007 bought in August, so it is a relatively early production version.

My RDX does that too. Any ideas why? It seems to come from the steering wheel.

Let us know Mr. Marco, i got the groans too!:tomato:

I've noticed it when I start the car as well as when I park it and it idols for a little while.

Just curious, it might be the ABS doing a self test. Is that the noise you are hearing, i'd hate to steer you wrong? Just throwing it out there, it may not be what you are trying to resolve but it is also a deceiving noise that people worry about that is perfectly fine.

LOL, Marco you said farted.

I too started hearing a groan when I start the car in the morning. I thought it was the automatic telescopic steering wheel making noises like my old Legend but realized that it's manually adjusted :P

I too have this annoying sound , is there a DIY or only dealership can fix this .

Hi all,

I have the groan noise as well. I just got my 2008 RDX and didn't notice it until 2 weeks of driving it. Winter just hit in my area, and the groan seems to happen everytime my temperature is set to about 27 degrees when starting the car. I'm 95% sure it's something to do with the heating system in the car. Although it's not something we should be alarmed about, the farting noise is still kind of annoying.

not something you want to show a girl on the first date... :)

^^ 27 degrees?!?! Haha I hope you meant 72. I think mine does this too. I've realized that my RDX makes a LOT of noises that are "normal". I'm not too bothered by it. Once it gets rolling, it's smooth(er than my old car) and quieter too.

I guess I'll video this and post it, see if this is what you all are talking about.

Before I go through the trouble of getting this on video, this is so "trailer park" of me describing the sound of a tornado, but does it sound like Grrrrrrrrrrr for (-1 dignity) about 2.5 seconds. After start up?

yes it sound just like everyone is saying like a "fart sound" near the steering column and you can hear alittle when you press on the hvac . My RDX is out of warranty ,any idea is there a fix or dealer here I come .

Almost 95% positive it's ABS. I'll get a video, when the rdx is started the ABS system does a self test once the vehicle is engaged in drive. This is a deceptive noise and I have read about this in other forums many years ago.

Try to find a safe place to test empty parking lot covered in snow, your speed does not have to be fast but in a straight line (VERY IMPORTANT!) floor the brakes and the ABS will actuate and make the Grrrrrrr sound while pulsing the brakes.

Also. Your ac heating is tied to the radiator, as well as the turbo. Check the fluid in the radiator as well as the over flow reservoir. Bring them up to serviceable levels, if they are not already. My guess is that as the compressor radiator hoses have built up pressure or air needs to be bleed from cooling system. Although not hearing it makes it near to impossible to determine. Thx

It's HVAC. I might do it several times in a matter of seconds when I go from the cool garage to the hot sun, and then again when I turn the corner and face away from the sun. I need to make a list of all those little things like this, the glove box button rattle, and the other miscellaneous crap like unreadable NAV screen that I forget about when I'm at the dealer getting the LOF. I will try to remember to post my results.

Man this is like the banana phone, I hear it now. I started hearing it after I went looking for it. Darn you. Raffi made the song in the video, but I'm referring to the sequence of events from the video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ4j-MBnLQo

It is not ABS like you said Marco. I just wished I didn't go looking for it.

This maybe pressure In the radiator lines that run to the heater. My guess is that after shutting the RDX off, water pump quits pumping and the water lines to the turbo are filled with hot water as well as the HVAC system. The water lines cool off. That makes me think that the controls to open and shut the different vents run off of vacuum, maybe that is source of the problems.

Kaze66218 is correct because everytime I start the car you can hear it and I also turn on the heater and press the temp ,you can hear the grrrrr opening up . So is there a fix for this ?

Undoubtedly it's one of those: Remove dash, lube effected area, replace dash. I'm starting a list of my own right now and making an appointment to get all the shit done while I still have 4700 miles left on the Bumper to Bumper.

Troubleshooting the Climate Door Noise
 

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There are four climate motors that each operate their own doors:

1) Driver's Air Mix Motor and door (controls driver air flow over heater core).

2) Passenger's Air Mix Motor and door (control's passenger air flow over heater core).

3) Climate Mode Motor and doors (controls both sides foot/vent/defrost airflow).

4) Recirculation Motor and door. (controls all airflow recirculation).

When the conditions are right to hear the noise, troubleshoot by operating the doors individually:

In Dual Mode; run the driver temp up and down and listen for the noise (driver air mix door). Then run the passenger temp up and down and listen for the noise (passenger air mix door).

Next manually change the Climate Mode from foot to vent to defrost and listen for the noise (climate mode door).

Then switch Recirculation off and on (recirculation door).

Lubricating the door linkages and hinges requires removing the corresponding motor and a few items that are in the way.

There is apparently a TSB out on this now. They lube the doors.

hello 737jock
do you know what and how to remove to lube the door flaps?