I've got two noises that I can't figure out - thought I would see what you all think.

Noise #1. This noise is hard to describe, but the best I can do is that it's like metallic white noise. Almost like if you had a small metal fan that wasn't secure and vibrated when it spun. The noise sounds like it's coming from inside the dash, but its hard to tell if its center. I ruled out the radio and climate control - happens when they are both off. Also only happens above 30 mph or so. It starts and stops rather randomly, but I did notice that it seems to start or stop when I hit bumps in the road. Its loud enough that I can hear it over the radio at modest listing levels.

Noise #2. When I back up, sometimes I get a definite "moan" from the rear of the car. Happens with or without brakes. Just in reverse. Does not happen all the time.

I have a 06 AT, with 63K miles. OK, go.

 

No takers, huh? I took a shot...

 

The reverse noise, just sounds like gear noise.
like a whine?

 

Body in the trunk?

 

More like a moan, but its definitely coming from the rear of the car.

 

Naw, I got rid of those.

 

Lol I thought I was the only one with the mystery dash noise... Just started up randomly. Happens all the time now when I drive. Hard to pin point while I drive, but I do know that it occurs when let the engine slow me down from 70kmh to 60kmh. About 43mph to 37 mph. I'm pretty sure it is a piece of trim vibrating against something.
If you figure it out, let me know!

 

I think I figured something out. Both noises are coming from the right rear tire. The noise when I'm going forward stops when I apply the brakes, then returns after about 1-2 minutes. Both noises are hit and miss. Sometimes on, sometimes not.

So here is what I'm wondering - could one of the brake pads have come loose and is resting against the rotor? That would explain why it goes away when I brake, but returns later (especially if I hit a bump or something). I'll take it off this weekend and have a look. Just curious if anyone had ever heard of that happening.

 

How are your brake pads and when you do last replace them?


The low brake pad indicator is annoying as heck but that sound could be what you describe, and makes that noise whether you are braking or not.

 

Actually, they've never been replaced.

But at the last check (45K), they all had just over 50% left. I'm at 65K now.

What's curious is there is no noise when I brake. No noise 0-40 MPH. It's only over 40, and it's not constant. It drops in and out. It also stops when I brake, or slow down.

I'm going to pull the wheel and check it out this weekend. But I really wanted to replace the rotors when the pads went - just hoping I'd get a bit farther down the road...

 

Keep us posted!

 

^ I'm finding a lot of threads in the Problems section that describe the exact same thing, and the consensus seems to be the brakes are done. Racingbrake rotors and pads will be ordered this weekend.

The dealership wanted $720 for new pads and resurface the rotors. I can buy a Racingbrake setup for $540, and it looks like the install is not too difficult.

 

OK, so it was the rear brake pads. So anyone with those noises, there you go.

I looked at my rotors, and they were all in really good shape. I tried both the dealer and another shop, and they all wanted $380 per axle to do pads and resurface the rotors. I didn't even want to bring it in because they ALWAYS want to resurface the rotors and I didn't want to hassle with them. And the job didn't look all that hard to do yourself.

So I replaced the pads myself this morning. This is a very good DIY thread:
https://acurazine.com/forums/1g-tsx-performance-parts-modifications-126/diy-brake-pads-rotor-replacement-790452/

I also checked out a number of YouTube videos - there are a ton of them. It took $40 in parts, and about 2 hrs of my time (that includes the trip to the hardware store to get the caliper piston reset tool, which O'Reillys rents for free). The noise is completely gone, and the car even stops better. It wasn't as scary a job as I thought. And I think I'd now be very comfortable doing a full pad and rotor replacement when the time comes.