Belzebutt

This is regarding the continuation of my TSX rattle saga...

In the last year or so I took my 2004 TSX to Camco at least 4 times to fix a particular squeak in the rear-view mirror/map lamp area. Basically when I drive over uneven roads I hear constant squeaking from there.

I took it in and each time they fixed it, but the problem came back a few days later. I just booked what's probably my 5th attempt to fix this. I called Acura customer service but all they said is "go to another Acura dealer if you're not happy".

So how's the Casino service? Do they know what they're doing?


By the way, I had another issue with my brakes, when I'm in stop and go traffic and I'm stopped, and I gently let go of the brakes, I hear a "clunk" type noise. It's a lot easier to hear with the windows down or the sunroof open. I went to Camco and first they got me to change the rear brakes (at my cost), then the front brakes (the labour was at their cost to compensate for the false diagnosis from before), now the noise is back again and they asked me to take it in once again. Obviously it looks to me like I got two unnecessary brake jobs, and one of their guys even said on the phone that on Hondas and Acuras the brake pads or rotors have a bit of "play" so you might hear a noise from that. In any case, I paid a lot of money for nothing.

Any advice on any of that, particularly from the Ottawa crowd here?

cestmoi

"Clunk" noise... that reminded me of my dad's previous previous previous vehicle - Taurus wagon way back when.. every time we make a left or right turn, there's this clunk noise. It turns out that it was a CV joint problem.

Long story short - we've never bought another Ford or GM vehicle again after that experience...

So, would it be an indirect case? Just throwing ideas...

curls

Hey Belzebutt... haven't seen you post in a while! Maybe it's because you've been at Camco too much?

For issue #1: Camco and Casino are both owned by the same person/people, but I can't say one way or another whose service department is better. In your situation however, you've got nothing to lose by going to Casino. Are you still under warranty though? If not, maybe you'd be best researching/playing around with things, than spending hard-earned $$ to have some peon try to diagnose a rattle/squeak in 5 minutes, with no guaranteed results.

For issue #2: Not too sure, but if you can, check for play in the axle and all ball joints. Also, does there seem to be any other play, clunk, or looseness with anything in the transmission or brake pedal/linkages?

Good luck and keep me posted! If you see me around, honk! (white '04, 20% tint, A-spec bodykit, lowered on Tein H-tech's, and probably in VTEC. )

Belzebutt

Hey Curls, thanks for the tips. What kind of wheels do you have on yours? I saw a TSX like you described on Merivale the other day, except it also had custom exhaust.

I also met a gentlemen with a white body-kit TSX and A-spec shocks on a parking lot last year, we had a nice chat.

Yea, I've been spending WAAAAY too much time at Camco, I've been there at least 5 times in the last few months. And only once for a scheduled service.

My warranty's running out real soon now, at the end of August and in about 3000 km. So this is the last ditch effort to get the dealership to go after the squeaks, after that I'm on my own.

I'd go to Casino, but I have only one car so I always take advantage of the Camco loaner, and for this type of issue they want the car for the whole day. Plus I live in the south, so Casino is way out of my way. I don't know, It's hard to believe that all the Camco guys would be incompetent and the first Casino guy that touches my car would fix it...

It just sucks to hear these squeaks and rattles every time I drive the damn thing, and to make matters worse I commute every day on Limebank road, the 2nd worst road in Ontario.

curls

Ugh, Limebank is HORRIBLE... I used to work at the racetrack/slots and took Limebank when there was any traffic on mitch owens. Big mistake... LOL!

I have OEM 04/05 wheels on my car, with Proxes TPT tires. Stock exhaust (w/ the better tips, ala A-spec kit). I have an Injen rear plate frame and a personalized plate based on my screenname... shouldn't be hard to notice now that you know that information.

Have you looked into getting to Casino on a weekend, like a Saturday morning appointment? Maybe that will work for your schedule, and you can spend some time winning or losing money at Lac Leamy while they work on the car. LOL!

Keep us posted!

crisco

not sure what to advise. Sounds like some relatively difficult-to-diagnose problems. Hard to say whether Casino would be any better, but what have you got to lose.

Speaking of poor roads in Ottawa - what is your #1 worst road? And how about either Riverside (between Bank and Heron) or Carling (from Dow's Lake to the Civic Hospital)? - the heaves and expansion cracks are so bad, its like they've installed speed bumps every 50 yards!

curls

Please don't remind me...

I used to live at Carling/Bronson and drove the Carling frost-heave strip WAY too often. Ugh...

And then I often drove Riverside from Hunt club to the 417 daily when I worked in the east end.

I sure know how to pick 'em eh? LOL!!

Belzebutt

Limebank is the worst from where I drive, especially since it's a 3km stretch of heavily-used rural road that was never designed for the amount of traffic it gets, it's bumpy as hell and yet people drive 120 km/h on it.

Riverside from Heron to Bronson and beyond is terrible. That was the shortest way to the hospital when my wife was about to deliver the baby and but she begged me to take the backroads instead because it was too bumpy.

Carling is getting a lot better now that they've repaved most of it.

The problem for me is that I don't get the squeaks just from the huge bumps, I get constant squeaking from that sunglasses-compartment area simply by driving on a slightly uneven road.

dowzer

I use Bronson daily, coming from Hunt Club to get to the Queensway. My lowered Integra feels like it's going to fall apart on that road, the TSX is much smoother but I can't imagine that road is very good for the tires & suspension...

runner453

perhaps your headliner is peeling away where it meets the windshield due to weakened adhesive

jbs148

Certainly Camco and Casino are options, but are there any recommends with regards to local shops that are familiar enough with Acuras to give you peace of mind and save your pocketbook?

My current requirement is brakes - mine are warped, have been machined once so I'm planning on doing a complete replacement of rotors and pads - any insight on specific parts and where you had work done would be appreciated.

J.

curls

jbs - Call No Limits Auto Parts (Fenton Rd., near Rideau Carleton Racetrack). Ask for Mike (the owner). Tell him Eric w/ the TSX sent you. http://nolimitsautoparts.com/

I go to him for ALL of my parts, as he's a straight up no BS guy who will not sell a shitty part, nor will he oversell you some expensive part if your application doesn't require it.

AS for where to bring those parts, if you're mechanically inclined, brakes are fairly easy to do yourself, it just takes a bit of time and patience. Otherwise, Mike would definitely recommend Wagorn's Garage, which is off Cyrville near the 417 overpass. I've been there and they are a very honest bunch who know Mike well (his shop used to be just a few hundred meters from theirs).

Brakes are brakes - 99% of mechanics can do a brake job on an Acura no problem. Also, most mechanics charge about the same rate per hour. So the idea is to find a mechanic you trust and I'd vouch for Wagorn's.

Or, if you want, I can refer you to my friend in Limoges who is AWESOME and does all kinds of work on Honda/Acuras out of his garage at home. He's done rebuilds, engine swaps, timing belts, etc... for me and friends. If you want his contact info, PM me. I'd recommend him 100% if you don't mind not going to a 'true garage' (and if you don't mind saving a bunch of cash! )

jbs148

Curls - thanks for the insight. I'm away on business but will definitely follow up with your recommends once I'm back in Ottawa.