2004 TSX Timing Chain out at 45,000 miles
12-06-2010, 07:21 PM
#1
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2004 TSX Timing Chain out at 45,000 miles
Two months ago my TSX started having an odd acceleration problem. No rattles or noises, but definitely a loss of acceleration. The console started displaying its check engine light, VSA light and the /!\ light.
I took it to the local Acura dealer who said my timing chain was about to jump. They wanted $2,500 for the fix and told me I should not drive the car at all. I decided to get a second opinion. I took it to a reputable garage, and they told me that only a sensor was out. They though the acceleration issue was being caused by the lost sensor. They felt that driving the car was fine. They wanted to replace the sensor, but told me that the part was on back order everywhere. For two months, they never got the part. The console lights varied. Sometimes all three. Usually just the engine light.
Last week, the car died. At first, it sounded as if the battery was dead. Then I could get it to rev, but once I came off the gas, the car stalled. Never had a grinding or any rattles.
I had it towed to the garage. Now, they are saying the timing chain has jumped. That this is a very rare problem, and that they just could not have seen this coming when they first looked at the car.
I guess I should have listened to the dealer, but a chain going out at 45,000 miles? Other than the acceleration hesitation, the car ran fine. Not sure what to do now, but I could very well have some scrap metal to sell.
Anyone heard of issues like this with the 2004 TSX? Any ideas what the fixes can be and entail?
I took it to the local Acura dealer who said my timing chain was about to jump. They wanted $2,500 for the fix and told me I should not drive the car at all. I decided to get a second opinion. I took it to a reputable garage, and they told me that only a sensor was out. They though the acceleration issue was being caused by the lost sensor. They felt that driving the car was fine. They wanted to replace the sensor, but told me that the part was on back order everywhere. For two months, they never got the part. The console lights varied. Sometimes all three. Usually just the engine light.
Last week, the car died. At first, it sounded as if the battery was dead. Then I could get it to rev, but once I came off the gas, the car stalled. Never had a grinding or any rattles.
I had it towed to the garage. Now, they are saying the timing chain has jumped. That this is a very rare problem, and that they just could not have seen this coming when they first looked at the car.
I guess I should have listened to the dealer, but a chain going out at 45,000 miles? Other than the acceleration hesitation, the car ran fine. Not sure what to do now, but I could very well have some scrap metal to sell.
Anyone heard of issues like this with the 2004 TSX? Any ideas what the fixes can be and entail?
12-07-2010, 02:16 PM
#2
I've read issues of the timing chain skip, but not at 45K. Are you the original owner? Did you try asking the dealer for goodwill work consideration? Yea, you're out on the basic warranty, but sometimes Acura Client Services can help out if you plead your case.
12-07-2010, 04:39 PM
#3
I have never heard of this except in cases of highly modified engines. This sounds a little odd. Makes me wonder if the tensioner failed on it. I would push for goodwill on this as well. This is not normal maintenance item or wear, and the mileage is too low for it to be expected.
And $2500 sounds to me like a complete and total rip off.
And $2500 sounds to me like a complete and total rip off.
12-07-2010, 06:45 PM
#6
Two months ago my TSX started having an odd acceleration problem. No rattles or noises, but definitely a loss of acceleration. The console started displaying its check engine light, VSA light and the /!\ light.
I took it to the local Acura dealer who said my timing chain was about to jump. They wanted $2,500 for the fix and told me I should not drive the car at all. I decided to get a second opinion. I took it to a reputable garage, and they told me that only a sensor was out. They though the acceleration issue was being caused by the lost sensor. They felt that driving the car was fine. They wanted to replace the sensor, but told me that the part was on back order everywhere. For two months, they never got the part. The console lights varied. Sometimes all three. Usually just the engine light.
Last week, the car died. At first, it sounded as if the battery was dead. Then I could get it to rev, but once I came off the gas, the car stalled. Never had a grinding or any rattles.
I had it towed to the garage. Now, they are saying the timing chain has jumped. That this is a very rare problem, and that they just could not have seen this coming when they first looked at the car.
I guess I should have listened to the dealer, but a chain going out at 45,000 miles? Other than the acceleration hesitation, the car ran fine. Not sure what to do now, but I could very well have some scrap metal to sell.
Anyone heard of issues like this with the 2004 TSX? Any ideas what the fixes can be and entail?
I took it to the local Acura dealer who said my timing chain was about to jump. They wanted $2,500 for the fix and told me I should not drive the car at all. I decided to get a second opinion. I took it to a reputable garage, and they told me that only a sensor was out. They though the acceleration issue was being caused by the lost sensor. They felt that driving the car was fine. They wanted to replace the sensor, but told me that the part was on back order everywhere. For two months, they never got the part. The console lights varied. Sometimes all three. Usually just the engine light.
Last week, the car died. At first, it sounded as if the battery was dead. Then I could get it to rev, but once I came off the gas, the car stalled. Never had a grinding or any rattles.
I had it towed to the garage. Now, they are saying the timing chain has jumped. That this is a very rare problem, and that they just could not have seen this coming when they first looked at the car.
I guess I should have listened to the dealer, but a chain going out at 45,000 miles? Other than the acceleration hesitation, the car ran fine. Not sure what to do now, but I could very well have some scrap metal to sell.
Anyone heard of issues like this with the 2004 TSX? Any ideas what the fixes can be and entail?
12-07-2010, 06:47 PM
#7
Have you heard of this problem on any other year than the 2004?
By reading these boards, it seems that the oil burning problems in the 04's and the timining chain skip/failure are related.
If the oil get too low it hurts the chain or tensioner. There is a connection between the timing chain and the oil level.
By reading these boards, it seems that the oil burning problems in the 04's and the timining chain skip/failure are related.
If the oil get too low it hurts the chain or tensioner. There is a connection between the timing chain and the oil level.
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12-08-2010, 07:25 AM
#8
Have you heard of this problem on any other year than the 2004?
By reading these boards, it seems that the oil burning problems in the 04's and the timining chain skip/failure are related.
If the oil get too low it hurts the chain or tensioner. There is a connection between the timing chain and the oil level.
By reading these boards, it seems that the oil burning problems in the 04's and the timining chain skip/failure are related.
If the oil get too low it hurts the chain or tensioner. There is a connection between the timing chain and the oil level.
12-08-2010, 09:04 AM
#9
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Thanks for all of the replies.
I am the original owner of the car and have kept up with regular maintenance. At the time of the original acceleration problems, I was told my oil was "getting low" but not critically so. The dealer told me I had significant sludge build up. The garage told me it was a very clean engine. So it goes.
The garage has now had the chance to take a closer look. It appears that the chain did slip/skip but not to the point that the engine is ruined. They estimated the repair at $1,000. They still are not 100% sure what happened. Everyone agrees that something very, very rare happened for a car with 45,000 miles.
I didn't ask for goodwill consideration from the dealer. Didn't occur to me. I was too ticked off anyway and just wanted to get out of there. My mistake, but I bought the car from the dealer and just didn't feel the responses I was getting were straight. At the time, I didn't want them working on it. Given what's happened though, I do feel now they were diagnosing the situation correctly. But, $2500 was and still seems outrageous.
I love the "DIY" reply, but no one benefits from me working on a car.
Thanks again everyone. I'll know the final story in a couple of days and will post.
I am the original owner of the car and have kept up with regular maintenance. At the time of the original acceleration problems, I was told my oil was "getting low" but not critically so. The dealer told me I had significant sludge build up. The garage told me it was a very clean engine. So it goes.
The garage has now had the chance to take a closer look. It appears that the chain did slip/skip but not to the point that the engine is ruined. They estimated the repair at $1,000. They still are not 100% sure what happened. Everyone agrees that something very, very rare happened for a car with 45,000 miles.
I didn't ask for goodwill consideration from the dealer. Didn't occur to me. I was too ticked off anyway and just wanted to get out of there. My mistake, but I bought the car from the dealer and just didn't feel the responses I was getting were straight. At the time, I didn't want them working on it. Given what's happened though, I do feel now they were diagnosing the situation correctly. But, $2500 was and still seems outrageous.
I love the "DIY" reply, but no one benefits from me working on a car.
Thanks again everyone. I'll know the final story in a couple of days and will post.
12-08-2010, 12:08 PM
#10
Sludge build up at 45K? 
When you say regular maintenance, is this oil and filter changes every 10K for normal driving conditions? If so, better do the oil changes every 5K. Plus check oil levels often and top off if needed. I've noticed on my 135K engine I'm burning about 1/2 L of oil every 5K miles.
When you say regular maintenance, is this oil and filter changes every 10K for normal driving conditions? If so, better do the oil changes every 5K. Plus check oil levels often and top off if needed. I've noticed on my 135K engine I'm burning about 1/2 L of oil every 5K miles.
12-08-2010, 09:20 PM
#12
Sludge build up at 45K? When you say regular maintenance, is this oil and filter changes every 10K for normal driving conditions? If so, better do the oil changes every 5K. Plus check oil levels often and top off if needed. I've noticed on my 135K engine I'm burning about 1/2 L of oil every 5K miles.
When you say regular maintenance, is this oil and filter changes every 10K for normal driving conditions? If so, better do the oil changes every 5K. Plus check oil levels often and top off if needed. I've noticed on my 135K engine I'm burning about 1/2 L of oil every 5K miles.
12-09-2010, 06:58 PM
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Final update
I picked up my TSX today from the garage. Their final diagnosis was a stretched timing chain that did slip. No additional damage to the engine. I was lucky.
The bill was $1,100. No one there had ever heard of a chain doing this at such low mileage, so it seems to just be the luck of the draw. I might contact Acura on this, but don't have any expectations. I'm mainly happy to have my car, which is running like a champ.
The garage ended up buying some of the needed parts off my dealer. Got to love that at more than half the price!!!
For what it's worth, the garage did suggest changing the oil every 3,000 - 4,000 miles from now on and being sure to use 5W30. They said my engine was totally clean with no signs of poor maintenance.
Thanks for all the posts, replies and advice.
I picked up my TSX today from the garage. Their final diagnosis was a stretched timing chain that did slip. No additional damage to the engine. I was lucky.
The bill was $1,100. No one there had ever heard of a chain doing this at such low mileage, so it seems to just be the luck of the draw. I might contact Acura on this, but don't have any expectations. I'm mainly happy to have my car, which is running like a champ.
The garage ended up buying some of the needed parts off my dealer. Got to love that at more than half the price!!!
For what it's worth, the garage did suggest changing the oil every 3,000 - 4,000 miles from now on and being sure to use 5W30. They said my engine was totally clean with no signs of poor maintenance.
Thanks for all the posts, replies and advice.
12-10-2010, 04:08 AM
#16
Final update
I picked up my TSX today from the garage. Their final diagnosis was a stretched timing chain that did slip. No additional damage to the engine. I was lucky.
The bill was $1,100. No one there had ever heard of a chain doing this at such low mileage, so it seems to just be the luck of the draw. I might contact Acura on this, but don't have any expectations. I'm mainly happy to have my car, which is running like a champ.
The garage ended up buying some of the needed parts off my dealer. Got to love that at more than half the price!!!
For what it's worth, the garage did suggest changing the oil every 3,000 - 4,000 miles from now on and being sure to use 5W30. They said my engine was totally clean with no signs of poor maintenance.
Thanks for all the posts, replies and advice.
I picked up my TSX today from the garage. Their final diagnosis was a stretched timing chain that did slip. No additional damage to the engine. I was lucky.
The bill was $1,100. No one there had ever heard of a chain doing this at such low mileage, so it seems to just be the luck of the draw. I might contact Acura on this, but don't have any expectations. I'm mainly happy to have my car, which is running like a champ.
The garage ended up buying some of the needed parts off my dealer. Got to love that at more than half the price!!!
For what it's worth, the garage did suggest changing the oil every 3,000 - 4,000 miles from now on and being sure to use 5W30. They said my engine was totally clean with no signs of poor maintenance.
Thanks for all the posts, replies and advice.
12-16-2010, 06:04 PM
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It could be the o2 sensor or the speed sensor ( usually on TL's). Car will lose acceleration, vsa, check engine lights all go on, car won't stay on once you let off revving engine, mild vibration. The sensors are not reading properly and cause engine to die in a sense.
05-19-2012, 09:52 AM
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me too
2004 TSX same problem at 60000 miles -- $2000 fix -- now again at 110000. Both times a "stretched" timing belt lighting all the lights; both times the dealer tried to blame me for not taking care of the oil , which I get changed every 5000 mi. Disgusted, I took it to another mechanic the second time, who said it looked like a manufacturing flaw. If I didn't love the car, I 'd dump it.
05-21-2012, 09:12 AM
#19
2004 TSX same problem at 60000 miles -- $2000 fix -- now again at 110000. Both times a "stretched" timing belt lighting all the lights; both times the dealer tried to blame me for not taking care of the oil , which I get changed every 5000 mi. Disgusted, I took it to another mechanic the second time, who said it looked like a manufacturing flaw. If I didn't love the car, I 'd dump it.
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