Hi Folks,
Need your help to diagnose another noise.
This time it sounds like its coming from the engine area.

I first noticed it on a long drive on Saturday.
I was going at in-city speed, lightly accelerating up a gentle grade.
Then I heard it. Its hard to describe noises but I'll try.
Its like a series of repeated ticking or chattering. It sounded like it came from up front, say the engine, about center. It almost reminds me of the tinny ticking sound that a diesel motor makes while its idling. Now that I'm listening for it, I've heard a few times since.

Anybody else experienced this or have any idea what this is ???

Wow, all these noises are getting me down on my TSX!! I can't remember having all these problems when my '91 Integra when it was new. It seems like it was more buttoned down.

 

does the ticking sound last for certain rpm only? Weather when it happens?

If you are sure it's from your engine bay area, open your hood, rev up your engine and see if you can hear where the sound comes from. There are many reasons to hear funny noise from the engine bay area. Try to see where it's from first.

 

What rpms? Sounds like you are exactly describing right before VTEC kicks. Thats the sound of your car making power, so don't get down.

 

Hi Folks,
I didn't mean to make it appear that the noise happens continuously.
It only happens occasionally at short bursts. I made mention about the diesel only to indicate that the sound appears to be a a tinny ticking.

The noise appears at lower engines speeds and seems to go away as the revs build.
I haven't been able to develop a set of circumstances where I can repeat the noise while driving.
It just appears to come and go.

But, Maxim Fx, you bring up a good point. I haven't tried reproducing the sound in the driveway.
I'll give that a try when I get a chance.

I used to have a '91 Integra. It developed a simliar noise. A technician once told me that the noise was the results of play in the valvetrain. It didn't really concern me since I was able to get 430,00kms out of that car and stuff wears out over time.

But, if the noise is coming from the valves on a new car then that's a concern for me.

 

try driving around in 1st gear and get it up to 5700-6300 RPM and see if you hear that noise. If it is VTEC kicking in, it should sound like its coming from right behind the glove box. If not, then who knows.

 

 

Thanks for the comments, Xizor.
But, I don't think its the VTEC kicking in. It was turning maybe 2000-3000 rpm.
I'm going to try to pin-point the occasion where this noise happens and add it to the list of things the dealer needs to look at on my first service.

I already know how the conversation is going to go. They'll say that they don't hear anything... can't fix what you don't hear... I'll be back there again and again until I get a satisfactory answer. But, at least I'll have it documented if any serious issues arise.

 

It can be a play in the valvetrain, but either you really have a very good ear, or the problem is more than valve play. I can hear mines ticking pretty distinctly once I'm out of the car but not while I'M inside.

If you hear that noise in the car while you're putting load on the engine like going uphill or accelerating, it resembles pinging, or slight detonation. It can be due to bad octane rating. If it occurs with 91, try some 93 and see if it still happens.

 

Appreciate the comments, sauceman.

Are you at all concerned about it? Or is it just normal operations of the motor? Can the dealer do anything about? My sister had a Civic that had wild piston slap. The dealer told her that there was nothing they could do since it was inherent with all the Civics that came out of Alliston. (Ya, right ...)

You bring up a great point on gas! I've been a faithful (10+ years) Shell user thinking that its the best. After all Ferrari uses it their F1 program (said with sarcasm). I think its time for a change. 93? that sounds like Sunoco... I'll give it a try on the next tank.

 

I would be somewhat a little concerned about it given it's young age. But first, try with 93. If the problem is solved with 93, chances are good you have a little pinging under load, and you should get it investigated.

You should then keep using 93 until the problem is solved. It could be a hint of deposits in the combustion chamber. It could be software problems, though I doubt it.

Try with 93, see what happens, then get it investigated.

 

... will do. :0)

 

[QUOTE=sauceman]It can be a play in the valvetrain, but either you really have a very good ear, or the problem is more than valve play. I can hear mines ticking pretty distinctly once I'm out of the car but not while I'M inside.

If you hear that noise in the car while you're putting load on the engine like going uphill or accelerating, it resembles pinging, or slight detonation. It can be due to bad octane rating. If it occurs with 91, try some 93 and see if it still happens.

Youre one lucky guy if you have that choice between 91 and 93. Here in SD 91 is the best you can get around town. 93 would be my choice everytime.

 

Ya. I'm gonna give the 93 a try.
I've never used it before because I've never had the need.
But, it sounds like a high recommendation from you...

 

It could very well be the gas. I've heard of people here having "bad tanks" of Shell gas. Although It was mostly regular, I suppose it could happen with premium as well. Maybe try Petro-Canada premium and see if It makes a difference.

 

Hello calgary tsx,
Thanks for the comments. Yes, I am aware of the "bad" Shell gas.
Apparently, there is a class action law suit against Shell on this matter.
This is a brief article post on the Automobile Protection Agency site (www.apa.ca) under the News links. Also, I think it was about six months (bad memory) that the Toronto Star had a big write up.

I have since switched to Sunoco Ultra 94 and giving that a try. I think its too early to tell if its correct my problem however I can say that the engine seems to run smooother.

 

Hi guys,

My neighbour owns a SSM TSX auto and my brother owns an RSX Type S, both cars HAD that ticking sound until I started playing with my bro's engine cover. Both cars had the ticking going on from 1800-2800rpm. One day I just started poking around my bro's engine compartment and came up with an amazing discovery. LOL
On the engine cover I noticed that if you put your ear close to it you could hear the ticking at idle. So I started pushing down and pulling up on various areas of the cover and noticed the ticks dissapearing! My brother immediately took off his cover and had it insulated with some heat resistant material, my neighbour when hearing about this said he had the same problem and proceeded to do the same thing to his engine cover. Glad to say both cars are "tick" free.

 

Hi Befuddled,
Oooo, that sounds promising. But, I'm not sure what you mean by "engine cover"???
Please, tell more... :0)

 

Well if you look at the cover over the engine which has the red lettering "i-Vtec" and then below it in smaller letters "2.4L DOHC". That's what I'm talkin about

 

Befuddled,
Thanks for the clarification... guess what I'm doing tonight. :0)

 

Hey Casey TSX, I just experienced the same exact problem on a long drive last night.

I heard the ticking noise coming from the engine when I was at low RPM's and below 50mph's. It kind of got me paranoid, but I'm hoping it's just the gas I used.

 

Hey iamhomin,
Since getting that ticking noise, I've switched gas. I'm now using Sunoco Ultra 94 (octane rating of 94). I'm on my fourth tank and haven't heard the noise since. But, I think its too early to draw the correlation. Give the gas angle a try, it might work for you.

 

Sunoco Ultra? I've been using premium from Amoco, Sunoco, Exxon, and Mobil, which has an octane rating of 93.

But this is the first time having these problems..

Glad to hear your TSX is doing fine though.

 

Hey iamhomin,
I wasn't sure if Ultra 94 was available at the Sunoco's in the States.
Ultra 94 is readily available at Sunoco in Ontario.

The other thing that I tried was put in some concentrated fuel system cleaner.
Just use you favourite brand. Yes, I know I'm reaching but I has thinking that there might be some contaminates from the assembly process on the valves, head, etc. Ya. I know I'm reaching but its a thought.