I've had my tsx up and down on lifts like a Duncan yoyo, for the past 3 weeks. All opinions are the 'rattle' is coming from my RT cat. RandomTech has said it could be a manufacturing defect but probably, a too rich fuel mixture (unburned gas to cause-overheating); that caused the 'strands' (non-ceramic) to separate from the inner wall. Anyone have similar circumstances with their cat? If its fuel management; wouldn't that be a faulty Hondata reflash? RT's tech guy said he has heard of that happening before. I'm sending RT jpgs of the cat this weekend. Apparently, the color of the external cat means something: Dark brown is no good. A 'honey' color is good.

 

Problem solved. What should have been done in the first place; remove the bolts to see what's causing the problem. Don't know why the shop that installed the RT cat put a thin, narrow ring gasket after the gasket kit at the cat & catback flange. So, the 3 bolts could never be tightened completely flush. The RT is fine. and the rattle gone. Curse that 'install' shop to hell.

 

thanks for the update and i'm glad it all worked out

 

Me2!

 

And RT was a big help with there expertise. I shot a note off to Clay, this AM.

 

Which shop did you use for the install? We don't live too far from each other and I always wondered which shop people use around here to install parts like this.

 

In Gillette. Rich's Auto-but DON'T go there. I had them mount & balance my Faulkens, too. And within a week, I lost two lugs on my right-rear wheel. I received the latest help with fixing the rattle at the Strauss, in N. Plainfield, on Rt 22E. Didn't charge me. Just gave the mechanic $20. I would have boned-up, and installed the RT Cat myself-if I didn't have a neck operation back in June. I talked with a guy at Midas muffler_who works at 'Pride & Performance' in Keansburg, NJ. He said to come down and check it out. But thats a bit of a haul for me. Dave Trible, at Bridgewater Acura had a night crew that really looked after my TSX. And I keep him up-to-date on my mods. I'll see him for an alignment for my new Centerline wheels on order and install of my NST pulleys, when Marcus gets them in. Some places up on Rt 46 I want to check-out, too. TrixTrax in Woodbridge, is the only place I've heard that has a dyno.

 

Good deal! That's good to know.

 

As an update to your Q; that Strauss in N. Plainfield is installing a state-of-the-art alignment machine this week, to bring them into the 21st century. Needless to say, the garage-guys are 'pumped'.