https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fyk...w?usp=drivesdk

I just recently purchased a 2016 RDX CPO with 40k miles. Runs perfect except I hear this strange noise only during cold start. Took it to the dealer and they didn’t hear anything. See attached video and please let me know if anyone has had a similar issue.

 

A/C compressor engaging? Try shutting off climate control completely, then shut down and restart the car, see if the noise is still there.

 

The climate control was completely shut off when hearing the noise.

 

We have a CPO 2016 that seems to sound like a bucket of bolts when shutting it off, but not starting.

 

I have brought my RDX twice to Acura regarding this noise. They claim it is the AC expansion valve even though the AC system is off. They replaced it under warranty. It didn’t fix the noise. One thing I have noticed is that when I hear the noise on cold start up and press the accelerator it goes away. I’m thinking maybe serpentine belt and possibly the tensioner?
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

T16, I am new to Acura. That being said, in my former life with Mercedes, tensioners and pulleys around the serpentine belt could be a major source of noise at startup. Then things warm up and the noise goes away. You may want to try an automotive stethoscope under the hood when you start and the engine is cold-where the noise is coming from may become much more apparent to you. Bearings on pulleys, etc sound bad when cold, but may be okay once the system gets warm.

 

[QUOTE=jimbo1763;16493923]T16, I am new to Acura. That being said, in my former life with Mercedes, tensioners and pulleys around the serpentine belt could be a major source of noise at startup. Then things warm up and the noise goes away. You may want to try an automotive stethoscope under the hood when you start and the engine is cold-where the noise is coming from may become much more apparent to you. Bearings on pulleys, etc sound bad when cold, but may be okay once the system gets



Thanks for the reply. I actually called Acura today and complained. I don’t have much confidence at all in there service department. They were very apologetic
and offered to pick up my RDX at my home and bring me a loaner. Still under warranty so I guess I will Let them take it.

 

Good. If they keep it overnight and start it in the AM when cold, it should perform for them and they can figure it out.

 

Update on my 2016 RDX with gurgle/ chirp noise on cold start up.

My RDX has been in the Acura dealership a total of three times for this noise. I have provided them with an audio recording of the noise. They thought it might be the AC expansion valve,. They replaced it but it didn’t solve the problem. I also provided the dealership with a copy of the service bulletin for the faulty ATF filter that is from the TL. (RDX & TL use the same ATF filter) They said it’s not the ATF filter. The service manager then consulted with an engineer from Acura, and now they claim it’s a normal noise for my car and all Acura’s do that. Very disappointed. I may just have the ATF filter and fluid changed somewhere else and pay for it.

 

Spray some water on the belt before you starts in the morning. it is the belt if you don't hear the noise when you starts. I suspect it is the tension in your belt since it goes away after a while.

 

I really could not hear the noise you are referring to but for what its worth, mine makes a ticking noise when it starts. Goes away (I think but road noise may mask it) shortly thereafter. The midyear refresh has a direct injection engine (or so I am told) that is the cause of the ticking and supposedly it is not an issue and no long term engine issues / problems due to ticking.

 

The mid cycle refresh did not include direct injection. The happened with the 2019 4 cylinder.

 

I've had the same noise for a long time - maybe 2 years??? It doesn't just happen when cold. Sometimes I hear it at idle at stoplights. It can also get fairly persistent rather than just coming and going. It happens AC on or off. It would be interesting to know what the cause is, although I have the feeling it may not be anything serious. Unfortunately, I'm about 400 miles and 1 month from going out of warranty. Hoping I don't find the cause the hard way. I did have the ATF fluid, transfer case and rear differential fluids changed. Made no difference.

 

Thanks egads. I had my 2016 in and the tech claims the engine is direct injection. I told him I do not have the ticking sound on our 2013 RDX and he claims it is a different engine than the 2016. The ticking sound appears when engine is started and remains in park. The sound also remains when the car is shifted into Reverse as well as shifted into drive. Also when shifting into drive the car (2016) often shifts hard and lunges while making a clunking noise? No issues with our 2013. Never feel like I am getting true story when I bring issues to their attention. Any comments welcome.

 

The engine change starting in 2016 has to do with how many cylinders shut down. Probably a small HP increase, mostly due to tuning.
The specs say it has Sequential Multi Point Injection.

https://www.caranddriver.com/acura/r...dx_2016/375632

Your best bet is to buy a device to muzzle the VCM and make sure the trans has it's regular fluid changes. There is a service bulletin on changing the
fluid three times and updating the software.

There is also a service news article (but not a technical service bulletin) on sticking rocker arms. But you are supposed to have a blinking MIL (check engine light)

http://www.urvi.net/forumfiles/SN/B16060G.PDF

Our 2016 makes a disconcerting rattle noise I only hear as I shut off the engine. Acura is not going to fix an engine that is not broken. But I would try to get your complaint in writing.
If possible, try another dealer.

 

Thanks for the info. Been a Honda Acura owner for years. Frustrating but any other product I go to will have issues as well. Lexus nice but a lot more to buy and service.

 

The 2016 RDX is our 8th Honda, first Acura.

 

The RDX does not have direct injection engines. I have both a 2014 and 2018 RDX. Engines are the same. No direct injection.

My wife drives a 2018 TLX with V6. It does have a direct injection engine and it does tick a little.

IF your RDX ticks it could be the valves need adjustment. The manual says adjust them if they become noisy.

 

Update on cold start gurgling noise. (2016 RDX w/tech)
I have had my car at the dealer a total of 6 times to try and solve this issue. (It's still under warranty) They claim they don't hear the noise. Then they said that they contacted an Acura engineer and had them listen to the recording of the noise I sent them. They stated that it's a normal noise for my car.
Sorry but that's BS. I had the ATF filter and fluid changed at a local Acura/Honda shop. No more noise on cold start! I wrote a letter to Acura complaining about the substandard service I received with a copy of the invoice from the shop that did the service I paid for. To my surprise the dealership sent me a check for the amount I had paid. Big thanks to everyone who posted information regarding this issue! I would have not been able to solve this issue without all the information posted here. Thanks

 

@T16 are you reffering to the sound in the video at around 00:09 seconds ?
i bought my rdx 2018 new and i have that very same sound occasionally on start ( doesnt have to be a cold weather) or when i idle immediately after starting and driving a few hundred feet.

 

Yes!

 

ohhh thanks buddy
i have been hearing that sound since when my mileage was 2k i dont drive much so didnt pay attention .. will ask at my next service and see what they say

 

I finally managed to pin this down yesterday when the noise started and I was ready for it. It was on a cold start, and the "galloping" noise started. I hit the AC button to turn it off, and the noise stopped instantly. Started again briefly when I turned the AC back on. Sounds like a shuttle valve oscillating or something. In 4 years of ownership, I haven't seen it cause a problem. It probably really IS normal like the techs say.

 

[






QUOTE=jcross1231;16570334]I finally managed to pin this down yesterday when the noise started and I was ready for it. It was on a cold start, and the "galloping" noise started. I hit the AC button to turn it off, and the noise stopped instantly. Started again briefly when I turned the AC back on. Sounds like a shuttle valve oscillating or something. In 4 years of ownership, I haven't seen it cause a problem. It probably really IS normal like the techs say.[/QUOTE]


When I went to the Acura dealer with my RDX they also told me it was related to the AC. They did AC under warranty suspecting that was the cause, but it never fixed the issue. Then I had the external trans filter replaced with a trans fluid change and no more weird sound on cold start.

 

Hi everyone! I have a 2016 RDX (34k miles, purchased new in 2015) and for quite some time I have been experiencing the gurgling noise on cold start. For my car, it doesn't happen all the time and tends to happen more often when the weather is warmer. It sounds exactly like the sound in the video in post #1 of this topic and I want to get the transmission fluid filter changed to resolve this issue. In 2020 (at 27k miles) my dealer changed the transmission fluid, but not the transmission fluid filter. I just made an appointment at my dealer for other maintenance items that it is due for and I asked about changing the transmission fluid filter. They told me that the transmission fluid filter is not serviceable - they need to open up the transmission to change it. I didn't object to this (and for now, this is not on my appointment details) and figured that I will discuss this further with them when I bring it in in a few weeks. From reading this topic and others, it seems that some Acuras have a transmission fluid filter that sure enough is like the dealer told me - "not servicable" or "internal", however, it seems that from this topic that the filter on the 2016 RDX "is serviceable" aka "external". Thus, I feel that maybe my dealer was in a rush in speaking with me and didn't carefully check if the transmission fluid filter on 2016 RDX is "internal" or "external" and told me by mistake that it is "not serviceable" / "internal". So my question to folks here who have resolved the gurgling noise with the transmission fluid filter replacement (and the actual fluid replacement): How much was the service, how many hours of labor does the job involve and did they dealer/shop describe the process of as a matter of replacing an "external" filter? Thanks in advance!

 

I paid 300. for a trans fluid change and filter change.
No more annoying noise.

 

This service bulletin:

http://www.urvi.net/forumfiles/SB/B17-017.PDF

Has to do with a transmission software update and a 3x fluid change. I have been unable to get my local Acura dealer to do the software update even if I pay for a single fluid change.
One of the things the software addresses is rapid deterioration of the fluid. I had this done on my Honda Odyssey (same transmission) and makes a world of difference.
I do not understand why Acura dealers are so chicken shit about software updates. I also could not get them to do the Navi software (not maps) when the Acuralink was sending me
8-10 texts a day that the battery was low. I ended up just canceling the Acuralink. (That would work anymore anyway)

For those of you new to Honda/Acura, transmission fluid changes are a normal maintenance item. It used to be every 45k, now is every 30k. (Service code 3) A normal drain & fill replaces 1/3 (approx)
of the fluid. If you feel like your fluid may be deteriorated, doing three with driving in between is the way to change all the fluid. The service bulletin linked above has the dealer do that with simulated driving on a lift. DYI I would do changes three weekends in a row. For those of us who have our vehicles serviced, each of the next three oil changes works just fine.

Interesting about that filter. I know that in my Odyssey forum changing that filter is a often done. Now I know there was a batch of bad ones.

 

Thanks! Does anyone have the part # and the description of the part for the external transmission fluid filter (from a dealership service receipt)? I'm still trying to get the info together on this so I know what to tell the dealer when I bring it in at my appointment time.

 

The oem part number is

25430-PLR-003.

Click on the service bulletin in the previous post by "egads" and it will provide specific instructions on how to change this filter out. You don't need to drain the transmission fluid to change it. You may get a teaspoon of fluid spill out of the hoses or filter when removing it. You need no special tools. The part will cost you about 35$.

 

Thanks everyone! I was finally able to get this taken care of at my dealer, with the part # mentioned above, and can confirm that the noise is gone!

 

I had transmission oil changed and noise actually increased. Before it came briefly on start, now I have it constantly. Dealer absolutely useless..