A word to the wise...

If you begin noticing a slight noise from the rear when first cranking up, and eventually some roughness in the idle before starting out, you'd better have the fuel pump checked out. Mine failed this week. The failure was unrelated to the fuel pump relay recall...my RL was not subject to the recall.

'05RL with 81,000+

 

somebody mentioned the fuel pump noise is a known item. Normal from what I heard. I had my fuel pump replaced due to the recall and the noise is still there.

 

What does the noise sound like? I hear a short rapid clicking (for lack of a better description) each time I start the car but it doesn't sound like it's coming from the rear and only lasts a second or two. Thanks.

LL

 

I hear a medium pitch noise from the back of the car.

 

I hope I'm right about reporting this noise in this section of the forum. Before posting, I did a quick search to see if the fuel pump itself was a "known issue," but didn't come up with anything.

What I began noticing about two or three weeks ago was new...a barely discernable hum or whine when first cranking up in the mornings...and only when first cranking up that first time in the mornings. I believe it was coming from the rear...I'm sensitive about this type noise because over the years I've replaced 2 or 3 rear fuel pumps in my '94 Honda (btw, my understanding is the RL has just the one fuel pump, but I don't know where it's located...my manual is in another state at the moment.)

Eventually, the car began idling roughly on that first startup in the morning. The rough idle would go away after starting out, and I'd not notice that particular noise on subsequent startups later in the day. Just before the car wouldn't crank and was dead in the water, it was running fine, except for the rough idle when first starting out. Both the tow driver and I attempted to start the car several times...mostly, it wouldn't do anything, except the auto crank is a really, really interesting feature...I had to monitor the driver to make sure he didn't lay on the ignition! Once it sort of looked like it might crank, but died. So, I got quite an interesting 90 mile tow ride to the nearest dealer.

Dealer said that my RL wasn't subject to the recall. They told me they replaced the relay anyway (no charge) and ordered a fuel pump when that didn't fix the problem.

Here's what the ticket says: "vapor lock, fuel is not getting to the fuel rail, fuel pump is vapor locked, replace to resolve.

This was not a cheap repair, even though the dealer didn't charge for the rental, the relay or the FedEx to get the pump.

 

BTW, I'll point out now that I only use branded premium gasoline from the major brands...specifically, BP, Shell, Chevron-Texaco, Exxon-Mobil.

 

Bluemule, thanks for letting us know. There's a couple of you fellows that have put some significant miles on your RLs. Have you had anything else major happen to your RL? Also, knowing you are a big time road warrior, what kind of tires are you putting on your RL and what kind of mileage are you getting out of them before replacing?

 

You may be interested in these links. I posted similar information previously.

http://www.toptiergas.com/

http://www.caranddriver.com/article....&page_number=1

 

The Top Tier site has been mentioned here before. BP, which I had used previously, is not on the list, so I switched to Shell.

 

I'm not sure I've seen any tip tier info at any of the stations I've used. I see that Chevron is on the list, but the Chevron gasoline I was recently getting in East Texas seemed to dirty up my tips more than usual.

I'll definitely look for the emblems. I'm still primarily using BP because they're being recommended as more environmentally friendly than some of the others...although none of these outfits are going to win any awards. Shell is another producer I'll use. Exxon-Mobile is not on the list, but I don't buy from them unless there's no other alternative due to environmental issues.

 

In the way of mechanical repairs, I've had a left front strut mount go bad and of course, the fuel pump. My 2005 has been subject to several TSB's for that model year, and these have generally gone OK. I'm having some computer "stickiness" when attempting to access messages, which a dealer thinks reloading the software might take care of.

I've posted in the tire section of the forum that the OEM's got 63,000 miles. I replaced them with Michelin Pilot Sports. The Honda dealer that helped me with picking out the replacement tires thought that they'd ordered 50's, but when I got home, I found that they were 45's. I decided to keep that profile tire since they'd been discussed in these forums, and at the time, I frankly didn't know that Michelin made a 50 profile tire in that model. I've posted my observations about the 45's in the tire forum. Recently, someone there posted a link for alternative tires to the OEM's, and I now know that Michelin makes a Pilot Sport with the 50 profile, so I may opt for those when these 45's are replaced. I'll not continue with the 45 profile due to speedometer discrepancies and my concerns with the lower profile on this heavy car at high speeds. My concerns are most likely unfounded, but it's something I worry about. It looks like I'll get about 35,000 to 40,000 on the Pilot Sports, but that is a guess at this point.

I'm not a big time road warrior...I live in the country and have job/family interests in several Southern States, so the miles generally add up without my noticing... And, there is no such thing in these parts as a local dealership for servicing.

 

Bluemule. I have the same computer stickiness for messages. Reloaded the software a few times and its still there. Going to visit the dealer and see whats going on. I am also using this years NAV DVD also.

I also echo your issues regarding the 2005 RL and TSB's. I have also had a few and have gone ok, so far.

 

FWIW, I'm still using the original DVD.

My computer is "hanging" when attempting to access messages, or acuralink setup and the like...if I click on the menu item, it just sits there...and then sometime later, will eventually go into the screen. Everything else seems to work OK.

Have you had any AWD or AFS error messages? I've recently gotten one seemingly erroneous AWD message and also three possibly erroneous AFS messages at random points since purchasing the car. The last AFS message and the AWD error message were very difficult to remove from the computer.

 

i only started having the issues when i put the new DVD in. the orgininal DVD worked flawlessly for me, at least.

I have a faint like wane noise behind the NAV when accelerating, but somebody noted that it might be a loose hose from the heater core. going to have the dealer look at that one.

the fuel pump noise will be also looked at when I go in.