I hear a noise which sounds like gears slipping (in the front of the car) when I accelerate the car just a little bit from idle, if I accelerate more then the noise goes away.

I don't think its the transmission because the noise comes even if the car is parked and if I try to accelerate lightly by putting my foot on the gas pedal.

Is it some kind of pully/tensioner noise?

 

please move your modem closer to the car for accurate diagnosis

it can be cv joints if wheel turned hard and click click click is heard at very low crawling speed
or ac belt tensioner? thats a popular failure recently
ps pump ok?

 

Is it between 1k and 1.5k RPM?
I have a slight clicking noise when the car is in a low power situation in that rpm range...
Trying to figure out what it is...

Is there an easy way to tell if its the belt tensioner if im getting my belt changes soon?

 

Not CV joints- he stated the noise is present even if the car is parked.

 

It is probably your belt tensioner. I had the same problem when I first got my car. No matter if you are in Park, Reverse, Neutral, or Drive;when you rev your car and the rpms are in the 1k-1.5k range, you will hear like a clicking noise. But once you past 1.5k rpms, the clicking noise will go away. I can't describe the noise but it is like a realy fast metal clicking noise. Is this the problem that you guys have?

And if it is, you should also change your drive belts if you haven't already because my alternator belt was squeaking like crazy but after I changed both belts, everything sounded a lot quieter and no more clicking. Also the rubber on the belts were starting to tear when I looked at it.

 

how much is the belt tensioner? 150ish for the part?

That sounds exactly like my problem.
Especially when driving and the car goes into overdrive and im in low rpm.
Any way i can confirm its the tensioned and order it myself to save money?
I'm due for the timing belt... do it then?

If i don't fix this will it eventually fail? - i want to save money but not f-myself over when im getting the t-belt replaced...

 

I think you can get a stethoscope and put it there while someone revs it up to 1k rpm and see if the noise gets louder. I don't know much about cars so don't take my word for it but thats my guess.

I got charged around $200 for the belt tensioner installed at some private shop. They bought the part at the dealer, dunno how much though. And do the drive belts, they are cheap like around $20 each. That is cheap compared to the timing belt service. That service scares me.

 

the mechanics stethascope will tell you in seconds if its the tensioner bearing
any good mechanics would document the failure before randomly replacing the part
Most wont think to ck it before replacing belts either--lazy~

Its under $100 for the complete assembly- you want the complete assembly
DIY access thru right side fenderwell
or use a private shop but make sure they have done one or more on a TL-not just some honda- before

 

you dont even have to rev the engine with the stethascope-
it will sound like you are eating gravel--
compare it to other bearings with smooth whirring sound

 

If you plan to do the tb/wp job just replace it then.

 

yes the sound comes between 1 and 1.5k rpm parked or while in drive (starting from red lights for example), as soon as I go over 1.5k, the noise goes away. I will get the mechanic to check the tensioner today and I will post back the findings.

thanks.

 

it doesnt go away--the engine and exhaust noise hide it
You can watch the tensioner in action with car parked- hood open-rev engine a few times and observe tensioner action--belt stabilty

 

if you are doing the 105 pretty soon- then do it with that service, as the same fender panel and belt are removed to get the timing belt,, its a few extra minutes to replace the tensioner

 

is your a/c on? my a/c pump is going and sounds like what u describe

 

It's hard to tell from your description, but if your noise has a "tinny" quality, it could also be a loose or broken heat shield.

 

ac on will make the tensioner noise worse -added load--rev test with quick blips of throttle

 

Would a video or sound clip help with the diagnosis?

What heat shield are you referring to?
I've got headers and the one's under the car are gone as well.
I don't park on dry stuff...

 

Yeah thats how you tell if your alternator/AC belt is going. Whenever you turn on your AC/Heat and the compressor kicks in, you will hear a really annoying like belt clicking noise and it will go away when compressor stops.

 

Got the dealer check it for me, it's the tensioner.

Thanks for all your responses.

I ordered it today, will install it as soon as it arrives.

Part # 31170-P8F-A01

 

on another note, I have 315k on the car....do I need to do the timing belt again after i did it at 150k or let it run as is?

 

get it done today!!
its every 105kmiles!!!! along with water pump, coolant, spark plugs etc
A valve adjustment wont hurt it either

 

I got valve adjustment done 6 months ago because I was getting random misfires and since I was a noob, I ended up replacing spark plugs & fuel injectors at the same time, I'll look into the timing belt and water pump, those haven;t been replaced since 150k timing belt change.