Avenger411

Hey guys i'm in need of help from people who actually know a little about the TSX '09 Premium. here's the deal.. (english is not my primary language so i'll do my best)

Bought the car @70000kms (june 2013) and took an extended warranty that is valid until june 2015 (130 000kms). Everything was smooth during the first summer. When winter arrived (Montréal, Québec, Canada) i started hearing a rattle sound at startup (with remote starter AND manual startup with the actual key). The rattle is intermitent so it was hard to diagnose with acura so they told me to just record the startup with my iphone and when i had the rattle on video to show them so they could "diagnose". That's what i did.

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Here is a normal startup with my Tsx 2009
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So i think for a -20celsius startup, it sounds pretty fine to me! then i cought the rattle on video. here it is.

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Acura tsx 2009 rattle
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So you can hear the abnormal rattle (or am i crazy?). I then brough the car to acura they immediately said it was the VTC Actuator (which i was aware of) and they changed it without saying a thing! i was actually pretty happy. They gave me back my car the day after. First startup the sounds comeback. i was so frustrated. So i filmed it again.

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Acura tsx 2009 rattle AFTER VTC actuator has been repaired
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So you can hear the same sound. I took it back to acura. they then kept the car for a whole morning before telling me they had to change the complete timing belt kit. that includes the actual chain, 3 guides, 1 pulley and tensioner (tct i think). They completed the work the day after. I was once again happy. The morning after, the sound comes back. . I told them and they tell me THEY have to hear it and not through a video, they need to hear it live. Since it's intermintent this is going to be complicated so i came here. If anybody had this kind of problem. I'm just not trusting this car anymore... So guys what do you think !?

thanks for all your help!

Avenger411

I'd like to point out that im at 88000kms and have been using 100% synthehtic oil since i've bought the car. And i have been doing oil changes between 6000kms and 7000kms i know it's short but i like it well lubricated

UTAH TSX

VTC actuator very common looK at this thread https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...t=VTC+ACTUATOR

tsx_ridah10

Have you replaced the Serpentine Belt?

Avenger411

as i said, the vtc actuator has been replaced already. and the sound is still there

Avenger411

I am not sure what/where is the serpentine belt, but would it be possible for it to make noise like i have recorded if it is defective ? could a belt make this kind of a noise :S ?

iCrap

That noise is the VTC Actuator for sure.

I had mine replaced also and it STILL occasionally makes that same noise. It's a bad / defective design.

Avenger411

Ok so, they changed it like 2 weeks ago and still makes that rattling noise at startup.. that's quite a downer from acura. Am i the only one who got it changed and it didn't fix the problem ?!

theNHBRL

so mine a 2010 tsx does it only at cold start but after that I don't hear it. also my wifes 07 tsx does it as well but her's is much loud it sounds like the Serpentine Belt gets stuck or something.

our MDX doesn't do it at all. but my old 06 tl did it but not the rl. I just thought it was normal.