mybada

I dropped my TSX off at Tustin Acura this morning for pinging noise and vallet key recall. It seems like they were already aware of this problem and even had the part in stock.
Anyways I drove back with 2010 TSX V6 loaner car and there's no pinging at all. I guess pinging is the only problem with I4 models.

Anyways I have I4 w/ M6 so hope I can answer the above question.
I will keep you updated soon once I have my car back.

mybada

OK I just picked up the car and yeah pinging is 95% gone. I could tell right away. I floored with 2nd gear at very low RPM and there was still very slight pinging but after I drove back to work, (about 30miles) pinging is almost completely gone. I floored again with 3rd gear at low RPM until all the way up, there was no pinging.

Well here's the sad part. While I was enjoying Pinging free engine for only a few moments, POPO decided to stop me for doing 80mph on 65mph. WTF since when I-5 speed limit was 65mph? I've always thought it was 70mph and I was doing 80mph all the time....

Anyways, hope this helped. Bring your car back to dealer if it still pinging.
You should be able to tell kinda right away.

PS. Does anyone know how much my ticket will be? For 15mph over in Cali?

the_razor

espdollar check your workorder you can confirm there it shows what they have done..how would u rate your pinging now?

SanDiegoDriver

I had the pinging fix done shortly after the TSB came out. It took care of the problem for a couple weeks, but then the pinging came back -- loud as ever. I took it back early in January because I wanted the dealership to verify the pinging, report it to American Honda/Acura, and create a papertrail I could have for my records in case engine damage is found later on.

To my pleasant surprise, after driving with me and verifying the pinging was back, the mechanic (same one who had performed the TSB fix) asked if I would be willing to bring it back for a couple days so they could do diagnostic testing and communicate back and forth with America Honda/Acura's engineers about the problem. Of course I said yes.

I should note that this dealership (Norm Reeves Mission Viejo, Calif.) is particularly good. I bought my car there and drive out of my way to get service there because they really care about getting things right.

Anyway, due to my crazy work schedule, it's been tough to find a date to leave my car with them, but will finally do so this Friday. Will let you know what happens...if anything.

cyberbro

Well 3 to 4 weeks after fix is done, pinging is back! Seems to be when warming up then goes away. I have been using regular gas, I guess I will see what happens with higher octane.

the_razor

i am hopping this time they come out with a permanent fix..keep us posted. Thanks.

TSXGuy42

I have a 2004 TSX and the pinging just started a month ago. VERY frustrating and wondering if it is going to damage my engine. Can someone refer me to the actual TSB that addresses this issue so I can present it to the dealer when I take my car in?

thunderbt3

This TSB is for 2009 and a few 2010 TSX's, you might want to try in the 1G forums.

TSXfreeko

tsb# 09-041

TSXfreeko

Sorry. Thunder is correct the TSB only applies to 2nd Generation.

the_razor

Guys i am not a car tech but how many ppl here agree that this ping issue is caused due to the fact that TSX engines are low power engines. I have asked the same question why our engines ping and the service advisor also agree that’s that same reason. any thoughts or opinion ??

cyberbro

Then why wouldn't all 4 cyl engines ping?

That does not seem to make sense.

HeavyDuty

Either the SA you spoke with wouldn't know a faulty knock sensor if it sat on his face & wiggled, or he just wanted you to go away.

The excessive ping some are experiencing is a sensor/engine management issue, not an inherent design issue of a small displacement engine.

Specialist1

Namely the Engine Management Computer. I heard of two such cases where the EMC was replaced which fixed the problem (the Knock Sensor was also replaced as an added precaution).

Specialist1

This is a major issue for Honda around the World. Assuming you are using the highest Octane fuel available in your state the car should not ping. Getting a resolution may be more difficult than simply taking the car back to the dealer. You may want to consider your rights under the Lemon Law.

This problem is not going away unless you act upon it.

Specialist1

The TSB is unlikely to be of any help to you. The problem is in the EMC. Some cars are effected whilst others are not. it's difficult to say atm if the problem is due to incorrect application of the SW load or a bad batch of EMCs. Either way the EMC looks like the culprit and most dealers will NOT know how to fix the problem. Replacing the EMC fixed the two cases that I mentioned previously.

the_razor

the difficult part is how do you make the dealer realize that its the EMC board that needs to be replaced. I know mine slighty pings at times but theres no way that I can reproduce the pinging when I take it to the dealer. I am going to change my fuel I think just higher octane not neccesarily stops ping since I am fueling the highest octane level in province Sunoco Ultra 94 I am gona start with Shell now and see any difference.

Specialist1

Different brands of high octane fuel will perform differently in your car. The age of the fuel is also very important. Old fuel tends go off and make the car more susceptible pinging or in this case Post Combustion Detonation.

Accelerating uphill in 2/3 gears around 30mph to 50mph tends to reproduce the problem. Others have also reported rough engine performance and poor fuel economy since the 'ping fix' was implemented last year.

Replacing the EMC is not cheap. Expect to be fogged off by Honda once the problem is reproducible as a recall is a very expensive exercise for a manufacturer.

Again, once the problem is proven to the dealer, litigation may be the only option.

the_razor

if i can reproduce that ping so its audible enough for the tech to pick up then I can bring on the table that honda used a bad ECU board...but its gona be a complicated matter for the service advisor or even Honda to accept that.

I agree with you litigation is the way

Specialist1

Yes, many have gone down this path....
The threat of litigation, the path to litigation and finally, Court action. A good Lawyer will be able to advise you. At some point Honda will cave in. Class action should also be considered as there are many of you with the same problem.

A final point: Honda may attempt to explain this as "a characteristc of the car". Well, if it is a characteristic of the car, then how come some cars are NOT effected?

Good Luck.

Austin Milbarge

Hello all, first time poster, long time reader.

I'm going to bite the bullet and buy a TSX Tech, been shopping around and I love the bang for the buck. But I'd like to ask for your help, I'm a bit confused after wading through this thread, and the ping/knock issue has me very concerned.

I am looking at certified preowneds. Great deals on 09's out there, would you say it is pretty safe to get one and have the TSB performed, or should I stick to a 2010 with a VIN not included in the TSB?

Thanks so much.

civichbdx

Ive had my 09 tsx now for a month now no pinging but had to take her in for cup holder and speaker problem other than that so far so good running premium 93.

HeavyDuty

Welcome!

FWIW, not every TSX was affected by this. Mine was purchased 8/08, (VIN# C008324) and I've never heard it ping once. (I'm not bragging to those who have had the issue, as it would drive me nuts if it were doing it.)

Also, I've spent 100's of a$$ time hours in boosted applications to know how to recongnize ping when I hear it.

Austin Milbarge

Appreciate the feedback and welcome any others.

So it sounds like if I'm looking at an 09, I should just test drive the hell out of it - radio off - and scrutinize. The only other issue I've heard being better on the 2010 is the bluetooth synching, but if the price is four figures better, I guess I could deal with that pretty easily.

TSXfreeko

Just a bit of advice Austin. After making sure your car doesn't ping while driving with the radio off, drive for a while with the radio on. I don't want to make you paranoid, but it seems a significant number of TSXs (including mine) with tech pkge have annoying speaker distortion issues.

nacz

hey sd driver....did u have any experience dealing with other cura dealers here in sd? i got my tsx from kearny mesa acura. i just wanna know whta to ex[ect when i bring in my tsx for this TSB fix.

lusenuts

mine pings alot when not into the throtle just at the rt spot (trying to save gas lol) or ease (slightly to gain 5 MPH) into it with out down shifting and it pings my dealer said nothing they can do i dont think a 32,000 car should ping he told me to treat the fuel with Octane boost every tank (19$ per bottel) is there any fix for this yet?

TSXfreeko

Yes there is a fix. The PDF of the TSB is posted on this very thread, I believe. After the work is done your pinging should be greatly reduced if not eliminated.

tsxuser

Do you still hear slightly pinging now? I just did mine per TSB a couple days ago. I still can hear slightly pinging right after out of the dealership. Today after 60 miles of TSB fix, I still can hear maybe 10% of pinging. I learned it from other posts, it will be gone after few hundreds miles. For you case, do you still hear it after several months?

Good thing about the TSB fix, I did feel my car is more respondsive than before. I have to do a MPG test to see is any MPG drop after fix.

tsxuser

Sadly after 100 miles of tsb fix, I still hear two notiable pinging when I acclearate for an hour drive. I don't know should I keep monitoring for a couple days or weeks before heading back to dealer?

is any possible dealer never replace a knock senor and update software, but they still told you they did it. even statement showing knock senor and software was replaced and updated.

The reason I think this way is beacuse they claim the ping is normal at first place. after I showed them a TSB they called me about two hrs telling me they were done per TSB. How come did they have a part and software in stock, then they are not even know there is a TSB out there for TSX.

Is anybody know how to verfiy knock senor or software are new?

TSXtravis

I had mine done a while back. Over the past couple months, I notice the pinging is noticable again. Im considering taking it back and letting them know and see if they can re-do the TSB. When I had it first done, the pinging was almost gone.

oneforall

Hello Everyone,

This will be my last posting as I have traded in my 2009 TSX with unresolved pinging issue. I am done waiting.

In addition, there have been other issues that cropped up since then, and I have lost all confidence in Acura to resolve these issues.

To those who had or have same or similar symptoms, good luck and I hope a solution is on the horizon.

I will never purchase another Acura again!

azizusman

Yesterday I took my 09 Acura TSX to the dealer with the similar complaint of Engine knocking/pinging. The tech went on the test drive and told me that I need to start using 92+ octane fuel and not a regular one and this problem should go away after a few tanks. But it seems that won't solve the problem and Acura does not have a fix as yet.

Can anyone update what course of action can be taken in this regard?
Lemon
Litigation or Class Action since so many of us are having this problem??

Can anyone share his/her rexperience?

I think we should NOT expect any noise in $30k+ car let alone pinging due to manufacturer's fault. Who is going to be responsible for the excessive wear and tear of the engine?

tsxuser

if you always use 87 or 89 octane, just fill up few tanks of 93 octane gasoline. even my pinging went away with fix, i am still stick with 93 for now, because compression ratio for our car is 11.1. you better just use 93 to be safe.

its rayden

i wouldn't expect pinging when using 93 octane. anything lower, i would expect pinging.

PyroDave

always used 93 (maybe occasional 91), no pinging in my 2010 I4. atleast nothing that i've noticed, so no TSB ever performed. this is for the 09 and 10 right? haha well either way, thats my status

yakapo

Just bought a '09 6 speed manual w/ tech on Friday. I noticed the knock at about 4k rpm before I bought the car. I had my wife press the throttle while I listened to the motor at various rpm's with the hood open. I listened to several '09's at the dealer and they all sounded the same.

Thanks to all who posted on this thread. I'm armed with the pdf and ready to take my car in to the dealer. My only concern is losing fuel efficiency. Believe it or not I'm averaging around 35 mpg's combined (I'm a little bit of a hypermiller). At the same time, I'd like to keep this car for at least 150k miles so I'm going to get it done.

Can anyone recommend the best Acura dealer in DFW? I live on the north side.

yakapo

Is this tsb only for the automatic? That's what the service guy told me.