mreggball

Just bought the car a few weeks ago and have already had some rattles fixed. Now I'm hearing a high pitched tone and have no idea where its coming from. Happens about every 30 seconds and last for 2-3 seconds at a time. Seems to only happen when the car is moving, not a stop lights. Sounds very much like a tone you'd hear while getting a hearing test... high pitched and faint. Thought I was hearing things until my 4 yr old asked me what he was hearing. Noticed it off and on a few days ago, but today it was consistently happening during a 45 min drive. Seems like its on the interior, maybe through the speakers, but can't really tell. Anyone have thoughts?

Thanks!

TSXV6Guy

Is it speed-related? Engine-rev related? Or more like rattle-related?
Do you have any dealer- installed or aftermarket accessories?

mreggball

Never heard anything like it. Not related to engine speed or car speed and not a rattle. Literally some kind of tone, like you'd hear through a speaker, but my radio has been off. Used my stopwatch and the tone consistently happens about every 25-30 seconds. Is there anything in the car that cycles every 30 seconds?

mreggball

Oh, and no aftermarket accessories. All I have in the car is my Garmin GPS... just plugged into the 12v outlet. Turned it off/on to see if it was some kind of interference... no difference.

TSXV6Guy

Hmm the only thing i am thinking is the active sound cancellation system, but it only comes in the v6. Can you try to pinpoint the noise to the speakers, i.e is it generated from the speaker? If you have the v6, one way of turning the active sound cancel. System is to open a door. What about the climate system/ fan?

mreggball

I have a 4 cyl, so assuming its not active sound feature. Hard to pinpoint to any particular speaker since it only happens while I'm driving. Doesn't appear to be coming from any one area of the car. I switched the climate control from auto to manual, and then to off. Tone still there no matter what mode. I have a call into the dealer, but I'm guessing it'll be one of those things that doesn't happen when I take it in. Disappointed w the car so far. Several rattles and now this issue. And on a totally different note, can't get in a comfortable seating position without the top of the steering wheel blocking the speedo. New here, so not sure if that's a common complaint.

TSXV6Guy

Can't think of anything else now... Make sure you arevthere when the tech takes it for a test drive.

I also had tons of rattles that took 8 months to get rid of. Trial and error, but quite annoying. I still have one rattle from behind the love box, and can't find it's originnyet.
I can t complain from the seating position. Some people in here have complained from the seats but i find them great.

MrOtocinclus

Was it still plugged in when turned off? Did you try unplugging it?

The reason I ask is that I used to have one of those 12v to AC adapters for connecting my laptop in my car. On occasion it would create the high pitched sound, had to do with the power supply.

mreggball

It was off but still plugged the other day when I heard the noise for an hour long trip. Can't remember if it was plugged the previous times when I heard it. Didn't try unplugging it yet. Actually taking the car to the dealer tomorrow. Wondering if I should try unplugging the GPS first and give it a few more days. Was also wondering if it could be the blue tooth. Any thoughts?

CmTSX

I actually have heard the same high pitched sound. Just noticed a few days ago and I am about to bring it to the dealer.

mreggball

Same deal? Randomly hear it for a few seconds at a time? Please let me know what your dealer says and I'll do the same. Taking it tomorrow morning. Do you use bluetooth? If you want to email me direct, it's mreggball@yahoo.com

CmTSX

Yes, pretty much happens everyday. Few a seconds every now and then. Sounds somewhat like i highpitched whistle coming possibly from one of the air vents. I won't be able to bring it in any time soon, but I will keep you posted.

mreggball

Brought my car to the dealer this morning and took it out with a tech. Of course it didn't make the sound during the road test and he offered no explanation of what it could possibly be. His only guess is possibly something with the climate control and/or AC compressor going off/on. Doesn't sound like a compressor to me.

baltimorecaesar

could be the "loose change" noise, unfortunately, there is no consensus on what it actually is yet.

mreggball

Loose change noise? That's interesting... this car has more rattles/noises than I've ever had in a car. Should have bought another Si... at least the louder exhaust drowns out the rattles : )

tsxuser

Don't be frustrated. I am sorry about your high pitch sound. I have a 09/tech about 1.5 years. I swear to God. I never been to dealership many times like this. I been through different types of rattles and problems. Each issue took me at least 2 visit to fix it.

1. moonroof headliner rattles (fixed by myself per forums posting)
2. cracking sound from the rear trunk (fixed by dealers)
3. squealing front brake (fixed by dealers)
4. defective 4 rotors (fixed by dealers)
5. enging pining (TSB done by dealers after 2500 miles test drive, now is gone. Hopefully it will not come back)
6. body noise when go over bump. (fixed by dealers)
7. roof modling loose(still open)

Now I have around 17000 miles. The car is getting better. I think we all put high expectation for this car, b/c we think $30K car should provide quality, but the reality is ........
Don't worry. it will be fixed it.

mreggball

Sorry you had so many issues. I leased a Civic Si 4 years ago, thinking I'd go with Honda bc of the reliability... had many issues with that car as well. Interesting you mention engine pinging. I'm hearing slight pinging too, around 4500-5000 rpm under moderate acceleration. What was the cause in your car? How'd they fix it?

TSXV6Guy

there's a TSB for it... look under the "Garage" link in the stickies. Basically involves replacing a knock sensor and reprogramming the PCM.

tsxuser

If I remember correctly. the TSB# is 09-041. you can tell dealer you have a engine pining. They suppose to take care of it, b/c it is not news anymore. just in case, they don't know anything about it. You can tell them there is a TSB 09-041 for this issue. good luck.

replace knock sensor, update EMC software and transmission oil those were fix for engine pinging

mreggball

Guys... thanks for the info...

mreggball

Called the dealer. My car's VIN doesn't fall into the range covered by that TSB, so they couldn't really help me. They also seemed clueless about the TSB even existing. I put the ball in their court... I said the car is leased, so it doesn't really matter to me in the long run. I said I'll document the conversation and the dealer said there's nothing they can do, and if there's ever a problem with the car, it's on them. She quickly changed her tune and said they'll look at it.

rgoldd

Rents drove once and I sat in the back and I realized it was my back right speaker dealer still hasn't fixed it or my dash board that is bubbling up they said they'd call its been 2 months.

mreggball

rgoldd, same type of noise? high pitch tone for a few seconds at a time with radio off? do you have base model without tech package?

rgoldd

No I have tech but I had been hearing the noise forever and when I rode in the back I found out it was the speaker. It does it all the time radio on or off still does they didn't fix it said they'd call me about it and my dash.

tsxuser

8. My front passenger speaker start to blow now.

I were really wondering is my car really made by Acura, not Hyundai? :surrender

tsxuser

9. rear brake pads prematured (3.5mm left) at 17000miles only. (dealer quote me $260 for a newly design brake pad)

So ends up I still have to pay $110 out of pocket. ($150 brake pads settlement from Honda).

Let's see how many more problems will I get it?

Benbox

I routinely hear a high pitched continuous tone in my TSX. Maybe it's my ears, but I can only really hear it in the quiet of my garage. During the winter months when I open the door in my garage (and I have my headlights set to Auto) the HID lights will snap on in the dark. Immediately there's that continuous high pitched tone. It's less apparent inside the car.

If I sit in the car (in the quiet of my dark garage) with the window open the high pitched tone is clearly audible. If I turn off the HID headlight the noise goes away. If I turn it back on the tone comes back.

I can see why this can be annoying but personally I find it rather high-techy as befitting the "feel" of the car. It's a bit of a bummer that so many are having problems but I haven't run into these issues so far, cross my fingers. I do have some very minor creaks and groans (lumbar support) and tiny rattles (moonroof headliner) both of which are being looked at right now, but nothing major so far. Cross my fingers!

Ben

AcuraTSX09Grigio

I think this rattle is coming from the passenger A-pillar. Apparently, there are some clips inside the pillar that are loose (holding the curtain airbag in place). My dealer fixed it in early December and there hasn't been a rattle since...now I'm trying to figure out a rattle from the passenger seat or the B-pillar. ha.

AcuraTSX09Grigio

The above message was for TSXv6guy regarding the glove box area rattle.

TSXV6Guy

Noted... Many thanks for pointing this out. I will look further into this in the spring when the weather will be better... What you're saying makes sense, the "glove box rattle" may well be coming from the passenger side A pillar. I will also inform the "glove box rattle" thread of this.

lightjak_tsx

thanks