https://www.dropbox.com/s/6z1k4uwiftcwnbp/rdx-noise.m4a

As I started to drive out my garage today, the car started making a loud locomotive-style noise. Please listen to attached. It gets very loud towards the end because I'm back in my garage by then. So if you cannot hear it clearly in the beginning, fast forward to the end to get an idea of what it is.

I tried to check under the car but didn't see anything obvious.

What do I do? My thinking is I need to get it towed to the dealer.

 

That almost sounds like the wear indicator on the brake pads, I wonder if something came loose or got stuck in that area? Towing to the dealer is probably best if you can't pin it down, please be sure to let us know what it turns out to be.

 

It was just in at the dealership for a tire replacement this past Saturday and it appears to be coming from the area around that tire. I had my neighbors listen to it and they couldn't figure out what it is either, just thought it had to do with the brakes. I made sure the parking brake was released (I usually never have it engaged anyway and I'm also sure the car's infotainment would be screaming at me to release it if that were the issue).

It almost sounds like a locomotive, part of the Amtrak package.

 

My guess would be a splash shield rubbing against a brake rotor. They are thin metal and maybe it got bent during the tire mounting. That is harmless except for causing noise. Also, sometimes a pebble can get lodged between a splash shield and a rotor. Was it making noise when you drove it home? If something is lodged between a rotor and a splash shield, pushing on the shield with a screwdriver or pencil or something will usually let the debris drop out. Just don't stick a finger on a hot rotor.

But it's certainly possible something less harmless is rubbing. It wouldn't hurt to make sure the lugs nuts are tight. If you can't get it to shut up, get it back to the dealer somehow.

 

Definitely not, or I would have noticed it because I back into the garage slowly and the noise is very loud once in the garage (as is apparent from the clip).

 

I suppose it's possible a brake caliper is sticking, but it's unlikely on a new car.

Parking brake is more suspect, IMO. I'm new to electric parking brakes, so I don't know how reliable they may be.

Was it a front or rear tire they replaced?

 

Driver side rear.

 

When I fit winter wheels, I noticed that the cable for the electric parking brake is tethered near the inside of the wheel rims on the back. It was pretty darn close for a 17" aluminum wheel. It shouldn't be all that close on stock 19" or 20" wheels, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to take a peek at that. You should be able to see it through the "spoke" openings in the wheel.

 

You mentioned it happened as you started to "DRIVE" out of your garage, which I assume means moving forward. Later you say the sound was louder when you were back in the garage, but you failed to mention what direction you were travelling.

So do you hear the sound when only moving in one direction or both directions? Do you hear the sound when you are not moving at all? You also didn't say if it made the noise when your foot was on the brake or not?. Does it go away when you remove your foot from the brake?

From the recording, It sounds like a bent backing plate as already suggested, but knowing the answers to these question would help make a more accurate diagnosis.

 

It happens when moving in either direction. It is not impacted by having the foot on the brake or not. There is no sound when not moving at all.

 

I'm with those who suggested a rock between the brake dust shield and the rotor or a bent brake dust shield that is rubbing against the rotor.

 

 

Dealer said they found the pebble.

 

Simple problems with simple solutions - nothing better other than not having the problem to begin with.

 

Just curious - who pays for the tow? Guessing this isn't covered under warranty, right? I understand being cautious - I'm just curious.

 

I used Acura TLC. I have not had to pay anything. The tow truck came and the driver verified the sound. I asked if the thought he could fix it. He fiddled with it a bit and said it's probably better to just get it towed to the dealer.

I don't think the problem has to be Acura's in order for them to provide service. Getting a flat tire, e.g., is not and yet they pay for the truck to come out and replace the tire or tow the vehicle if necessary. They contract AAA for roadside assistance and when you call Acura, they just have an app that schedules the nearest AAA driver. From the text messages that I received, I would have thought I accidentally called AAA. It's unlikely they pay per visit, more likely they just pay a flat fee to AAA based on the total number of Acura owners covered under TLC.

 

Got it - thanks.