With the advent of cooler weather, I've been getting plasticky "creaks" from the center console area. I don't believe it's the two storage bins in front of the shifter--no amount of pushing on them will result in the noise.

I think it may be the trim pieces around the AT shifter--the metal shift gate with the PRNDL on it, and/or the rectangular aluminium colored plastic trim piece which surrounds the shift gate. Even mild braking or accelerating will result in plastic-on-plastic creaks.

Anyone have any experience with a similar noise? Know how to get these trim pieces off to insulate/lubricate them?

Thanks.

 

Try opening the top (or bottom) bin door and see if it stops. It is a very common problem. If that helps, and you know it is the bin, there are some do-it-yourself fixes on the board. Try a search for "rattles".

 

I've used a silicone or teflon spray in the past to eliminate the creaking noise you describe. Although I don't have them on my 04TL, I've used the spray on other cars to solve the problem. Just spray into all the areas you believe are causing the noise, and be carefull not to let the spray get into places you think might stain or cause other problems. I've used the long nozzle to get the spray inside the dash and it worked pretty well. You have to be very carefull near the gages. I had a Audi that creaked near the tachometer and I used the spray around the gage cluster and got some spray behind the glass...so be very carefull.

 

This is good advice - it often works, especially on large panels that intersect with other large panels (such as the dash to the lower windshield). Another area prone to buzz or creak is the long expanse of the center console where the aluminum trim intersects. As JL says, do not do this anywhere it could stain a material - and experiment with a hidden spot made of the same material first.

Watch near the gauges - silicone is spray in a carrier oil that dissolves, but it can leave a film which will attrack debris, and eventually youw ill have a noticeable emss behind your gauges, which is more annoying than a buzz or two. I would try small "shims" on gauge buzzes - I have used small wood matches cut into a vee as a simple shim, just like a door shim in your home. Just cut it off with an xacto blade, being careful not to gouge your cluster lenses.

 

I started hearing the same type of sound today. It was loud this morning when the temp was in the high 30s/ low 40s. I pressed down on the black trim around the seat warmer buttons and it stopped. When I let go it was there again. I do not have a fix, but I at least know where it is coming from.

Great car but too many rattles at 2000 miles. I hate to complain too much as it is a GREAT car, I just would have hoped for less rattles. My TL has more than the 2000 Expedition I traded-in.

 

The TL IS a great car, but man those rattles. Our new Accord and our son's new Corrola have zero rattles, not a one.

 

Thanks for the advice. I've tried driving with the storage doors open, but the noise persists, I'm pretty sure it's coming from the aluminium trim pieces around the shifter, I was hoping for advice on how to remove those so I could try to isolate them from surrounding pieces.

 

I do not think that is where it is coming from in most cars, but yours may be different.

The trim piece around the shifter is press fitted, and snaps into place it is pried up to remove it. It has 4 hooks, two on each side, driver and passenger oriented. The 6MT has an additional insert panel, with 6 retainers, 3 L/R.

I highly recommend you buy the right tools if you are going to do interior work, and not muck your car up, as the delaer usually will. They had to remove my steering wheel to straighten it, and gouged the silver trim on the steering wheel controls - i ended up removing it myself, sanding, filing, repainting it. I should have pulled the wheel myself too. And this is a damn good shop generally.

Here is a link to the actual tools Honda recommends:
It is a Japanese company called KTC, available here in the states.
http://thetoolnetwork.com/panel_popp...l_company.html

 

I had the same annoying creaking sound this summer while traveling and the air on. I looked for quite awhile to discover where this noise was coming from. Discovered that it was definitely coming from the trim plate around the shifter. I started putting pressure on it and jiggling it and the noise seems to have gone away. Probably a better fix, but thats exactly where my problem was.
Good Luck.

 

Thanks, Road Rage & Vinster. Thanks in particular for the tool site.

 

Listening to Road Rage sound off throughout the boards, sometimes I think he ordered his TL in pieces and put it together himself!

 

No, more than likely he ordered it just like the rest of us, but then disassembled it, making sure all parts were intact, then reassembled it blindfolded. (I did that to a rifle when in the army but not to a car.)

 

Just a few days ago I noticed that if you rest your fingers on the edge of the shift gate where it meets the center panel you can feel the whole gate moving around when driving. It isn't making any noise yet but im sure its just a matter of time. I think the silicone spray fix would work.

 

EXACTLY what I noticed. Seems like the shift gate is attached to the tranny vs. the surrounding piece being attached to the console. Guaranteed to produce plasticky squeaks in cold weather.

In fact I get such a sound whenever I brake or accelerate, now that the weather has turned chilly.

I'm really getting turned off to this experience.

The fact that 10 days after warranty service the VSA is AGAIN cutting out doesn't help. A "loose wire" was reportedly the fix by Piazza Accura of Ardmore (hard to believe given the nature of the connectors used today there could be such a thing one year after delivery).

A strike-out for Mike P and the service guys.

 

I guess there is a compliment in there somewhere.

I also have a level head about cars - none is perfect, and expecting perfection is asking for disappointment. Life is too short. I will say that if I had rebuilt the TL, it would be an S2000. That car is put together like an NSX - hey, it WAS made in the same plant by the same techs! (Until recently - S2000 production has shifted to an ordinary plant - so I am glad I got one of the last Tochigi cars). I do not think Japanese sourced cars are inherently better made, but the best assemblers work at Tpchigi, and it is people, not nationalities, that make the difference. Plus, the time to do it right. There is a world of difference between cars made to 10,000 units per year as opposed to 70,000.

 

Acurich, I am all too familiar with your problem. For me, it was the 2 aluminum strips running down the ocnsole. if you pry them off and bend them slightly, they creak like hell. It's because the aluminum is actually wrapped around a piece of plastic that is curved to run down the center console area. When attached to the center console, any shift in weight can cause the creaking. It's the sound of the aluminum rubbing against the plastic because it's not wrapped tight enough. Hope this helps. I have not found a solution to this problem yet, other than to keep the strips off!

 

While I absolutely agree that looking at nationalities doesn't tell the whole story behind why one car is better built than another, I'd add that cultural beliefs and norms will also add a lot to one's work ethic, regardless of your skin color and where your allegiance lies.

But yes, taking the time to do something right - never having to rush and worry about cranking out that 150th car that day.

 

Thanks, Steve1010, I guess I won't bother trying to stuff cotton balls behind the storage bin. Sheesh, the things we have to do to try to correct quality faults in a $35,000 car. You'd think it was a Yugo.

BTW, how did you get the strips off without crinkling them? I have a ding in one caused by dropping my EZPass.

 

Please refer to the 3G Garage for details and pictures. To pry the two strips off, you have to start from the ends located under the center armrest. Move all the seats back, and open the armrest compartment to make room. Use a flat tool (sorry I don't know the name of the one I use - one of those putty spreader things) to get in between the the strip and the console. Slide the tool from the outside in, and start prying. The clips will come off with enough force - if you are too gentle, they won't budge. When you reach the top end, you basically have to rip it off with your hands because the clips are different. I learned this "technique" after hours of gentle prying and no success. In the end, the strips came off and were not bent out of shape. Hope this helps.

 

I have the same noise, it is isolated to the left trim strip just below the level of the volume knob. Thinking of injecting a lubricant in there - will check if others have done this yet.

 

I have the same rattle - its much more pronounced when the engine is cold. I think mine is coming from the storage trays - when someone gets a definitive answer I would appreciate the info. thanks guys.

 

I've got the same problem. If I press on the trim right where it begins to curve upwards I can get it to stop. I'm going to try silicone spray this weekend to see if it helps any. Personally I would rather live with the rattle as its intermittent than taking the strips off. Also, it seems to be only a cold weather thing. In our usual FL heat, no rattle.

 

THANKS ALOT YOU !@#$%^&*!!

I hear this sounds now thanks to you guys! LOL =)

It is aluminum strips that is making this noise. If I hit it with my knee it makes freakin' sounds.

Any fix?

 

For what it's worth, I just had several rattles identified and REPAIRED (as deemed by the dealer) through my local dealer (Atlanta, GA - Acura Carland).

Rattle 1: The front passenger side map case - when the fold out was closed, it was not fitting snuggly against the door panel. Solution - order a new door panel under warranty.

Rattle 2: Center speaker grill - new grill

Rattle 3: Driver's side visor - new visor

Rattle 4: Center aluminum trim - rattles fiercely when cold. Appearantly there is a bulletin out for this problem where they remove the trim and the shiftplate and place a thin rubber strip to prevent future rattles. I would suggest having the dealer do this so as not to snap any of the trim brackets (read: why do it if the dealer will?).

All of these rattles were difficult to locate and seemed to come from where they were not. Only by letting someone else drive did these items become easier to locate. Hope this helps.

 

Is there a part number for the kit to fix the rattles in the aluminum trim/shift gate on the receipt for your service?

I'd like to provide it to my dealer when I take my car in, they seem to be clueless about fixes I read about on this site.

Makes me wonder if Honda/Acura has any sort of database/system for sharing info among dealerships. Being Japanese I would have thouht so, but I see zero evidence of it.

Thanks,