Is it normal to have loud clunking noises when VSA is activating??

I'm in southeast Kansas got hit by the storm and have a bunch of snow... I kept trying to go up my driveway and VSA kept kicking in and making clunking sounds.

I ended up having to turn VSA off to get up the driveway. The sound was not stuff "flying up" into the wheel wells from the tires spinning b/c as soon as I turned VSA off, no more clunking...

 

I'm pretty sure it's normal, happens all the time even in the rain when accelerating too hard. I don't know why it makes that weird sound, kinda like somethings dragging underneath.

 

the noise you are hearing is more than likely the vsa activating the brakes and throttle control.

 

Agreed -- clunking = VSA's activation of ABS. Read your owner's manual, they specifically refer to the sound the car makes when the ABS activates, as well as the pulsation you feel in the brake pedal during a braking maneuver. You obviously do not have a pulsation in the brake pedal when you're accelerating and ABS is used to stop wheels from spinning.

 

I think VSA is silent. My listen to Toyota/Lexus VSC ....thats loud...sounds like you're breaking the car.

 

when vsa is working to apply the brakes the brake pedal actually moves as if a ghost is stepping on the pedal so its the sound of the pedal depressing and releasing rapidly. well thats how it was on my old 2gen TL.

 

Well... I know what it sounds like when you're driving normally, and the ABS kicks in... but, I guess it could have been activating, and it was so loud b/c I wasn't moving anywhere so there was zero road noise... but, it's just this very loud clicking sound, literally sounded like i was kicking up a rock into the wheel well... (I wasn't). Well, I guess I'll live with it, it just certainly sounds like something is breaking, or metal clacking against metal!

 

I'm not sure that is normal, but I'm about to find out. In the summer I noted a clicking/grinding sound coming from the drivers side wheel(extactly as you described) when ever I turned at slow speed and went over a bump.
Now that it's winter that same sound comes from the driver side wheel only when the VSC engages. Sounds to me like it's a CV joint or shaft problem.
This isn't my first front wheel drive car with VSC, but it's the first time I've heard that terrible noise coming from the front end.

 

I live in Grandview Mo and during the same storm in my driveway I was hearing the same kind of noise, so since your experiencing the same thing, maybe its normal, I will ask Jay Wolfe Acura today.

 

I have been experiencing the same with my CL for a few weeks and have not had time to really look into it. I believe it is that the interior CV joint is worn. This would cause a clicking noise that you may hear with acceleration or deceleration. This may activate the VSA in hard braking or hard acceleration.

You also may have a motor or trani mount that needs replacement.