118k miles on a 2005 TL.

It's been mid 40's here and just this winter the car's started to "creak" on turns as I start my commute to work. After warming up, or on the way home, I don't hear any noises.

Research here leads me to believe that it's the CV joints (they're not leaking), either going bad, or just something to do with the grease acting up when cold. There's also a small chance it's a rack and pinion issue, but I don't get the noise when turning and not moving, which is what I'm seeing in some other videos.

What I'm not sure of is, how urgent is it to get it fixed? Is it something that can wait awhile, or should I do it asap? I'm pretty sure these are the original CV joints still, so ~15 years is awhile (i'm the 2nd owner). And if I do wait, what's the next indicator I should be looking for?

 

Are you hearing a "creak" or is it more of a "clicking" sound. I know the sound description is subjective but the clicking sound is usually an indication of the CV joint(s) needing to be replaced. A creak could be bushings or something else in the suspension. If you turn your wheels full lock and pull away from a stop and it's clicking - then you are going through the same thing I did a few years ago and indeed it's your CV joints. In terms of time to fix, some will depend on as you describe that it goes away when warmed up or if it is doing it all the time. For me, it started just as you said, in the Winter, when the temps dropped (viscosity goes up), but waited until the Spring and had the one making the clicking replaced. The following Winter, the other one started making the same clicking sound and had it replaced in the Spring as well.
It's hard to say when you should have yours replaced but just keep in mind that the clicking sound is grease having gotten out of the joint and not properly lubricating it and or there may be debris (sand/salt/grit, etc) from the road betting past your boot and getting into the joint.. Your boots may or may not be torn - I had one of each, but the clicking is an indication of a problem.

 

Is there a setting where the lights can come on with remote start?

 

Welcome to Acurazine. You have posted this in the wrong section and perhaps one of the Mods can move this to the MDX portion of the site.