Well I took your advice and added some fuzzy side velcro tape strips between the airbag and the metal of the roof. While doing this work, after removing the drivers side grab handle, I noticed the metal brackets (2) that the grab handle bolts to could rub on the plastic of the headliner. The headliner material is plastic and much of it is lined with a foam, but the area that can come in contact with these grab handle brackets is not lined and I can see how this plastic rubbing against the bracked could make the creaking sound that I was hearing. So I put some of the fuzzy velcro tape on the bracket so that once the grab handle is bolted back in place, the velcro tape would be sandwhiched between the headliner and the brackets.

Did one intitial test driver and no headliner creak or squeek. I don't know which of the 2 things I changed fixed it, but hopefully it will now stay quiet. I can't hear a similar noise from the passenger side, so didn't mess with that side yet.

 

Let me know after you have had a chance to drive it a bit. Hope it helps.

 

i always keep the radio loud so i dont get pissed that a brand new car i just got makes more noises than my 96 maxima..but i have this bad one on the left side outside..either coming from the front or the rear tire..maybe the strut..have to get it checked...maybe i will make them do memory seat and that in one shot...the tires are another story..maybe i will wait till winter to hit them up for that..save the threads

 

Where do you guy's get this "velcro-fuzzy" material?

 

I got the velcro tape from a "Hobby Lobby". It was a 2" wide by 4' role of "industrial velcro" black in color. Basically it is 2" by 4' of both the fuzzy part and the plastic part of velcro each with an adhesive back that sticks very well. This stuff has been extremenly useful.

 

Ah, a hobby store. Great idea. Thanks!!
Mike

 

dynamat the whole car since i have done that to others and keeps the car cool in the summer and warm in winter, but the price i quoted was just for the headliner and the 4 quarter panel, then i added the 4 doors and on the floors and to boot also added a engine hood dynaliner. all for $300 dollars. Now the car is quiet, cant hear the engine at idle only can feel it. I got mine done at Mad Mikes in North Attleboro since i live there plus I live next to a New England Patriot and he told me they all go there for their cars so i knew the job will be well done.

 

So I am just reading through this thread and have some messages to go - my take is that you bet your ass you should be upset about this and you should make the dealer do everything it takes to correct it. My issues kicked in at less than 1000 miles but I was on the road and could not take it in until I got back with right at 1500 miles. To keep this short (and I will be happy to provide all the info I can) I have had it in 4 times - headliner twice now and the "rattle" is coming back. It sounds more like velcro slowy being pulled apart. Had the rear deck done but I still can't play anything with heavy bass or it kicks in again. I am currently waiting on a part to come in that is part of the wiper switch - the one currently in my car is toast and it makes my dash sound like I have a baby's rattle taped behind the speedometer. Also had to have the map pocket door on the passenger side replaced becuse it started making a loud ticking noise. Needless to say, I am pretty upset to be dealing with these problems because I have been down this road with a 2002 VR6 and it only got worse the more work that they did (headliner and dash noises). I am now working with the Fixed Operations Director at the dealership where I got the car on every issue that comes up becuse I have already told them they can have it back. Needless to say, it is not that easy but I as they say, its a two way street.

Best of luck to you!

 

Mr. Ubers these are good solutions that TL owners are taking time to write. Hey, we know you aren't happy with your TL. So enough already.

Abyss Blue Pearl/Camel/Navigation

 

I know it has been a while since you post, but I think you have the same problem as I am having and the fix (according to the dealer) is a switch for the wipers that is in the dash. The part was on national back order (could be we are not the only ones with this problem) but Acura said it is scheduled to come in tomorrow. I will post the official part name and number as soon as I get it. One other thing you may want to listen for - at times, it sounds like the noise is coming from just below the steering wheel by my right knee - but most of the times it is a high frequency vibration from right above the speedometer in the dash that is worse at 25-30 MPH on rough roads. It can also be triggered by simply accelerating slowley.

Good luck.

 

Ditto, 3 times 6 days. I am giving up soon and marking off the months before I trade it.. 22 to go.

 

I got my material at Home Depot. Is felt guard or something like that. The material is made for putting on the bottom of furniture to protect wood floors, etc. They have pieces of it that are about 6 inches long by four inches wide. They have it in two depths. Hope it helps.

 

I did the same. I could not finger out where to put the foam on the metal ancors. But, I put foam in areas that were bare (there is some grey foam to keep cover from rubbing the air bag, but not in all spaces)

Let's hope this works.

 

I'm curious how the dealers respond to all of these complaints; my 1500 ml TL has been in 5 times for rattles; every time I mention my rear deck rattle, a falling headliner etc, he acts like this is the first time he's ever seen a TL with this problem and mine is the only TL with this defect. I always mention this chat board and our multiple complaints, and he just nods. I want some F***ing acknowledgement from Acura or my dealer that this TL has serious interior trim design flaws!

 

Yeah ACS acknowledged them to be by saying this shoudl be expectedin a year 1 car, BS I said! I have owned a few year one cars and nothing even close to the build quality issues of this TL! My dealer is trying real hard, but even he is frustrated. I have been in 3 times, total of 6 days without my car and getting ready to go back for visit #4. 22 more months then this thing gets traded...

 

Any suggested fixes for rattle in from right vent (passenger side). Even on relatively smooth roads, there is a clicking rattle like something's loose.

Thanks.

 

Got behind the headliner tonight. Cause of non-metalic noises is so painfully obvious--tacky, shiny rubberized plastic coating on inside of headliner rubbing against metal as car subtly flexes. I couldn't locate the area where you guys were installing felt behind metal airbag clips.

As you point out, there is thin grey foam padding between headliner & side airbag bracket, so Honda knew there was the potential for this rubber/metal contact to cause problems, WHY DIDN'T THEY LINE THE ENTIRE HEADLINER? IDIOTS. Engineering 101.

I suppose they thought squeezing the headliner tight to metal with grab handle / visor brackets would be sufficient to prevent noises--WRONG-O, as we all know.

The fix is obvious, any dealer could do what I did (cut up old tee shirt & insert between headliner & metal roof panel, wish I had thin foam though. And I'm sure there's a running change in the headliner design to provide extended foam padding in the works as we speak.

The other problem I found was the white insulation-like material inside headliner further back around the visor light was apparently bunched up during manufacturing & wasn't covering the entire area it was desinged to.

Finally, the nylon 'rivet-like' attachments holding headliner up over driver/passenger heads in front of sunroof opening creak & groan, as well as what ever is holding it up in the middle, just behind the upper console w/map lites/sunroof switch, but I was afraid to yank them out, anyone else try removing them?

 

Osteoman and Acurich are right!. The foam works. I used a barely used yellow foam wax applicator and cut it into strips. It is very soft. It fixed the noise over the driver's door. Tonite, I applied it to the rear drivers side

 

Anyone? Already took it to dealer (Radley FC) with no improvement.

Also, is there any danger of distrubing the curtain airbag mechanism when fixing the rattle problem above the drivers head left side.

Would really appreciate input.

 

I think it's possible it might but, I put the foam between the airbag and the roof not between the airbag and the headliner. So I can't imagine it would have much of any effect on the deployment.

 

Thanks Osteoman. Bone doc?

 

Today was 80+ degrees, and NO HEADLINER NOISES on the driver's side, not even the dreaded metal "CLICK" going over big bumps, thanks to my donor tee shirt. Tomorrow I'll do the passenger's side, to elimate the squeaks and creaks remaining on that side.

Seeing the poll w/50+% owners reporting no squeaks/rattles, I have to believe Honda has already redisgned the headliner, to incorportate foam padding over a wider area.

 

Osteopath Board Certified Family Practice. Thanks for asking.

 

OK, I thing I have the strangest rattle. I start about 3 weeks ago. When driving over ruff pavement I hear a rattle from the dash that sounds like a small pebble in a hard plastic container. I thought that this would be impossible to find, since is sounded like it was in the dash. Then I heard it when I turn on the turn signals. It is in the steering column. Well I found it. The plug at the end of the wiper stalk is loose and rattles. If I put my finger on it, the rattle stops. TOP THIS ONE FOR STRANGE!

 

do you think this will affect the deployment of the airbag?

 

Oh, I see how it goes Osteoman....I invent it, you take credit!!!!

 

You guys might as well give up. I have a G35 first year with 50,000 miles on it now and I had rattles in the beginning. Car was in about 5 times for it and they fixed some but others popped up. Now I have at least 5 or 6 rattles and there is nothing you can do about it. I just live with them, although for 35K a car shouldn't have any rattles but what can you do?

 

I had the same metallic rattle above my left ear that everyone seems to be complaining about. I too thought it was coming from the headliner (mostly due to what others were saying). Before you jump in and start messing with the headliner, the rattle above your ear may be coming from a different source. I was able to duplicate the sound by moving the pull handles on both sides above the driver and frt pass doors. They were clearly loose. I removed the end caps and tightened down the screws and also added some cloth between the metal parts that move. This did the trick on mine.......

 

Rick

I gave you the credit!!! See this. I don't take credit for others work. Not my style. I did share the info. though since it helped so much.

 

I used some Frostking self adhesive poly foam that is 3/4 in width and about 3/8 in thickness. I put it on the surfaces of the headliner not covererd with the existing grey foam.It took care of the noise

 

Just giving you a ribbing (like the pun?)!!!!!

 

I had that concern, and was careful not to put anything in the area of the airbag, unlike some earlier postings where folks reported inserting some sort of insulation around the airbag clips or anchors.

I inserted the cotton fabric between the headliner and inner roof panel to cover about 6" back from the front edge of the headliner where it meets windshield, paying particular attention around the areas where the sun visor attaches, well inboard of where the the side curtain airbag is found.

 

Interesting diagnosis. I KNOW how sounds can travel in the interior and completely fool you as to origin, e.g. I was CERTAIN the cold weather squeak to my left was coming from the console trim, when in fact my daughter correctly diagnosed the glove-box door as the source.

I found the screws holding the grab handles to be VERY tight, but by the same token, I didn't see anything behind the headliner which would seem to have the potential for producing the metalic 'click' so many of us hear, and it seems to be gone after removing/reinstalling the grab handles as part of the headliner fix.

 

It's beyond me how Honda overlooked this as necessary to prevent warm weather squeaks, or discovered it in development (or are WE doing their development, a la Chrysler?), particularly as they put foam on PART of the headliner.

Go figure.

 

I was just wondering if all those TL owners that have taken their automobile to their dealer to get problems repaired have also written letters to Acura's main office?

It might not work short-term but it might help them know that you TL owners are encountering problems.

 

I have this same issue and they will replace the wiper switch. It was on national back order so you may have to wait a while for it to come in. I have not had it installed yet due to another part on back order. I bet there are a lot of others out there that have had this replaced or will very soon.

 

Sorry, previous post was in response to ray85158.

 

I'm going on 1400 miles on my '05 TL. Love the car, but there's an intermittant metallic vibration coming from driver side door when I go over a bump or rough patch. Sounds like it's around the door lock--DRIVES ME CRAZY. From reading everyone's postings, you'd think the dealer would be aware of this.

 

Whether or not they are aware, they dont fix anything.

I've been in three times for half a dozen rattles and they have failed to fix all but one.

It's sad, and ACS is worthless.

 

I have a rattle from the center dashboard vents (and sometimes the passenger dashboard vent). Sometimes it's quiet; sometimes it's pretty loud. I don't think it's from the airbag clip.

Also, my subwoofer has blown for the second time. And no, I don't abuse it.