turismo29

First off I tried searching but could not find. Please help if you can. Anyways, I'm having a whine from the engine during a cold start in the morning. Mechanic told me to replace the drive/serpentine belt.

Part # 38920-RCA-A03.

Can someone tell me the tensioner pulley part number as well ?

Just want to replace both belt and tensioner while I'm at the car repair shop. What should I expect on labor?

Thank you.

turismo29

This is a 2008 Acura TL non type S

sleeper22

How many miles on the car?

Project 04TL

sounds like a power steering problem. check out this thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-problems-fixes-114/diy-105-power-steering-whine-fix-754586/

flyromeo3

Here are a couple scenerios I encountered and they all produced the same noise.

1. Power Steering O-Ring - When car is cold started you will hear a whining sound which will go away once car is warmed up....Look at your power steering resevouir to see if you have any spillage of fluid. The indicator would be just grime all over the side. Another way to know is to pop the cap open and see if bubbles are forming.

2. If your mechanically inclined. Take off your serp belt and start your car and see if the noise is still there. Dont worry, your car wont blow up or anything. You'll get some lights on the dash but, will clear when you place the belt back on.

3. I ran into this one.....I would hear a noise as if the belt needed to be replaced. This went on for about 3 weeks. I replaced belts, pulleys etc... It ended up being a bolt that holds the heatshield by the downpipe that was loose.


Cars nowadays seem to produce the same noise when any part fails. = (

Project 04TL

look in the garage (around the a-100 section) and check out the rebuild your power steering pump thread. it will cost you less than $10 for the orings you need .. also get a new belt and a couple quarts of power steering fluid so you can replace the belt, flush the fluid and fix the power steering whine all at the same time.

sleeper22

I'd be willing to bet its the PS O-Ring. Mine just did the same thing and replaced it. No more whine

turismo29

I have 58k miles on the 08 TL. Had the PS hose replaced under manf. Recall about 2 months ago. Two weeks ago I heard the noise and brought it to the dealership and they said it was the serpentine belt and not the power steering. Since my car is out of warranty, they quoted me $320 to replace the serpentine belt and tensioner. I'm planning to do it at a local shop who charges less for labor. But since so many members her thinks it power steering, I might go to another dealership for a second opinion. Good idea?

sleeper22

I doubt the serpentine and tensioner are making this noise or gone bad but I am not a mechanic. My vote goes to the O-Ring in the PS. Another poster here put up a link on how to replace it yourself. Its very easy. If this doesn't fix the problem then look elsewhere. Someone with more experience than me please jump in. Have you opened the hood and listened or turned the wheel from side to side?

bmore07tls

Everybody please post back there outcomes, im having same problem as well. However i have NOT done the power steering hose recall yet. I will try that first since stealership does it free. Talk to everyone soon!

bmore07tls

i dont have any bubbles or grime around my PS reservior....could it be the hose they had the recall on? I havent done that yet and i just had serpentine belt replaced a year ago.

Yvuru

My serpentine belt was squealing very bad on cold/humid days, was very frustrating because I had the o-ring replaced. But all is good now, btw my mechanic said my tensioner pulley needed to be replaced when he changed my serpentine belt. Had belt changed around 69k miles.

turismo29

Just did the O Ring fix. My old O Ring looks very new. As of now there's no whine, cause I drove the car around for a bit. The whine only occurs in the morning. Thanks for the input.

Will check again tomorrow after this o ring replacement.

I will definitely post back my result. If the O ring i just replaced isn't the fix, I'll head towards the serpentine belt and tensioner route.

Can you let me know the tensioner pulley part number if you know it.

06NH6MTTL

iTrader: (1)

I am a mechanic and i replaced a tensionor on a j30 accord a couple months back and the sound was terrible you will know if its that!!!!

turismo29

you are you saying that the minor noise if from serpentine belt only? or maybe just a bad o ring? and that this can't be from the tensioner, since the tensioner will be a loud and horrible sound?

turismo29

okay,
So after doing the o-ring replacement and observing/listening to the cold starts in the morning, there's still a small squeek. Before the O-ring replacement it squeeks a lot more. But now there's just a lot less. Not sure if it's worth it to change the serpentine belt.

bmore07tls

so what exactly was your problem?

turismo29

I'm not even sure. I'm debating if if should change the serpentine belt or not. I think it was the o-ring. before i put the new o-ring it was noticeable loud. Now, during cold starts in the morn, I can still hear the squeeks. but only a 1/4 of the sound it made before. then it goes away after 20 secs. I'll just leave it as is for now, and if it comes back...i'll go chase the problem.

bmore07tls

Thanks for checking back buddy. Hope u get if figures out. I was actually asking Vyru what his problem was because my problem seems to be more similar to his. I will be replacing o ring today and then flushing power steering fluid and ill take it from there. I'm curious what his problem was I'm case the o ring doesn't fix it. Vyru where u at?

brianch

When I first bought my TL-S there was a strange noise coming from the engine bay. Got it checked out by a mechanic (they use a stethoscope to listen to the source) it was the tensioner pulley. The serpentine belt is just recommended to be replaced at the same time since the labor will be the same.

350

iTrader: (4)

People pay labor on serpentine belts? Takes 1 wrench and a few minutes. I replaced mine cause on cold/wet mornings it would squeak for a minute, put on a Goodyear Gatorback belt and all is good.

bmore07tls

Explain the noise? Squeaked during cold mornings/ rainy days or squeaked all the time?

Project 04TL

belts are cheap ... if you suspect it of making noise then just change it.

bmore07tls

Ok update everyone. I replaced my o ring last night only to find that the old one in there was orange. So someone must have done this already. Well I replaced it anyway and it didn't fix my problem. I have no bubbles in reservoir, no visible leaks, a 1 year old serpentine belt, power steering hose recall is complete and o ring. So after process of elimination I'm going to try the belt next. If that's not it then I guess it can only be bad PS pump or belt tensioner. Thoughts?

bmore07tls

Based on this post I can probably narrow down that its not the tensioner. My sound isn't horrible and only lasts a few mins til engine warms up. So the next thing I'm gonna try is the belt.

turismo29

Let us know the result of the belt too. I'm curious as well. I'm in your boat as well. Replaced the O-ring to find out that it was also orange and relatively new. Then the squeek got quieter and quieter each passing day after the replacement. It's been about a week since I changed the O-ring. I can still here a small squeek during warm up, so maybe I got that belt or tensioner issue like yours as well.

turismo29

can you recommend a good DIY link ?

makk

To see if it is belt noise, spray cler silicone on it while idling. If noise quiets down it is the belt. Seriously, 10 minutes and a wrench.

lil12002

hey everyone, my 2005 TL started making a squeeling noice about a week ago, it has progressively gotton worse over the last few days.


i had the serpentine belt replaced a few months ago
i did my 105K service about 5,000 miles ago
i had an oil change at acura 1000 miles ago and they suggested the PS reseal kit which means replace all the seals on there for 550

mybuddy will replace the entire pump for 180 + 80 in labor

thats the only thing i can rule out now since many of the other suspects have been taken care of.

i believe i did the recall about 1-2 years ago but i dont remember,

is this recent recall new?


http://videobam.com/uNPAP

i took this quick video on my way home tonight... (sorry for the jittery camera )

RjG2

PS O Ring. Worked for me.

Bankz

I have the same problem and it's embarrassing driving a nice stop a redlight and people at the bus stop can hear your car squealing

Bankz

But my bet is the tensioner pulley