joelsaxton

I called and left a message today. No call back. Maybe Leon is on vacation.

joelsaxton

Apparently Leon is in the southeast region. The number for southwest is 800 382-2238 (option 5).

I filed a report with Acura today on the engine rattle/ping issue.

xtralight

I have an appointment next week for a test drive with the Acura tech. I also filled a report about the pinging issue, and told the guy that I wanted him to write down the rpm and gears where the sound could be easily heard.

bionicjoggingsuit

The 3rd time was the charm. Yesterday, on my 3rd visit to the dealership for the pinging issue, I finally received vendication. The service dept, on previous visits had "indulged my complaint" but had always informed me that the noise could not be reproduced during their test drives. Yesterday the tech and the service advisor took my car out with a laptop attached through a diagnostic cable and captured the data streaming through the car's engine management computer. Specifically, they captured the noise which I have been complaining about. The service advisor said to me when I picked the car up that, "Yeah, I see what you mean; it does soundlike crap!"

The engine data will be sent to Acura for diagnosis. Keep in mind that No fault codes occur because of this noise. Keep in mind further that fault codes are only what the systems programmers make them. Whatever is going on has no corresponding fault code, therefore it is never going to fault.

I urge each of you, if this problem concerns you, to attempt to replicate this process at your dealership so that we all have a better chance of problem resolution.

'til next time

clttr2002

Great news!! I am also getting the run around from my dealer who is trying to convince me that "this sound is normal" on these engines. I guess I'll wait and see you outcome, print it out and take it to my dealer. Did the advisor indicate how long until they get an answer from Acura? Keep us updated...

joelsaxton

I think you should also call Acura corporate so they have more records of this issue, which will make them more likely to address the problem. I created a case with them last week.

clttr2002

Do you have a name and extension of someone you talked to in order to stress how wide spread this issue is?

joelsaxton

The number for southwest region is 800 382-2238 (option 5).

I cannot remember the guy's name, though.

xtralight

I took a test drive with the tech and with their laptop, we recorded that the car retarded the timing form 3 to 7 degrees each time I heard the pinging noise. We also took a brand new TL-S 6 speed manual and got to reproduce the same noise. They will notify Acura Canada and we will see if they will change the mapping of the ECU.

bionicjoggingsuit

Interesting news. The service tech did not share the specifics of timing with me. Maybe there is a software fix that won't diminish power- doubtful but I can hope.

xtralight

I do not think that if they remap de ECU we will lose much. When I am at WOT in fifth or sixth gear, there is no pinging and it is where the load is higher for the engine.

MD_2007_TLS

Has anybody had any sucess yet?

I had mine at the dealer and they heard and confirmed the pinging. They still do not have a solution, but are working with Acura for resolution.

SteeleTM

mines got over 13k on it now and i havent heard anything in mine but i also have 2 JL 12s in the trunk! the good news is i work 4 the dealer so if i hear anything about it i will let u no.

dingdongman

I took my 07 Type s in for this exact pproblem weeks ago. i was made by the service manager that I was crazy and that the three people that checked the car heard nothing. I took one for a ride. He heard the problem once I pointed it out to him.

The performed the service bulliten and the problem is the same. This problem has noting to do with a heat shield. I had a vigor with a heat shield issue and this is a VALVE Noise. Call it a feather, rattle, ping, knock, whetever...its the valves. I told them to adjust the valves and see if ti went away. They said NO. That maybe the motor neds to be replaced. that statement is a perfect example of the lack of troubleshooting skills of today's shop and techs. DONT LET HONDA AND ACURA HIJACK YOUR BRAIN SO YOU CAN TRY AND READ THE SERVICE BULLITEN TO ME LIKE YOU CAME UP WITH THE IDEA YOURSELF.

Problem was not on my 05 TL or 05 TSX. Problem IS easily detected on my 07 TL-S and 07 MDX. Have also owned 92 NSX and never hear a valve noise of any type on that motor...why can we just have self adjusting valves on all advanced motors these days?

if Acura cant resolve this issue I will be bringing my 15 year, 10 car ACURA ownership to an abrupt end. I will not be made to feel by my Acura dealers as if I dont deserve, after paying 40-50K for a car that doesnt sound like it has an 88 Ford Escort motor inside it.

All I need to see next is a screwed up NSX concept hit the next car show and I am DONE with ACURA.

dingdongman

my valve noise happens around 3000-5000 rpm when shifting from 2 to 3rd and 3rd to 4th and immediately jamming on the gas after the shift. Typical valve pinging or ticking is steady, and increases, with engine RPM. This is not a typical valve problem and seems to be specific to the high torque range of the RPM band.

noise showed up around 3K miles and still exists at 6K. also is now a little more noticable at idle with a slight ticking sound.

My problem is not a heat shield or related to vibration resonance.

I hate cars

Valvetrain noise is not throttle or load related. It's rpm related. I will say for the 100th time throw some 100unleaded in there and see if it goes away. Someone earlier said they saw knock retard when the sound occured. THIS IS DETONATION, NOT VALVE TICK!. The ticking at idle is probably the beginning of a blown headgasket from driving it with detonation.

clttr2002

Where do you get 100 octane in California? The highest I've seen is 91.............

6spMike

You have to really look around for 100. In Tucson, one 76 station has it. Call a speed shop, they'll know where to find it.
dingdong's problem doesn't sound like spark ping the same as the others have. He gets it at full throttle, and the others at part throttle.

dingdongman

if I have to alter the method of fueling my car, its a defect with engineering. Maybe Acura can add racing fuel when they buy it back from the Ferrari dealer.

6spMike

Only use the 100 to verify whether it's pinging.
A very minor ping under part throttle conditions is not going to cause engine problems, although it is annoying.
A thought - anyone know how the crank position sensor is implemented on these cars? Is it possible that there is a slight misalignment that could be corrected, effectively retarding the timing a degree or so and fixing the ping?

6spMike

If your car pings, it probably makes more WOT power than one that doesn't ping, all else being equal. It means the tolerances in yours stacked up to give you slightly higher compression.

I hate cars

I definately don't thing you should have to run it on 100. It's a sure way to find out if it's detonation or something else. Just for diagnostics. Good luck.

I hate cars

Used to have it at some of the Fastrips. You can get the 100 unleaded at the track, most motorcycle shops, or straight through VP. I personally run 100LL from the airport in my other car. The auto rating is closer to 108 octane and it's usually only $1 more a gallon than premium. I don't have convertors or 02 sensors to worry about either.

aznjeep

Since reading this thread, I decided to keep my radio off (for a change), roll down the windows (again, for a change, because it's really dusty here) and listened to the engine. I heard the knocking/pinging noise right after it shifted from 1st to 2nd under moderate to heavy acceleration. I just passed 3k miles (TL-S, 5AT).

We have several race tracks in ABQ, and I'm sure there's a place to get high octane fuel. But with this many people having this issue, something has to be up. When I get the time, I'll run by the dealer to see what they say.

Everyone else, please keep me/us posted with your results.. Thanks.

joelsaxton

I can hear it in my parking structure whenever I go from 1 to 2 at low rpm, it will make a rattling sound if I roll down my window. I could not replicate it at the acura dealer - too many cars and noise outside.

bionicjoggingsuit

I am taking my car in this morning for KNOCK SENSOR replacement. We will see if this works. If it does not then my next stop is lemon law city. What a shame that this is the best Acura can do. It is virtually impossible that this issue was not noticed during product testing and development. I drove my M3 like it was stolen for 2 years and that ridiculously overtuned motor never coughed, sputtered, pinged, otherwise did anything wrong other than erase rear tires every 6 months, (and thats exactly what it is intended to do). Acura service sucks right down to the awsome PT Cruiser that they gave me to drive as the "Acura Service Loaner". What an idiot I am. I wish I had bought anything else but this car. The knock sensor will not fix anything- I predict.

Later

joelsaxton

I am sorry to hear this. I believe you did speak to an Acura rep about this. I did, too. I mentioned that we took a poll here and 40%+ of the 07 TL-S drivers reported the engine rattle problem. I can pretty much replicate in in my parking structure since the sound bounces off nearby parked cars. I told Acura that they need to address this issue, because a new engine like this is not supposed to rattle, knock, or ping.

I don't know about your lemoning of the car though - I am not sure that a rattle is enough to lemon the car. I really hope Acura decides to do something about fixing it.

question for you - did you ever try prematurely shifting into 2nd gear in the M3 to see if it would ever rattle? Seems that that engine might have problems at some part of its band.

Bcc335

BionicJoggingsuit, Did the knock sensor help the pinging? Did Acura ever advise you about the data/pinging they recorded and forwarded to corporate?

xtralight

I do not think that it will cure the problem. When the pinging occurs, the knock sensor of my car detect it because the timing is altered. And when I drove a brand new TL-S, it did the same pinging noise in the same rpm range...

bionicjoggingsuit

Dealer replaced Knock-Sensor. Problem is unchanged. Dealer is seeking help of Acura Tech Line for further advice. They'll figure it out eventually. I'll keep everyone updated on the saga.

joelsaxton

Please do. Thanks!

marshall28

I'm glad i found this thread as i was going to get a type s soon. I ad the color and rims of the car picked out too.

This is somewhat depressing.

joelsaxton

I wouldnt let this thread dissuade you entirely. You should test drive it. It seems the majority of Type-S owners don't have this problem (although perhaps they just haven't noticed it).

bionicjoggingsuit

Go drive a Infiniti G35-S 6m. Everything is better including the rear wheel drive.

bionicjoggingsuit

Replaced 2nd Knock sensor with 3rd knock sensor and reflashed ECM. No change. Car still pings. Printed out lemon law forms off of state website.

joelsaxton

if this goes through, I take it you're getting the G35?

bionicjoggingsuit

I will strongly consider it. It handles great, especially with the optional active 4 wheel steering. 306 bhp is a little better than the 286 bhp TL. Same price. Its a good car.

dingdongman

has anyone's dealer tried a valve adjustment yet, to see if it helps the noise?

6spMike

It won't. Valves tick at all rpms, but you can hear them easiest at idle.
The thread is unfortunately titled. The problem is spark ping or knock or preignition, there are multiple names for the same thing.
If you want to verify it is spark knock, running a tank of 100 octane should make it go away.
It's probably annoying, but it won't hurt the car; the car has a knock sensor that retards the timing when it senses the ping. If it's not bad enough to trigger the sensor, it's not bad enough to do damage to the engine. Turn up the radio until Acura comes out with an updated ECU to fix it.

joelsaxton

is updating the ECU something acura frequently does?