Swornallegiance

Hello everyone. My new 2012 TL SH-AWD makes a slight high pitched whine noise at around 65mph+. It sounds like it is coming from the front-end and is very slight. It only makes the sound when my foot is on the pedal slightly and the vehicle is coasting. If I let go of the pedal, it immediately goes away. If I accelerate or go up a hill, it disappears as well. Does anyone know what this might be? I am scheduled for an appointment tomorrow with the dealer. Hopefully they won't just push me away since it is very faint. However, it's very annoying (especially for long trips).

MikeElmendorf

I've got something very similar on my 2012 SH-AWD. I am not sure it is necessarily a problem; I think it is just a mechanical sound of the system. Everything else seems to work fine, and I don't hear it if I have music on (or, really, at all anymore, since I've gotten used to it and it has become like ambient noise). I'm pretty picky about such things, too.

Of course, now thanks to your post, I'll probably key right back into it when I get in the car!

Has anyone else experienced this and had any indication it is an issue?

Thanks.

macguitar

I have this noise, too, and my dealer says it's normal "transmission final gear noise". But apparently some people replace their SH-AWD propeller shaft and it fixes it. Haven't been able to figure out exactly if there's a fix or if it's normal.

jpd985

I had this noise appear. Then a couple of days later it was gone. I even took it to a dealer and they couldn't find anything either.

mihink

same noise here..took it to dealer at 500 miles. Diagnosis was 'normal' awd system noise that affects ALL sh-awd systems per dealer master tech! Arggh..

now my car has a severe steering wheel vibration at 75 mph which is driving me crazy..gets worse at higher speeds. Balancing checked twice on the tires..no issues.

starting to really dislike this car

Swornallegiance

@mihink, that sucks. I would keep trying to get the vibration solved. As for the whine, I know how you feel. It's too expensive and good in other ways to have this little annoying problem (the SH-AWD or final drive whine). I just want to make sure it's nothing truly wrong with it. Maybe complaints to Acura directly will get somewhere?

Swornallegiance

The noise definitely sounds like the lower front end, like a drive shaft in the SH-AWD system. Has anyone noticed this sound in a FWD TL? I had one last year and it did not make this noise.

Acura2010

I've got the same whining noise. I think it's normal. If it's the propellor shaft, the noise would be constant and not just when accelerating. I know this because i had the shaft replaced on my 2010. My 2012 actually has a high pitched noise when accelerating at any point, weather from a stop or at coasting speed. I have gotten used to it being normal. My previous 2010 was an automatic, and this is manual, so i'm guessing the Manual Tranny has somethign to do with it.

Swornallegiance

Well, it's not when I'm accelerating... It's when I'm coasting at 65mph+ on relatively level surfaces. It is constant on road trips. It goes away immediately if I left go of the gas and start rolling.

Acura2010

Hmm....that's odd. Because when my Propellor shaft was going, the noise was there even when i took my foot of the gas.

Swornallegiance

Yeah it is odd. It would make me think it is actually the final drive ratio i.e. the transmission and not the AWD system. It is very faint. I bet half the TL owners that have the problem don't notice it. Only enthusiasts or perfectionists would even notice. I've had several passengers that didn't hear it until I mentioned it and tried to have them listen to it on many occasions.

Swornallegiance

@Acura 2010, by the way, the white looks good. I saw one with the diamond cut wheels and full accessories at the dealership the other day. It made mine look like a pretender.

MikeElmendorf

Mihink, re the vibration, what is your tire pressure set to? On my previous TL, I had very frustrating tire vibration issue on my prior 09 TL. After all sorts of efforts to correct it, I got rid of it by increasing the inflation in my tires to 35-36 cold. I've discovered on the 2012 as well that when it goes lower, I get a vibration. It was always around 75 mph.

Acura2010

Thanks man!! I've got the Diamond cut wheels on........just need the wife to allow me to purchase the OEM Lip kit! lol

macguitar

Agreed. I have the same thing and it's only when my foot is on the accelerator. Remove it and it's gone. It's super faint and you wouldn't hear it with the radio on, but once you hear it, you can't tune it out. It's definitely not great for a $40Kish car.

Pseudomaniac

iTrader: (1)

Maybe pop air filter out and make sure throttle neck / air filter cover are on tight? Could be a small intake leak from something not seated fully or the airbox not being all the way clamped down?

Slim chances - but I've seen this cause low rev whine on vehicles.

2K12SHAWD

Similar discussion taking place in this thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/4g-tl-problems-fixes-297/slight-whine-noise-when-accelerating-838324/

sincere1914

I just dropped of my 12" TL and I was told by the dealer it's my bearings and they are going to replace them. Just got my loaner about 10 minutes ago. Finally after two dealers could not find anything wrong amazing when you look under the car instead of just test driving. Shout out to Bridgewater Acura, in taking charge of the situation.

2K12SHAWD

sincere1914: Be sure to let us know if that solves the problem.

HenryNYC

iTrader: (3)

I believe what everyone is referring to is a low hum. You can hear it when you first get on the gas lightly or coasting/cruising especially on smooth roads where it's more pronounced. It is not by any means to the volume of a whining prop shaft problem. Just a slight hum. I hear the same hum on a MDX and RDX with SHAWD. I just chalk it up as a norm for Acura vehicles equipped with the SHAWD system. It's low enough that FM radio volume set to 3 already masks it out.

Bobby39

Did you take a test drive with the service manager john?

Ruel85924

I recently got into a 2012 TL SH AWD Tech package. I bought it this week only from the dealer from a lease return from the same dealer. They handed me over all the repairs/ service records done since its "in service" date of July 31,2012.
Going through the service records it shows the previous owner had the same complaint of a soft whining noise/vibration on the steering when cruising at 80kms/hr. The ATF were replaced and the noise went away and that was at 12,000kms mileage. Today its at 64000kms and i felt it again.
Any suggestions on how often to change the Trans fluid?
Any other similar experiences out there ? Share it with a solution or how to go about it would be highly appreciated.