Lately my wife's 2012 SH-AWD has what I can best describe as a clanging/metal knocking-ish sound coming from the car. I can only hear it with the window down and when driving in the lower gears (around 1000-1500 rpms).

I took it to my local dealership four times. Each time a different person test drove it with me but claimed they didn't hear it–despite me saying I could hear it during the test drive.

Finally, they let one of their "master techs" drive with me. He said he heard it but it was just a normal sound coming from the brakes opening and closing at low speeds. While I was skeptical, his explanation was sort of convincing. Yet, I don't recall ever driving a car that had clanging sounds coming from the brakes on such a regular basis under the same circumstances every time.

So now I'm second guessing his diagnosis.

Which brings me here. I'm hoping someone here can possibly testify to the fact that they also get this rattling sound coming from their brakes. If so, do you consider this one of the "normal" sounds from this vehicle?

Thanks in advance...

 

you might be missing some sort of clip or shim on the brakes that is causing the noise. Also you can apply some brake grease to the back of the pads and other portions of the caliper (NOT on the rotor!!!!) to help quiet the noise down.

 

Weird as it may sound, you may want to have them check/adjust the e-brake cable.

Try this... Drive next to a building or wall that has rough road or just crappy pavement with the windows down and listen. Then turn around and go the other way.

Now, if it makes the clunky noise like normal, do the same think and Slightly, pull the e-brake. Do Not pull it too hard or fast. You're not drift'n here...

If it's the cable, you will hear the noise go away when the e-brake is on and the slack is gone.

I can hear mine driving about 20mph over rough road and did this a few months ago to confirm. Still pending the fix, but I'm 100% sure that's the issue in my case.

P.S. I did not just come up with this, it was on AZ somewhere

 

Another similar sound that has been reported around here is coming from the rear sway bar links. Another another sound that has been mentioned is described in a TSB related to a couple of pieces of metal on the sides of the trunk. Search forum and thy shall find...

edit: regardless if a tech can hear or not any sound you describe to them, he/she should lift it up on the hoist and visually inspect all suspension, exhaust and brake components for safety. Not sure what your techs are thinking...

 

Seriously, the 'master tech' thought it was a 'normal sound'?
It upsets me a lot when the dealers, or those who work there, told the customers wrong information. I went to the dealers, paying full price, for their so-called expert opinions. For $130/hour charge, more than half of what I was told were incorrect or misdiagnosed.


Back to your car's clanging sound at low speed/RPM, I had a similar problem a few months back. After being told a few times that it was normal - due to tear & wear, parts were getting old, too many pot holes Blah Blah Blah - I decided to trace/keep track of the sound each time I drove the car.


Mine turned out to be that one of the two front brake caliper pistons was not working fully; it only extended half way. Once my brake pad was worn out beyond the point that this piston could not push/touch, the noise started to kick in as the brake pad was flapping.


After replacing the caliper, the clanging noise disappeared.


That all said, your car's symptom might have different root causes. I suggest that you take your car to different shops, especially to those that know what they are talking about.


Good luck.
Cheers

 

^ the scary part for Acura is that Acura drivers when faced with the dilemma of taking it to another shop, they just jump to another brand all together (i.e. Lexus). Sadly we have seen the "this is normal" come up too many times around Acura dealerships and resembles the good 'ol Honda stealership mentality. That has to change.

Just a thought...

PS. thanks for the caliper story, I am keeping an eye on mine since they are about to go...

 

Thanks for all the advice everyone. Sorry for not responding earlier but I've been on vacation and didn't have time to get back to this thread.

It really does sound like it's coming from the brakes or that general area. I will try some of the things described here as well as take it to a different shop.

 

I will try this, thanks!

 

Thing is, they did hoist it up the first time I took it in. They said they didn't hear anything and that everything was working fine. I didn't buy it...

 

This sounds like it could possibly be my issue. Is this an issue that would reveal itself if indeed they dealership put the car on a lift and looked for issues? They said they lifted it the first time I took it in but didn't hear or find anything.

 

In my case, no. I wouldnt have found the root cause had I not jacked up, taken the brake caliper out and observed/analyzed the problem. The moment I saw one of the front brake pistons stopped half way, I knew exactly what my problem was.

Like any other noises, clanging noise can be caused by more than one components, i.e. engine mount, lower control arm bushing, tie rod end ... the list goes on. Regardless, it is not rocket science. A well trained / certified auto mechanic can easily tell us what exactly the root cause/s is/are.

Perhaps you could record the sound of your car and upload it on YouTube so others can help you more affectively?

Cheers and good luck.

 

Does it by any chance sound like metal against metal scuffing?
I had that sound at low speed and it was the top of the rotors rubbing against the the brake pad brackets that was rusty.
Jack it up, remove the wheels and slowly rotate it to see/hear.

 

It's really mostly clanging/knocking. I suppose there could be a faint scuffing sound but I'm not sure if our definitions of "scuffing" are the same.

 

Like a rotational sound. Metal to metal type grinding almost.

 

OP did you try any of the posted tests yet?

 

check the exhaust system and catalyst heat shields. They are known to loosen and start rattling/clanging.

 

The only thing I've tried is the e-brake test. That didn't do it...

I haven't had time to do anything of the other things. Work/life have gotten in the way. Whatever the sound is doesn't seem to be interfering with the operation of the vehicle so that's probably why I haven't taken it in again. I'll likely bring it up when the next oil change/service is due.

 

Nah, it's nothing like that. Mostly clanging/knocking like something is running into something else each time it comes around. And then like I said it stops when I get up to a certain speed and comes back when I stop.

 

I have an update to this issue for anyone interested. I finally went back to my dealer (needed a B123). As I dropped of the car I explained to them once again that I didn't think the sound I was hearing was normal and that they needed to do more than just a drive test. What I wanted them to do was take the wheel apart to find the issue.

The service guy was very resistant to this. Really sticking to his guns that if they don't hear noise then there is no noise (face-palm). We went back and forth on what is normal sound and what isn't. He said something about how BWMs make noises that Acuras don't make and vice-versa...whatever the hell that means. He said they would look at it again but he was sure they wouldn't be able to hear anything.

I asked if they had any similar models on their used car lot that I could test drive to see if the noise I was hearing was a common thing with Acuras. He went on about how they probably don't because SH-AWD are so rare that they don't get them often.

So with that, I proceeded to their used car section and found a 2013 SH-AWD (thought they didn't have any!!) and test drove it. Gave the salesman a lame story about how my wife has one and so I was interested in buying one as well because they're so awesome. But first I wanted to see if it had some of the same weird noises before I bought it. Spoiler alert: It didn't. Pretty sure the service guy saw me driving the car, but I didn't even go back to talk to him. I just waited for the call that they were done with my service to tell him my experience with the test drive.

But when he calls back to tell me my car was ready he declared that they ran a few tests and discovered that indeed something was rolling around inside the wheel. Turns out the previous owner may have used fix-a-flat at some point and the hardened goo was rolling around in there. I could literally hear in his voice that he wasn't enjoying having to eat crow so I didn't rub it in.

Happy to report the noise is now gone. Glad it wasn't some malfunction of the vehicle. But now I need to get front tire checked...

PS: During the test drive I told the salesman that what I really wanted was a 6-speed manual TL. To which he declared that this generation of TLs didn't come with a manual transmission(!!!!). Where do they find these people?