tharbemiko

I have a new 2010 TL SH-AWD with only 400 miles and I've always had this a fast knocking noise coming from the engine. In the cabin, the noise is audible(with the stereo off) but it's not really loud. I always use premium 91 octane gas so I wasn't sure whether this sound was normal for this type of car (this is my first Acura) or if my engine has problems. Does anyone else hear this knocking sound? Its especially audible when the hood is up.

Thanks

chaiwala

Yes, I have it. Especially when the car is fully warmed up and at a stop light or intersection. This sounds crazy but recently I decided to do an experiment with gasoline. I stopped using Shell V-Power which is on the toptiergas.com list and changed to Mobil 93 octane which is NOT on the toptiergas list. The knocking is very faint to none. I guess it was more pinging than knocking.

You are also right with it being very audible when the hood is up. The more I drive and continue using Mobil Premium gasoline I will let you know if the issue still exists when I have the hood up.

tharbemiko

Awesome let me know how it sounds after using Mobil. I've been using Shell V-Power too so I'm eager to know the results.

SHAWD10

Funny I noticed it too from day one. I have a 2010 and I never heard that sound in any of my previous cars. Everyday I drive on this backroad with high stone walls on each side so the sound was really magnified. It seemed more like clicking or tapping than knock. I know the sound of bad engine knock and it definitely wasnt that.

This is my first Acura and my first SH-AWD so I wasnt sure if it was the vtech, the valves tapping or the awd drive causing the sound. I dont think changing brand of gasoline will do much especially if you always use premium but i did notice the sound getting significantly quieter after i changed the original motor oil at the 1st service. The engine is much quieter now.

tharbemiko

At least I know I'm not the only one . From what I've heard, the sound is common and it doesn't indicate a problem. I'm definitely eager to get my first oil change now haha. When did you get your first oil change?

SHAWD10

I changed the oil, oil filter & rotated the tires when the first maintenance minder popped up at around 7,400 miles. The owners manual said not to change the original oil until notified to do so, so that's what I did.

Mr Marco

Same knocking here. Almost sounds like a loose bearing but goes away at higher RPM's. We have logged 20K so far and the car is faster then new, so I'm not going to complain. My thought was variable valve noise or cylinder deactivation.

SHAWD10

I recently posted a reply to a thread regarding oil consumption and thought that this "engine ticking" may be related. The oil consumption thread is here:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...il+consumption

When I responded to this "engine ticking" thread I mentioned that the noise seemed to go away after I performed the first scheduled oil change. Recently when I discovered that my oil level went down since I changed the first oil, I had already been noticing that the engine was ticking again. I am not sure yet if they are related but I would ask the folks who have the "engine ticking" noise to check their oil levels to see if they are within normal range. Mine wasn't. It was actually below the normal range and I know for sure that I filled the correct amount of oil during the first change. I am now tracking the level every 1,000 miles.

When you check your oil level, make sure the car rests for awhile (preferably overnight) to make sure the oil drains back to the pan. Check it at least two times (clean the dipstick) to verify the level.

Let us know what you find out.

chaiwala

I have been using Mobil gas for at least 5 fill ups and the knocking is barely audible. I am sticking with Mobil gas.

the_razor

Can some one explain me whats the difference between Shell V Power 91 vs Sunnoco Ultra 94

Kingmeow

I thought V Power is 93?

chaiwala

I finally got rid of my knocking by adding a bottle of this

So it wasn't the Shell V-Power but I am still sticking with Mobil Gas.

SHAWD10

Don't you find it strange that our new cars require a can of anti-friction engine treatment to quiet down engine ticking?

Is there something else going on within our engines that shouldn't be?

Anyway, I imagine that the additive treatment will only have a certain lifespan before it eventually wears off. It surely won't hurt the engine but I figure I paid enough for this car in the first place and shouldn't have to add anything to it.

(BTW, I am not taking shots directly at you chaiwala, I am just a little unhappy with Acura's quality)

MurkyRiversTL

Have any of you guys tried taking the car to the dealer for an explanation? Logging info like this with the dealer will save your ass if the engine fails due to something you use to try to fix the noise...... Just a thought.

SHAWD10

No, I haven't spoken to the dealer yet because I want to confirm that I wasn't seeing things when my oil level was down after my first oil change (which I did myself and used the right amount). So now I'm gonna track it now to be sure.

I really hope I am wrong.

MurkyRiversTL

When something is under warranty, as all of your TL's still should be, there should be no reason not to have the dealer do the maintenance on the car. I am a mechanic and have changed all of my cars oils myself, but this one Im leaving for the dealer. In the event that something goes wrong with the engine they will have no excuse as to why its any ones fault but Acura's.

09tlsteve

I hear this as well, but always thought it was the sound of the injectors -- known to be noisy on Honda/Acura.

chaiwala

Acura's are not DI engines so there shouldn't be any fuel injector sound.

revolt

What was the cause of the knocking sound?
and the fix?

Loli

Hi All;

I'm new to this board. Bought a 2010 sh-awd non tech, about 6 weeks ago and have heard a similar ticking noise as Chaiwala. I can only hear it when the car is warmed up and my foot is on the break at a stop light or stop sign. It disapers when I put it in park. I have not tried to hear it from outside the car. It had gradually gotten a little worse after a trip to Key West and I took it to the dealer for inspection. They indicated that they could hear the ticking noise and also heard it on other new cars. They could not figure out where it was coming form and everthing checked out on the car.

Now that the weather has gotten cold and the heater comes on before the car is warmed up,I do not hear it. I heard it with the AC on in Key West so I do not think the sound of the heater is covering it up.

I do not usually use the Shell V power gas but did use it on vacation. (Thinking that maybe is was better than other gas.) Maybe that made it worse.

revolt

I have the same ticking noise and notice on warmer weather too,
I belieave that the sound is coming from the radiators FAN area.
(i notice when the radiators fan turn on and I'm in drive position, I will hear the ticking sound inside only)
Can someone comfirm this, with their car.

lightjak_tsx

thumbkin

I also have this ticking noise.it is very loud when stopped and in gear but seems to fade away when in park or neutral. I noticed it about two weeks after i purchased my 2010 TL SH-AWD w tech. brought it to my dealer and they heard it but could not locate where it was coming from. Tech told me they may not be able to fix it. Tech took test drive with me in a different car and noise was not heard. I have an appointment wit dealer on march 29 2011 for factory rep to listen and advise as to how they will handle it. will keep you posted.

revolt

dwest1023

Ive notice no ticking noise on my non AWD 2009. I have been using royal purple syn, since new. Don't know if that has anything to do with it or not, but my engine is eerily quite at idle. Only used shell V power.

acuratech1

i can tell you guys from experience everyone! complains about the noise but its just a combo of injector pulse and valvetrain noises

eluzion

The second part of your statement is false. Fuel injectors absolutely make a sound, but it's more of a clicking noise. Honda/Acuras are known for fuel injector and valve train noise.

I have a 2011 SH-AWD and noticed this same noise everyone is mentioning as well. I only have 1200 miles on the car and the noise has been there since I bought it. To me, it sounds like something between a clicking and knocking sound most noticeable at idle.

acuratech1

yup...its a characteristic of the engine....the engine itself is very quiet its just the injectors and/or valvetrain...nothing wrong with your brandnew cars....

Loli

Thumbkin did you talk to the factory rep about the issue? If so what did you find out?
I had heard that there is a small pump of some kind that can make this noise.
More observations: The ticking is only noticable when the car is warm (out of the fast idle mode) when it is stopped in gear by holding the brake and the rev reading is at about 800 rpm. When the car is cold it idles at about 1000 rpm. I tried revving to 1000 and it seamed to go away. Could the cars be so de-turned at idle to save gas that it causes this noise? I have grown to really love the performance of this car but this one aspect bothers me.

jnc2000

It's most defiantly valve-train/injector noise... every j-series motor I've ever heard has it. Go fire up a J32, J35 and our J37 and you'll hear it in every single one...

JustinTL

here is what I did, I spent a whole Saturday, went to a Acura Dealer where the manager there is my friend, very close friend, (means my whole family with 12 people bought several cars for his dealer since 1995)
He was more than happy to help me perform the check
in 10 new and used Acura TL 2009 to 2010,
and the result:
they all have the same "cak cak cak" or someone said "ticking noise" like your teeth ticking when you are scared. haha
SO, I conclude,
it's normal. no need to worry, only one thing is, (funny) when I go home from my buddy house at midnight, stop in the intersection, I can hear my TL engine sounds like (from inside cabin) a DIESEL engine. Just Fine for me!
Good luck guys.

mr_d_ns

I think i'm experiencing the same issue - a bearing or pulley noise that is only audible while stopped and in drive, that gets louder the longer the car is running.

Car was with the dealer for a week and a half. They spoke with Acura engineering and had a specialist in and could not determine the cause. They believe the noise is present on all awd equipped TLs and may be related to the awd system as it's not there on fwd models.

My problem is that i would not have bought this car if I new it was going to sound like a civic. As far as i'm concerned it ruins the image as well as the experience of driving.

I was told Acura would continue to look into it. I hope they will but i'll be surprised if we ever hear of a fix.

Edward'TLS

If the engine "ticks, ticks, ticks" even at idle, then it is the normal valvetrain noise for Honda auto engines.

But if the engine "pings, pings, pings" while under heavy loads or while going uphills, then it is NOT normal because the engine is knocking due to premature detonations.

Loli

Actually I owned a Honda Civic and a few Chryslers before upgrading to the TL. None of them made this kind of ticking noise. Like you I probably would not have purchased a 40+ thousand dollar car had I known it was going to make this noise at every stop sign or stop & go light. It almost ruins an otherwise enjoyable driving experience. Now I leave the radio on to drown out the irritating ticking. I sure am glad that there is nothing wrong with the car.

If anyone finds a fix please post.

speedytl

I think the ticking is from the relay or senser on the intake manifold.I had a race manifold on my evo and had to move one of the relay over and had the same noise.

speedytl

There's the normal ticking valvetrain noise when it cold and when it get warm up you can hear a more louder ticking from the relay and you can even feel it on the relay.

Loli

Speedy TL

Is the relay you are talking about visable or at a place where it can be easily reached? I wonder if it could be wrapped with a sound deadening material to reduce or eliminate the noise?

black2010hpt

my dealer had no idea what the noise is. they changed my oil to no avail. they then told me to try different brands of gas. still to no avail. they now want to tear into the engine. i will hold off on that, especially since it seems normal since everyone else has the same noise.

nocturnal99

I'm experiencing a similar issue with my 2011 TL. I posted up in the MDX forum in response to a similar MDX knocking noise:

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...8#post12966818

Mine has been at the dealer since May 7th, still waiting on the verdict.

Loli

Speedytl

Where is the relay located? I would like to check mine.