Hi guys, i recently purchased a brand new 2015 rdx. When the engine is cold (especially in the morning), i start the engine and hit the gas. when the speed hits 20mph, i hear rattling/popping noise (usually 3 beats) for like a second, then the noise disappears and won't come up again until the next time i do the same thing w/ a cold engine (either many hours later or the next morning). I brought my car to acura's service department and they told me they couldn't find any problems with the car and that's how the car drives. Anybody encountered the same issue?

 

My car does something similar when cold, but not rattling/popping sound, more like "brrrrrrrr" or "buzzzzzz" when it hits around 20mph and RPM around 2000. I can even feel the vibration through the gas pedal, although the vibration now is much less pronounced after 5K miles. I guess it might be VCM or ABS, but none of my other cars do that.

 

Thanks for your reply skywalker168. i don't feel any vibration when the noise occurs. it's more like a quick series of ticking sounds (not noticeable when the radio is on at a normal volume). After I hear that noise after starting the cold engine and hit the first 20 mph, I won't hear it again throughout the ride (even when hitting 20mph again after a full stop as long as the engine is warm). I hear it at least twice a day, once in the morning and once after work when 8+ hours have passed. When I first brought it to acura they couldn't reproduce the noise on their own, so i had to go in again the next morning to reproduce the noise for them. When the tech who was sitting next to me as i was driving heard it, he looked puzzled and couldn't give me any explanation as to what may have caused the noise. They then tried 2 of their own RDX's that they had in stock and told me that they have the same noises (I sat in one of them and didn't hear anything). Later that day they told me they called acura tech line (i'm assuming it's the technicians from the corporate office) and said that the noise is normal and that's how the car drives. Just like you said, out of many cars that i've driven, this rdx is the only one that makes that noise.

 

I guess stranger things have happened to Acura and therefore they don't bother with the small stuff .

 

Sounds like it could be the ABS self-check.

 

^x2, I believe the ABS checks at ~20 and 25 mph. I don't think I would say it sounds like the OP popping noise though.

 

is rdx designed to make this kinda noise? 'cos i've never heard anything like this in other cars that i'd driven

 

That ABS self-check has been more or less standard on all Hondas and Acuras for more than 15 years. The noise may just be more noticeable in the cold and depending on how you accelerate.

For example, Civics:

18MPH ABS System check 'grind'... - 8th Generation Honda Civic Forum

Accords:

Clicking noise @ 30mpn - Drive Accord Honda Forums

Acura TL:

https://acurazine.com/forums/third-g...-004-a-552426/

 

thank you guys for your replies. I guess the noise should be normal.