So I noticed one day when Legend #1 was at idle, that there was a soft but distinct clicking sound coming from the engine bay. I tried my hardest to locate it but to no avail. The car was inspected by multiple mechanics, not necessarily looking for the clicking culprit, and they always diagnosed it in good health. So, I chalked it up as a "feature" so to speak and moved along.

Fast forward to Legend #2. I never noticed the sound when I first bought the car (Dec. 4, 2010), but did one day within the past year. It is the EXACT same sound and can only be heard at idle and very low speeds. It is RPM dependent and goes away at about 2500 RPM (I would guess). I don't believe it happens in any gear besides first. It can be heard inside and outside the car but isn't really loud or a nuisance.

Now that I have heard it on two cars from the same factory, with much of the same design, and both run excellent, I have only reinforced my own diagnosis that it is a "feature" of Legends if not all Hondas.

So, how many people have this "clicking" at idle on their RLs?


L has given some insight into what may be causing it.
But, I guess I am sort of confused now. Is this a faulty part? Will it adversely affect the car someday if it isn't changed? I have had the symptom on one car for 80k+ miles and was never alerted by a mechanic. The car was sold at 190k+ with a relatively clean bill of health. I now have a car with 48k miles that runs like a champ and does the same thing. Am I at risk if I do not change the part?

Does anyone else believe it is something else?

 

I don't think it's a problem unless you're getting close to 100k which could be the valves...and like L said, if anything, just change the purge solenoid...

If it helps, I was in the Lexus dealership and someone was moving a new rx350 and it had a faint click to it too...

 

I'm not sure why the solenoid does it, but I chnaged it on my TLS and the sound went away. About 30K later it came back. It doesn't mean the part is bad (told this by countless mechanics) but it's just something the part does on Hondas after a while. It saved me the labor from an unecessary valve adjustment though. This problem is well documented at least i thought it was) in the 2G TL section here

 

Great, now me and the mad scientist have to tear down the block and replace the piston rings you fried.

 

Nice F&F reference

 

It doesn't bother me at all. Cars aren't supposed to be mute. As long as the symptom is part of normal functionality, I am all good.

 

Yup everything should be all good. Of course it never hurts to have a trusted mechanic (not one who is looking to make a buck) listen to the valves with a stethoscope to make sure there's no impact/valve tap. I doubt there would be on most cars though.

 

Here are two threads in the past before I really knew anything about the J series. Seems like it could be the idler pulley as well if you hear it on the passenger side more than drivers. The purge control solenoid is on the driver side. Lots of threads on the infamous Honda tick/click though

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/clicking-noise-under-hood-627656/
https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/ticking-noise-627924/

 

The only tick/click/pick whatever you want to call it ive had in the past was a a valve tick at approx 90k miles. It was lower and then got really audible as i continued to drive longer on them. Took it to a friend for adjustment and my exhaust side was a long way out of spec. An hour later and proper adjustment the car idled as it should. Its the only thing i can think of for this common noise.

 

oo7spy did you ever get this issue fixed? Also I hear valve chatter when the car is on and the engine hood is up? What type of noise should I be hearing, I can try and take video and post tomorrow...I think its normal but im not sure if the engine should be making a consistent sound or if the valves need adjusted...actually it sounds like this video at 3:40-3:47 is that normal?

 

Before I bought my 05 at 38k...I took it to my guy who specializes in Audi..He heard the ticking from my audi and knew what the problem was so I figured before I by my RL...I have him check out the noise from the video 3:40-3:47...he said that its normal but to adjust the valves when you get to 100k

 

Matt, I don't believe that is the noise I am hearing. That sounds like a perfectly normal idle to me.

Like I mentioned, the clicking I hear was always there on Legend #1. It is there in certain temperatures (I don't remember hot or cold) on Legend #2. Legend #1 was inspected numerous times by multiple mechanics and always got a clean bill of health. Legend #2 is no where near a time to be having issues. After reading all of the experiences here on TLs and other Hondas, it appears to be a completely normal issue. It is not intended or designed to do that, but there is nothing wrong with the car's functionality. I have since forgotten about it now that I have an explanation.

 

I had it on my 03TL-S n I believe I have this on my RL also but my RL has 150K on the clock.

 

Sometimes fuel injectors can make ticking sound, specially if the engine itself idles very quietly.

 

Definitely purge solenoid. My CL had the same ticking. I swapped it out and the ticking went away for a week then was back. Never seemed to have any negative affect other than a ticking noise so I left it as it was.