rhizopod

When the car is running, there is a sputtering sound being made by what I think is the left part of the exhaust system. It is most audible around the rear left tire; it sounds like it is coming from just behind it. It is only audible from outside the car. It's a '99 TL w/ 74K miles. Any ideas? Thanks.

Yaron2

is it like a putt-putt sound which goes away after you've driven the car for awhile???

t-rd

Mine Accord V6 does that every morning, but once it's warmed up, it goes away.

rhizopod

Yes, it's a "putt-putt" sound. I checked this morning and it had gone away. It was only on the left side. Weird.

doopstr

Could that just be moisture in the muffler? Since both sides of the pipe are tied together it wouldn't be the engine.

Perhaps its starting to rot out.

Yaron2

Well I have the same problem ......... take it into the dealer b/c its certainly not normal and contrary to what doopstr says, I refuse to believe that my 2003 mufflers are not starting to rot out. You might have to leave it overnight and get there first thing the next morning so that you can be there when they replicate the problem. I've also noticed that when the car is cold and you're hearing this sound you can certainly make it worse by touching and I mean touching the gas just a drop. Either way, maybe your dealer will be better equipped to answer this than mine was. When you finally find the fix please let me know. Thanks!

TL-IGHTS

mine does the exact same thing...but when the car is warm...
i think its a leak in a joint or something...

Yaron2

WILL SOMEONE FIND OUT WHAT THE HECK THIS IS ALL ABOUT?!?!?!?

`ill*tl

I had that problem...but I heard a "clunk-clunk" noise coming from my exhaust pipes. I asked one of my good friend that is currently enrolled at UTI and he said that it could be a lot of things but he said that it could just be a screw that's loose on the exhaust pipes which comes unscrewed when cold.

Yaron2

anyone else have some suggestions as to what this might be?

Tracer

My 99 does a 'pop pop pop' kinda sound under the tail as well.. planning to have the dealer have a look at it next service.

Tracer

BdasAcuraTL

same problem here in 99TL, 1st thought it was my left muffler goin bad but no its a little cylinder thats making the sound... i think its some kinda of filter

Yaron2

what is the part called and has anyone had it replaced???

Stillen_I30

my '00 does the same thing. it did so since they day we brought it home from the dealer. i remember having the car in for service and bringing the same year loaner back home, and I heard the same sound...driver's side near the back tire. Since i heard it on that car too, i figured it was normal.

Yaron2

IT"S NOT NORMAL AT ALL!!! LET"S FIGURE OUT WHAT THIS IS

Kateala

I have an 2003 TLP and have the same "putt-putt" noise. I heard it within the first few weeks of getting the car, and when I brought it back to the dealer to have my mud guards and sunroof visor put on it, the guy told me it was NORMAL. He asked if I was putting the right gas in - I told him I put in 93. Then he said, well it's just normal then. I was like ummmm ok? But you hear it after my car has been runing a while, OR when I first start it up.

The other night when I was leaving my boyfriend's he asked me what it was. I tapped the gas slightly, my rpms jumped, and the noise ceased. So go figure. I have NO idea what it is.

My exhaust couldn't have been rotting after I had the car maybe 2 weeks....no f'ing way!

(And Acura isn't too helpful in this situation)

t-rd

The dealers will not fix anything unless something breaks. And they won't fix unless your car runs fine under normal conditions. My car's been putting away for 4 years now and I drive it daily...

Yaron2

?

Kateala

Basicially, until your car is NOT IN WORKING CONDITION, the dealership won't do a damn thing!!

I think the service guy thought I was crazy.
::oh well:: I know I'm not!!

DJREKKA

i have the same on my 99tl. I had it looked at, the car has a 3 stage cat. converter, this sometime causes moisture to accumilate inside. this moisture is not more than 2-3 tea-spoons of water. the sound we hear is air passing thru boiling water. the pipes would not rust because by the time the moisture reaches the pipes it is in vapor form. then is becomes liquid again at the muffler tips as it accumultes. this is the answer i got from a tech at Acura. he even pionted out in the manual it states that driving the vehicle on long runs is acutually healty for the car. i guess it gets the moisture out of the system. let me know if this makes sense.

BdasAcuraTL

thats nice, but i still hate the damn "muffler has a hole in it" sound..... oh well i guess i just wont keep my car idling in front of people since there's no solution for this

t-rd

Just drive it, you'll be much happier if you choose to ignore the small inperfections.

bigman

time for a new cat back exhaust system huh