afax226

I did pay an arm and a leg to have the VCT replaced in December. The noise did not return over the winter.

Recently, I decided to look up past receipts and check what grade of engine oil the dealer used for oil change. To my surprise, the dealership used 5w20 instead of 0w20 as the manual recommends. Ow20 is thinner at cold temperature. I wonder if that's was the problem.

TSX1012m6

No that was not the problem. 0w and 5w are very similar. I'd be very upset about having the VTC replaced with a high out if pocket cost. As said a thousand times, it doesn't fix the problem and it still grinds when starting when cold on occasion.

xtcnrice

Hey TexasHonda, have you continued with this suggestion? I'm curious if you have enough data points now to suggest whether this helps or not.

Thanks!

TexasHonda

No, my actuator rattle has disappeared ( synthetic oil change?). I have no way to know if the suggestion will help.

good luck

xtcnrice

Thanks!

I've been strictly using 0w-20 synthetic oil (blend once, but not currently), and the past couple of weeks the grind has been happening almost daily; sometimes even twice a day. Can't quite remember what I have in there right now... might be Castrol (black jug). Maybe I should do an earlier oil change and switch back to a different oil I've used previously and see if that helps.

Avenger411

Hello!

VTC actuator. Had this problem on a brand new TSX 09. So i think it's a flaw by design. I've replaced it once and made it on the first startup lol. Once temps get under 0c (i'm in canada) it does it from times to times. Been told by Acura it's nothing serious.

Good day!

jzhu625

iTrader: (2)

FYI my 2014 having this issue, purchased as CPO 2 weeks ago with 56k miles.

JayhawkRX

I’m experiencing this intermittently with my 2013 TSX SE with 60,000 miles on the ODO. Only seems to be an issue when it is exceptionally cold, and when the car sits “outside” for an extended period of time (airport parking garage, most commonly). The grinding noise disappears very quickly, and only happens at first startup. Vehicle is meticulously maintained and oil is changed with Mobil 1 synthetic 0W-20 every 5000 miles. I hope no real damage is being done to the car with this!

TSX1012m6

No there is not any damage being done to the car, just sounds terrible.

TexasHonda

How do you know this to be true?

regards

tye13

TSX1012m6

What were you using before vs now? I've always used the mobile 1 filter. Didn't hear it too much this winter.

tye13

slippery14

Was directed here by TexasHonda. I just bought a 2012 wagon and have the noise as well. Didn't make the noise when I test drove it tho. I'm guessing the dealer was aware and had the car started and ready before I got there. It happens when the car is sitting for a cold startup so how couldn't they have known? They offered to fix it for me but I'd have to return to that dealership which is 5 hours away and just isn't an option for me at this point. I've been in contact with Acura customer service and after telling me to have it diagnosed at an Acura dealership they said they will be in contact with me on whether this will be covered full cost or partial cost. Bought the car with 69,942 and driving it home 5 hours away of course put me over the factory powertrain warranty. I called them to see if they would make an exception out of good faith but won't know the outcome till Wednesday.

I've also been asking my mechanic (a Honda tech) about it as well and he said he is familiar with this problem. Says the same that others have with oil leaking from the actuator and has to prime itself back up on start up. He said I should to the chain and tensioner as well but I just got off the phone with him and he said that he thought I had higher miles (120k+) which I do not. I asked if he had any success stories about these repairs and he said that they do them quite often and has done 3 this month and doesn't see a problem after it's done. He said the parts are covered up to 6 months too.

Also, a friend of mine just sold his 1st gen TSX and said he was experiencing the same problem just before he started looking for a new car. He thought it was some kind of bearing. The guy that bought it (also a Honda tech lol) said it probably needed a new tensioner etc. Probably knew it was the actuator and considering he had over 200k he probably knew the chain was stretched.

My 02 RSX had about 225k before the chain stretched so much and got a cam position code. Chain, tensioner, guides and actuator all done and she's still going.

dolsey01

2012 TSX Wagon with 50K dropping off tonight at the dealer for this. CPO Powertrain warranty expires next month so timing is excellent.

Ivtec671

I got a 2010 tsx and mind jus started doing the same thing, especially if it sits to long

SiiRBrooklyn

Mine started doing this aswell its been afew months now.. anyone know if this part is still considered "defective"?

slippery14

Came back to see you didn't get a response. From what my mechanic told me, Honda has updated to a new part which was put into mine 2 years ago. Lasted a year before it came back. Only in cold temps so luckily with an incredibly mild winter we had in the northeast I didn't have to hear it that much. I've read around and have found others that have replaced it and it's a hit or miss on the noise returning. One post I found had a user saying it's been doing it for 60k now lol so I guess I'll roll with it. I thought about changing it myself as I've changed a cam on my RSX before so this wouldn't be that difficult but the part about the gear puts me off a bit. You need compressed air I think to unlock or lock it before you install and I don't have access to that. I also don't want to change the part every year or two because that's ridiculous. I don't get how this is still a problem.

dolsey01

That's really a bummer that it only lasted a year! I wasn't able to get mine replaced under warranty last year because of course it was too warm out and it wouldn't do it for the dealer even after sitting for a few days. A few months later it started to doing it occasionally as it got colder out but warranty was up. I was considering getting it fixed now since my car is mostly sitting idle due to the pandemic but I think I'll hold on to the $700-800 for now since it's not a guaranteed fix going forward.

Mc3363

When I had my actuator replaced under warranty, it was fine for a couple of months and it came back. I reported it again to the dealer and they told me it was due to being low on oil. Still happened after fresh oil changes. Had oil consumption tests done which were always within the limit (but still burning oil).

After it started happening at almost every start up, the dealer looked at it again and said it was the actuator. At this point it was conveniently out of warranty. I got into contact with American Honda and showed records of me reporting this issue while under warranty after it was already replaced. After some back and forth, they said I’d have to pay anyway because it was out of warranty (plus the dealer altering their story about them needing to diagnose the issue more before settling on the actuator), and they couldn’t promise me that replacing the actuator a second time would prevent it from happening again when I asked.

tldr; replacing the actuator isn’t a guaranteed permanent fix.

MichaelJones22

For the benefit of those experiencing this issue, and googling it in 2020 and beyond;

• From reading lots of threads (including this one), the grinding noise is most likely caused by a bad actuator + possibly a stretched a timing chain.
• These cars burn oil. If you are not regularly adding oil (every, 1 to 2k depending on how bad its burning) your chain is going to quickly stretch.
• When the chain is stretched your going to hear the grinding on start, even when its warm out.
• If you have to replace the chain you may as well replace the actuator (and vice versa).

I had been hearing the grinding on start year round, so I had the timing chain replaced, but sadly didnt know about the actuator then (and apparently neither di the mechanic). That fixed the grinding in the summer, but I still hear it in the winter. Going to just keep an ear on it, and keep adding oil, and hope that it last another 100k without getting much worse. Does anybody know what damage (if any) is being done when the actuator is making that grinding sound? Is it damaging the chain? If so is 1-2 second grind all that bad?

MichaelJones22

ignore my question about damage, that was answered earlier. couldnt edit post...

pianos101

Anyone have recent updates on this? My 2012 TSX with 75k was just diagnosed with a stretched chain. Had regular oil changes (all at dealership). Had VTC Actuator replaced 4 years in due to grinding at start - which never really went away after it was replaced, but further t/s revealed no issues. I'm concerned the issue wasn't correctly diagnosed back then, and now i'm out of warranty.

slippery14

If your chain is stretched then that'll need to be replaced along with guides and tensioner. Does yours grind all the time? It's more common in cold weather. I had my actuator replaced when I got the car and it was good for a year but then came back. Searched and found others with the same issue but they just drive it till they find other problems. Mine grinds in colder weather. Keep up with oil changes and check your oil regularly. Also, the CU2 facebook group is probably more active for replies I've found. Good luck!

D4nnyD

Does anyone have the part number for this actuator? want to see if this is something i can try replacing myself to see if it helps with the grinds.

slippery14

14310r40a02

D4nnyD

Thanks!