mr_alex2

Hey everyone... 2006 Acura TL - 148k miles.

I had the timing belt service done about 40k miles ago... recently, when I start the car, I get the ticking noise I have seen here a bunch of times. Also plenty of videos on Youtube, I suspect, it's the tensioner or pulley...

Questions -
- It only makes the ticking noise when it's cold, by the time the engine is up to temp, the noise isn't audible. Why only when cold?
- Can I replace the tensioner without messing with the timing? Same for pulley? I haven't actually seen if the pulley or tensioner is wobbly, just going by the noise I hear from my car compared to the nose I hear on all the youtube vids of people posting the same issue.

So, can I do this without messing with the timing? I've replaced a few things on the car, and kinda handy, but I don't want to mess with the timing belt. (replaced brake pads, rotors, filters, power steering o-rings, etc... basic-ish stuff)

Thanks for any input you have!

[I bought the car with 20k miles on it, about 10 years ago. I plan to drive it till it explodes...]

Thanks,
Alex V.

t-rd

I'm curious why the tensioner and both pulleys weren't replaced when you got the timing belt service done? Because now you need to take everything back off 1 more time. You don't need to "mess" with the timing belt, but it's best to take it off during the pulleys and tensioner replacement, just mark the belt so it goes back on at the exact same position.

losiglow

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, you'll need to take it all apart again. Sans the water pump and other pulleys of course. And like t-rd said, I'm puzzled why the other parts weren't replaced. That's pretty par for the course since a bad tensioner can be as bad as the belt itself breaking if it fails altogether.

Have you considered a valve adjustment? That could be it as well.

truonghthe

IF it is the timing belt tensioner causing the noise, I would recommend replace the entire TB/WP (you will be charge full price regardless of changing the belt or not).

This is what happened when dealer give out "TB service special for $599.99" literally they will replace only the TB, I would rather buy a car that has not done 105k service knowing everything will get replaced to my standard. BTW if you decide to do a full TB/WP replacement just don't forget to spend the extra 4-5 hours for reseal the oil pump assembly.

GhostTL09

iTrader: (1)

OP you can just replace the tensioner, but it's a beast even to do just that and like they said if the dealer does it they will charge the same price because of the labor

nfnsquared

OP, did they change plugs also? If so, could be a lose plug/s.

If they didn't replace the tensioner, my bet is the tensioner. If they replaced the tensioner (and plugs), my bet is a plug.