I am just curious if anyone else has encountered a "vibration" or "rattle" sound and feeling in ZDX and had it addressed and fixed? Let me explain:

The weather in Chicago has gotten cold and since the weather has changed my ZDX has gotten a "vibration" or "rattle" sound and feeling when the engine is cold. It is constant during acceleration especially in low gears and happens primarily between shifts. It goes away after the engine warms up or around 15 minutes.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? I bought the car in the summer, therefore this is the first cold I've driven it in. I had it at the dealer for a week and a half with several techs working on it and could not fix the problem. They adjusted the lifters thinking it was an engine sound, no luck. Since I've gotten it back I definitely think it is a vibration from a loose bolt, heat shield or something like that. I do not believe the sound is mechanical, but hoped someone could shed some light in case I was not the only one.

I am dropping it back off at the dealer Monday so they can address any bolt or heat shield issues. If anyone else experienced this let me know so I can give the dealer a heads-up on what to look for and I don't have to leave my car another week to try and fix it.

Thanks in advance-

 

So maybe I'm not explaining it right. No one responded and the dealer is still having issues pin pointing it. Maybe it is "normal" for the ZDX, that is what the dealer is leaning towards. I won't lie and say I accept it, especially on a car this expensive. They test drove a used ZDX from the lot and said it had a "similar" sound. They plan to test drive the brand new one they have to see what comes about it. So in the meantime let me explain a little better:

When the weather is warm the car runs like a dream, has no "sounds" or vibrations and is overall solid. As soon as it got cold the car developed a "vibration" sound during acceleration and gear shifts that seems to stay around for 15-20 minutes or until engine warms up. My interpretation of a "vibration" may not be what others think it sounds like. To me it is VERY noticeable that a car that was quiet and solid a few weeks ago now has a different noise to it.

It again my be "normal" for the ZDX, but I hope not and would find it hard to believe this Acura model is the only one to have it. Has anyone out these owned their car more than a year, driven it through a few seasons with at least weather around 30deg or so? If so can you remember any change in noises heard when the car was cold?

I seriously can't be the only owner to hear this. I've owned several Acura's and this is the first I've ever experienced this. It is very frustrating to have the dealer not be able to address the issue and to not have my car for weeks on end. I'm just hoping someone else can shed a little light, thanks-

 

I don't have the ZDX now but I did have it for 2 years and can't say I ever experienced any noises at all. Engine should warm up in a matter of minutes of driving and I would think the transmission would as well. Did you have the TSB done on the transmission? Don't know if that would have anything to do with it.

 

Yeah a few months ago I had the trans download done and they flushed the fluid just in case seeing that is the next step if the download didn't work.

I know it is not mechanical though and I think that is why it has been so hard to address. It most certainly is a type of vibration from maybe a loose bolt or heat shield. It may very well be the way this engine and exhaust is designed and not be a "problem", but until I know that for a fact I hope to fix it. I know the car is fairly new for me, but there is no way anyone else with a ZDX or other car for that matter wouldn't notice and question what I have experienced. To me there is no explanation that would make it "normal". I'll keep people posted, but if no one else can say this sounds somewhat familiar it gives me hope it will be fixed. I plan to go to the dealer and drive it for the tech in case my driving style makes it more prominent. I doubt it and even told them to beat the shit out of it to try and replicate it and they said nothing has jumped out.

I'll update when available, anyone else who has ideas or experiences your feedback is appreciated.

 

now that my exhaust roars loud enough i wouldn't hear any rattle even if there was one))
but this problem does look odd so I'd pester the dealer

 

I plan to pester until this is resolved. I have to go there today and drive it with the tech to duplicate the noise. This is so frustrating because there is no way no one else can hear it and there is no way if they hear it they'd think it is normal.

 

Sorry I cant help but good luck. I think I'm only 1 or 2 members who come here and I drive a CL-s, but thinking of getting a Z.
as I watch a nice used one in Dallas drop $5k in a month. (those in the know, know who the previous owner was).
I guess you know there were transmission? shudder probs with the MDX and ZDX which were addressed asFAIK.
good luck.

 

Pure speculation right now, but we may have a cause and thank god for warranties. I think a better word to use for the noise would be "chatter." After driving with the tech and underwriter they both heard the sound and have a place to start looking. I may have been way off and they have preliminary thoughts that it could be lower engine and not a vibration of a loose bolt or shield. They plan to diagnose today or Monday and listen to the engine to make sure and hopefully oin point.

It sucks, but thank god I was able to determine I am not crazy and there is a noise that is not normal. Stay tuned for updates...

 

Let's hope they get this cleared up for you.

 

I have an rsx for many years and it always makes different rattle in the cold weather, i determined it was the plastic engine cover. In the cold weather when starting engine it would resonate for 1-2 seconds, plus when driving away also, after engine area is warmed up the plastic stops vibrating.

Based on how your describing the sound on your zdx, it could be doing the same. I remember some people with rsx would unbolt plastic cover and insert washers to increase space between cover and engine. Just thought i would suggest.

 

I can mention it to the dealer, thanks. Just hard to believe it could be that simple and no one else ever noticed it on their ZDX. Regardless it has been over a week and still nothing from the dealer. Really starting to get mad, how hard is it to pinpoint an issue like a possible bearing failure. Obviously harder than I think, but I've never seen an issue take this long and be this hard to address. It'll be well worth it if it actually gets fixed, we'll see...

 

After weeks of the dealer having my car we may have an answer. The dealer had to hook up microphones and sensors to every engine component and eliminate from the list of potential culprits. As of today they said after working back and forth with Acura corporate giving data and findings they pinpointed the issue as a bad head. We are just waiting for Acura corporate to confirm so they can replace it and I should hopefully have it back soon. They have never seen or heard of this and therefore the process to resolve it was quite tedious and time consuming. Like the techs who've had to work on it every day and several hours, I want it out of there and back home. Will post once it is final, but looks promising and thank god for factory and extended warranties.

 

Finally, after 7 weeks I have my car back. They replaced the head and all is fine. I'm not too happy with this ordeal, but she's fixed and the dealer went above and beyond. They did a full oil change and a complete detail of the car for free. She runs great, smells great and looks even better. Now I can finally get back to finishing what I want to do and hopefully get this grille painted soon.

 

Nice good to hear. Love your tinted tails btw. I have a CBP and need to do more to it. too cold right now in NH though

 

nice looking wheels!

 

Glad to hear you have it back.

 

Your Black ZDX looks awesome Dubbs! glad to hear that your back in action and that Acura took care of you and your baby

 

Thanks all, just blows I have to drive her in the salt now. I'll update some pics in next few months once I get the grille painted. Later this week I'm getting another layer of tint added to the moon roof and having the rear badges removed. The whole roof being glass seems to let in quite a bit of light and I want her DARK. Removing all the rear badges, but leaving the Acura logo in front and back.

 

I assume the rear A badge is glued to the glass? Most other Acuras, it is screwed in, so has 2 holes in trunk.

I've thought too about the sunroof and heat...and how to block it. I guess yours is one solution. I had thought about altering or changing the fabric shade material to make it solid. seems like the roof heat would be a problem here in Texas, esp with the all the black glass. hmm

 

Pretty sure it has two screws. My bro in law looked into it when we debadged mine.

 

Doesn't matter, I like the Acura "A" and did not plan to remove front or rear "A". Car looks so clean without name badges and tail lights blacked out. Moon roof is 100x better with an extra 20% tint added too! I'll post pics in a new thread soon, gotta wait to wash her and it's 20deg around here. Plus hopefully can post with front grille painted at same time...

 

$70 to add 20% tint to whole moon roof to me far out ways screwing with the fabric. I hate that fabric, but I'm not gonna mess with it. Tint did an amazing job...