If it only happens when you are decelerating, then it is clutch buzz. If it happens at the same RPM whether ot not you are decelerating, then it is a heat shield rattle.

 

i thought they solved the clutch buzz problem?

i have an 06 so could it be something else?

 

I guess they didn't. Does it only happen when decelerating? If so, then I would assume clutch buzz before I tried chasing anything else.

 

maybe someone can listen to it at a future meet and lmk what they think.

 

i had two tensioners go bad but the sound only occurred at start-up and usually on a cold start-up.

 

Yeah, TCT should only be an issue at startup. The TCT is normally controlled by oil pressure, but there is also a spring that serves to keep tension during startup, before the oil pressure has come up to normal. What happens is that the spring creeps, and no longer provides the proper force.

That's why cold starts are worse, because the cold oil means lower oil pressure.

 

Same here, I had my TCT replaced once before through Honda under warrenty, but it would only rattle on start up for a second or two and then go away, typically worse if the car sat for more then a day. I think they are hydrolically tentioned through oil pressure and when they go bad they weep preventing them from being tight on the chain until they build oil pressure again. The sound is the chain rattling I do belive. This is how they were put together on my old toyota, but I haven't got into the S TCT on my own yet. I am starting to get the sound again, but only if my car sits for about a week so it must not be that bad yet, maybe last another 30-50k before replacement again. I don't know why but these seem to go out pretty often on the S.

I think some of what you guys are experiencing is heat shield rattle and some could be clutch buzz. I don't think the TCT typically rattles all the time, if so it is completely waisted and shouldn't be driven without risk to your motor. This would mean your chain is loose enough to through your cam timing out of sink with your piston timing or worse lose the chain and destroy your motor.

I have had all three of these issues at one time or another. The 00-01 had the clutch buzz bad and Honda provided an updated clutch disc that solved about 50% of it. The later Ap1 and Ap2's didn't have this problem so I would be inclined to check the heat shield first. Its not that dificult to remove it and find out either way.

 

Ok thats good to know, so there is some spring aid as well. So chances are that if the hydrolic portioned failed entirely on the TCT that it would still be able to maintain some tention and hopfully prevent a cotastrophy.

 

I left mine making noise at start-up for about 20k miles and it eventually started making the noise at times other than start-up so I got scared and changed it.
Mike, I'm not sure it's 100% a spring issue, might be combined with a sealing deal too since there are no "seals" per se and excessive bore clearances may play a part.

 

Yeah I'll be waiting for that.

Which seal are you talking about Ray?