Clutch problem?

[detroit]

I own a 2004 TSX with 6 speed manual transmission. For about the last four or five months, I've noticed an unusual sound when I engage the clutch from a standstill in first gear. With the right combination of clutch pressure and engine revs, I hear what sounds like a very harsh rubbing sound. Mechanical rubbing, hard to explain in words. Not a grinding sound at all, but a kind of a squawk that is audible within the car even to passengers that passes once engagement of the clutch is complete.

I've taken the car into the dealer twice now, and I cannot recreate the problem for anyone in service. It's sporadic. Happens some days, not others. I can't figure out if it's related to weather conditions or temperature or what, but it just doesn't always happen. I've spoken with two different dealers about the problem and neither says it's a problem that has been reported with other TSXs. I'm told they really can't do anything unless I can recreate it while I'm at the dealer.

Any ideas on what it might be? Or why it might come and go?

Thanks in advance!

[denle]

Hey. You are not alone... I have the same problem on my car. That's after replacement of the master clutch cylinder. I brought it back to my dealer and they insisted that that is normal. Although the service advisor did hear the strange noise, the service manager insisted that is normal and even challenge my driving habit. Later on, I talked with one of my friend's brother (he is working at another acura as service technician) and he said he suspected that they made something loose when they replaced the master clutch cylinder. he can't figure which part is loose but he believed that it's nothing wrong on the clutch. he asked me to leave the car to him on my next service. I will update that later. on the other hand, since that noise coming out, the engine is getting more and more noisy. dunno why.....

[detroit]

the service manager insisted that is normal and even challenge my driving habit.

The service guy at my dealer did the same thing. The one and only time I was able to reproduce the sound at all, he pointed out that I was at over 3,000 rpms when I engaged it. "That's way too high to ever engage the clutch in first gear," was his comment.

I can't believe the number of problems that just go away when I've pulled into service stations. It's like they have a magic force field over the garage that fixes any problems and leaves me looking like an idiot as I try to prove that the problem I'm there for even exists. I could wreck my car and completely total it and it would probably instantly repair itself like the car in the movie Christine as soon as I pulled into the garage. :)

[denle]

i can even produce the problem when change gears during driving. did your car get a the master clutch cylinder replacement? my car started having clicking noise when apply on the clutch (I believe that is a very common problem on TSX/Accord) so that's why it required master clutch cylinder replacement.

[detroit]

No, I haven't had the master clutch cylinder replacement. At this point, after two visits to the dealer, they say there's nothing they can do until I can demonstrate the noise I'm hearing. So far, that hasn't happened. And since my visit yesterday, I'm still not hearing it. Hopefully the next time it happens, I can really pinpoint exactly how I got it to happen so I can show the service manager. Until then, it's working fine now. No other problems with the car.

[miner]

The service guy at my dealer did the same thing. The one and only time I was able to reproduce the sound at all, he pointed out that I was at over 3,000 rpms when I engaged it. "That's way too high to ever engage the clutch in first gear," was his comment.

I can't believe the number of problems that just go away when I've pulled into service stations. It's like they have a magic force field over the garage that fixes any problems and leaves me looking like an idiot as I try to prove that the problem I'm there for even exists. I could wreck my car and completely total it and it would probably instantly repair itself like the car in the movie Christine as soon as I pulled into the garage. :)

Isn't redline around 7200 rpm?

[alnug]

is there any update to this noise?

[shay654]

Sorry, I can't help ya there! I actually don't drive a stick! Sounds like another defect from the '04s!


NOTE: Moved Thread

[1tsx]

hey old post but i had the same problem my tsx had 140,000 km on it after 3 weeks of this noise i needed a new clutch, installed the new clutch sound is gone everything works perfect so it MAY be a sign u need a new clutch whats the mileage on your car?

[brandtson]

it's the clutch master cylinder there's a problem with them on all k-series. i'm on my third one (2 under warranty, third one I had to pay for). there's a tsb for it. apparently the push rod catches part of the spring inside the cylinder and it's all downhill from there. after it starts making the noise it'll die in about 10-15k miles.

the only thing you can do is try to align the pushrod as best as possible next time you install a new master cylinder.

http://www.ephatch.com/resource/clutchpushrod/clutchpushrod.htm

[lucas911]

I had that problem. The rubberish-friction woooo sound. It started at first once every week, then every day, then at some point it was undrivable.

They had to replace the clutch bearing and at the same time, the whole clutch. And obviously the clutch is not under warranty. I was arguing with the dealer because I bought the car from the dealer with 70K KM and as soon as I got it.. I noticed some strange with the clutch. Obviously they said it was normal and the <full warranty on everything for 60 days> has passed....and voila. Bunch of bastards. I am sure dealers are very well aware of the problem...

It was 1400$ with labour and all.

Enjoy it while it's driveable...

[BeLowZeRo]

OMG I'm so happy that I found this thread and I'm not alone with this problem. I had exactly the same problem as detroit. Mine is a 2004 Accord Euro.. I had it for 3 years now and running 66,000Km already (around 41K Miles)

This morning I brought it for service and raise this issues to the dealer. I told them that the car made some sort of grinding (high pitched noise) around the middle to the left passenger side when it started to taking off. It usually happens when you're pulling the load of the car (ie. on a hill or ramp). It was a really high pitched noise and it makes me goosebumps everytime I hear it.. I think its even audible for cars beside me on the red light. The strange thing is it happens sometimes and goes away at other times, it really hard to replicate that sound to someone at any time. I also told them that my clutch pedal started making some sort of squeking and clicking sound.

At the end of the day, I picked up my car and they told me they already replaced the master clutch cylinder and the clutch assembly for me under warranty (even when my warranty already ends at 60,000Km) They told me by replacing the master clutch cylinder, hopefully that grinding noise goes away too. So, my clutch pedal stops making that squeking and clicking sound and I haven't got the time to drive my car around again to see if that noise still exist. Hopefully in the coming days or weeks that grinding noise stops for good.

[JPAustin]

I'm taking mine in, again, on Saturday for some more investigation. I have had the master cylinder replaced on the first visit, given strange looks on the second visit, criticized for my driving habits on the third visit (that time it didn't even reproduce the sound), and on this upcoming visit, by God it WILL make the noise because everytime I launch from first (below that apparently magical 3000 RPM mind you) I get that damned sound.

I don't care if they say it is "normal". Any premium vehicle I own is NOT going to make that embarrasing sound everytime I launch. If it was a civic, maybe I could live with it if it was considered "normal", but not NOT an Acura.

The good news though is that the car still drives fine, if thats any consolation to anyone. I haven't suffered the privation of my TSX becoming undrivable. I will let you all know what happens!

[kyotousa]

^^^^
TSX and Civic are produced by the same company tho

as you can see lotta people on this board even change the badge to Honda Accord :P

[JPAustin]

I know they are same manufacturer, but come on, Acura (and Lexus and Infiniti) wouldn't exist if there wasn't a demographic wanting some exclusivity vis a vis the standard Honda owner. Most people who purchase an Acura or Lexus or Infiniti want to feel "superior", if you will, to their economy counterparts -- kind of like buying a first class ticket on your airline (manufacturer) of choice. If you can afford it, flaunt it! And really, the TSX is a damned fine step up from the Accord at not too much of a premium either!

Anyway though, to each his own, but frankly, why buy an Acura just to change the badging BACK to Honda badging? Granted, I can understand the Euro Accord stuff because Acura's are supposed to give some of that European appeal in a Japanese car, but still...

Okay okay, off track of the topic discussion, would anyone here buy the Lexus ES300 and then remove the badging and put Camry on it? Apples and oranges maybe, but still in the same thread.

[GeneralCho]

Damn!!! I think I know what noise you are talking about. It is this loud whining noise. So far I only heard that noise 3 times and all 3 times were taking off from a incline with load. (4 passenger including myself)

[kyotousa]

Okay okay, off track of the topic discussion, would anyone here buy the Lexus ES300 and then remove the badging and put Camry on it? Apples and oranges maybe, but still in the same thread.

People rebadge it because it's called Accord and Euro Accord else where.
I wouldn't do it...but apparently people does it think it's originality or something.

I bet if Lexus come out with some performance car some people would rebadge to match Japan or Euro side. However, Lexus has already separated from Toyota in Japan also. So that wouldn't happen at all...

If "the real" Skyline not the "fake" G35 come out in Infinity line....I bet you...we will see some rebadge happening. lol

The biggest difference is...Acura and Honda are more linked than the other two companies....(I donno if it's right or not...that's just how I feel)
As in your windshield would still say Honda...and whole lot of interchangeable parts.

[BeLowZeRo]

[BeLowZeRo]

I went to the dealer again this morning regarding about brake issues and I raise the issue about the clutch problem again to them. I told them last time I couldn't replicate that sound with them but now I can. This sound actually happens when you rev about 1500-2000rpm (as you know this is not a high rev for you to start taking off in 1st gear) and then slowly take off your foot off the clutch while maintaining at this rev. Eventually when it start to take off, it will make that screeching, grinding noise I can't describe in words.

I think JPAustin has exactly the same problem. When you have a heavy load inside the car and you wanna launch off from the ramp you will need about 2000rpm until you take off the clutch pedal for the car to start move. Unfortunately at that rev the sound will appear again.
I told the dealer in detail this morning and all they said is "it must be there's a hot spot on the flywheel, that's why it only happens at certain rpm" And the bad thing is I have to replace the flywheel and the whole clutch kit and that would cost AU$2200 just for the part. They said clutch is a wearable material and not covered by warranty.
All I wanted to know is.. how do u guys who have succeeded claim clutch warranty to the dealer able to convince them that this was the manufacturing fault. I believe my driving habit is good enough as I always change gear around 2200rpm (I get gas mileage about 100km from full tank until the needle reach the first FULL line indicator), I don't use much of the clutch to slow down the car, and I hardly trash my car around the street.

Can someone please update on this issues. I will fight with the dealer to get the warranty claim before my warranty ends next month.

[JPAustin]

I think most people who had anything replaced under warranty just had the master cylinder replaced and nothing else. I think a lot of dealers don't understand that when any manufacturer (airplane manufacturers too) design a vehicle, they design some parts to failure only (no replacement time interval) because to make those parts last forever would be too expensive, and it is cheaper to cover those parts under warranty and pay for them that way (assuming the part isn't a single point failure safety item). That is risk management in manufacturing.

On to the other point; I hate it when service managers a) question my driving habits and b) tell me its a normal sound. To answer a), I tell them I fly for a living so my day job is a helluvalot more challenging then driving a TSX (and that I have been driving stick for decades). To answer b), I merely challenge them to tell me if they would accept such a "normal" sound in their vehicle.

End diatribe, I have NEVER had a clutch make this kind of sound and a horrid sound it is.

[BeLowZeRo]

Just wondering what type of clutch did they use on our TSX/Euro. Yesterday I put my car for service and the dealer loan me a Honda Jazz. I notice that the Jazz have a very light clutch compare to Euro. I thought only performance clutch have this hard to press effect on the clutch pedal. I thought its good if we have a performance clutch on the euro so we get advantage over other cars.. but I seem to have problems with my clutch just like any other honda.

At least 2 of my friends who own a honda civic or HRV have the same clutch problem just like mine. Unfortunately there's a hot spot between the flywheel and the clutch that makes a screeching, grinding noise when you first take off in 1st gear. This symptoms happens to my friends after they've gone over 100,000Km. And my Euro has only done 70,000Km and it seems I need to replace a new clutch kit. The technician who replace their clutch said that it was a product failure from Honda, (at least 2 spring housing on the clutch plate has broken) and Honda seems doesn't want to cover that under warranty.

I always takes full responsibility when I drive, I don't use unnecessary clutch engagement, but I'm so pissed that it happens in the early age of the car. I love the car but there's so much stuff going on with the car and so far I already claim 5 warranty works on the car in just 3 years. I'm worried that the car would not be so reliable in the long run.
Sorry for whinging or complaining guys.. but I still love the Euro and I don't plan on selling it because of all the troubles, but don't you guys feel sick if this happens to your car?
I've heard too much of this clutch problems on all Honda cars, my question is when are they going to notice that they will need to improve the quality of just a simple spring housing on the clutch plate.

[MisterHan]

So glad I've found this thread...First gear rubbing sound..I have the same problem. 05 tsx mt..40k miles on it right now. So is the clutch master cylinder the main problem? I'm thinking of taking it in this weekend.

[griffojm]

So glad I've found this thread...First gear rubbing sound..I have the same problem. 05 tsx mt..40k miles on it right now. So is the clutch master cylinder the main problem? I'm thinking of taking it in this weekend.

If its under warranty I would definately take it to the dealer. Mine makes the sound only on inclines, so they can't reproduce the sound. I'll just let it fail, and have it replaced under the 100k powertrain warranty.

Good luck with yours!

[the_one]

I have the same problem. Just bought my 04 tsx 6 speed with 48k miles and it makes the same noise, but i can get mine to do it at low rpms. Ill have to get this checked out.

[BeLowZeRo]

I have one new solution to get rid of this noises. Change your engine oil with 5W-50 viscosity or better. I know it cost alot, but at least i don't hear that scary noises again. In Australia, the dealer use 10W-30 on the accord euros. One day I was thinking, if the dealer said that sound was made because of the hotspot, there might be not enough oil to lubricate that certain part, or the oil is not effective enough to lubricate it. So i decided to raise the spec of the oil, not only it solve the problem, 5W-50 are good for your engine too (at least thats what they said).

[KiX]

I believe I have the exact same problem, it sounds horrible.. and it only happens once in a while, and if I really feather the clutch I can recreate the sound.

Anyhow, today I visited my local Acura dealer to have this checked. The technician could not create the sound during a test drive, so I took over and I was able to create the screaching sound a few times but he had no clue what it was. He "Guessed" that I needed a new clutch.. but i'm not going to replace an expensive part just cause of a feeling.

Also, they have never heard of this type of problem.. atleast the dealer I went to didn't.. Acura of North Toronto.

Not sure quite what to do at this point.. might bring it to a more experience mechanic to see if they can resolve this issue.