NEW 2009 Euro Luxury Auto Pinging

[kenske]

i went to a mechanic today and he told me the pinging noise is due to the fact that the octane levels in the petrol or whatever were too low. so he told me to go fill up using premium unleaded or the more expensive "good" petrol. I'm gonna try this out when i fill up my car 2moro, hopefully there wont be any pinging anymore... im driving an EK1 99 so might be a different problem... lol

[snajper]

One thing that bothers me is that I am using 98RON instead of 91RON (recommended for NON euro accord) and it still pings.

[Bobjones]

I have taken the car to our workshop that builds our race engines etc and they believe that it is not pinging but more likely to be the timing chain tensioner, which on Honda's is hydraulic. It happens more often than not on take off due to the timing chain going from a "slack" state at idle, to tensioned state upon acceleration, and possibly due to light acceleration there is insufficient oil pressure to have the tensioner work correctly. This is also the case in reverse when you accelerate, and then the transmission in the auto's changes up a gear when you have backed off from acceleration and the chain goes from a "tight or tensioned state" to a relatively "slack" state as the engine revs drop. Additionally, upon HIGH rpm, possibly due to a fault in the tensioner, it is unable to maintain tension at high RPM thus resulting in a similar but not as constant or audible at higher RPM.

Now please remember this is from a knowledgable source, but must disclaim that this is only from driving around in the car, as in 3 mechanics all in the car and taking turns driving, the engine has not been touched, in fact the bonnet was only opened to see if there was a timing chain only cover which there is not. Due to the way Honda are playing games no one but Honda will touch anything under the bonnet due to their fine print with all warranties.

I am going into Honda Service tomorrow to get the parcel shelf re-fixed, despite being inconvenienced again I cannot get a loan car cause they are all booked, so more time off and not making money, in the end this car has cost me alot of time and mental anguish.

EDIT: the car has ALWAYS been run on 98 Ron either BP Ultimate or Shell V-Power, but I fail to see why I should run this when it was "designed" for 95-Ron, piss poor effort by Honda and I have vowed never to buy another Honda product, not even a generator...

[stik79]

hmmm my parcel shelf has developed a combination of what sounds like someone rapidly flicking it to creaking under body load :S strangely if it gets hot enough it wont do it so I assume a spot weld has come appart somewhere and with heat the two pieces of metal wherever they are expand to the point where they fit together again :S

Same thing bob?

I agree with the timing belt tensioner theory as it sounds to me to come from the front of the engine (I've only caught it 2-3 times in 5000k's now :S) (although can't figure why it would apply to the auto only - unless the extra hydraulic load of an auto affects the pressure in that tensioner?)

[Bobjones]

Yeah rear parcel shelf if a loose spot weld, they fixed it once...and low and behold it is back. Its a reported problem I believe and well known, but my dealer needed to but someone in the boot to find it for about half an hour they say...but it took me all of 5 minutes...if you look up technician as they like to be called, the subtext is "unqualified monkeys" which most of them are...

[lovesil]

Bobjones: If your source's correct, a change of timing chain tensioner will fix the problem?? Can this be advised to Honda for them to take it into consideration??

[OZEuromania]

I got a call from Ken, Honda Australia, last Friday, I think several of you also contacted him before, and was told there will be a fix coming late of Feb.

He also told me my dealer will call me by then and arrange it.

So don't worry guys, they finally come to a solution and our euro is getting perfect.....

[Bobjones]

The problem "lovesil" is that this has NOT been diagnosed by pulling anything off the engine and has only been done by listening and driving the car by someone with a minimum of 10 years experience building race engines (that include Honda engines). Thus it is neither definitive nor 100% possible that this is the only cause and thus a 100% solution is unkown. I just took it to them to reduce my fear of the engine ceasing at highway speeds resulting in either an accident or destruction of the entire driveline whcih could result in injury.

You can say what you want to Honda, the dealers especially have NFI, but until THEY diagnose the problem and THEY come up with a solution, there will not be one and YOU have to sit there an live with it. Maybe they should hire some of those F1 guys that are not doing much to fix it or atleast help with quality control???

[Bobjones]

OZEuromania, do you have this in writing, as unfortunately I will believe it when I see it. Late February would be fine, but I have my doubts...

[OZEuromania]

OZEuromania, do you have this in writing, as unfortunately I will believe it when I see it. Late February would be fine, but I have my doubts...

Yes, I agree, but I think you can give him a call if you want it in writing. I probably would do that as well when I get back from leave overseas...

[bk212]

Guys, fyi I have had a CU2 auto Lux since July 2008 and currently have approx 14,000km on the clock. I have been to Honda several times with this noise. Same response as others - there is a noise, Honda are aware of it and are working on a fix. I have emailed and lettered Honda Australia today to ensure I am on their radar if and when a fix arrives. I copied it to the service manager at Honda North, who have had a few attempts at fixing it. Will let you know if I get any response.

[kenske]

Hey, i went to shell and filled up a full tank of "V-power" type fuel and the pinging noise is almost all gone (had a little bit at 5th gear). Might have to let the petrol filter all the way through for it to be pingless.

"unleaded petrol only" my a55