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The infamous clunking noise in Front End....

29569 Views 28 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  Eva
Hi all, I have a never ending problem with my 2005 RSX... Let me tell you a little about my history with this problem..

I bought my 2005 Acura RSX brand new from the dealership here in Marietta, Georgia on 3-11-05 and on 5-5-05 I started hearing this clunking noise / popping noise when ever I would drive over uneven payment, gravel road, pot holes (I try to avoid them). speed humps, etc.. Sometimes it would sound like the front end was about to come out.

It is so hard to describe what it sounds like, It's like a dull pop or a banging noise..

Anyway I took it back to the dealership and they replaced the Struts. That seemed to help for about 2 months and then it started back again. Took it back to the dealership and told them and they replaced the springs. That helped for about 3 months and it started back again. I then took it back to the dealership and they replaced the struts, rack and pinion, springs, pretty much the whole front end. When I got it back it seemed fine and then after about 1.5 years it slowly started back popping / clunking again...

I have now taken my RSX back and forth to the dealership a total of 7 to 8 times with this same problem yet they can't seem to fix it so it will not happen again.

I pretty much just gave up and have been dealing with the sound. I have just been playing my radio loud so I don't hear it, but about 2 months ago I noticed that when looking at my car from the back you could see that it was leaning to left (the left side of my car was sitting lower than the right side, looking at it from the back). I then took a look at the front wheels and noticed that the gap in between the top of the tire and the wheel well were different between the left and right. The left side was sitting lower than the right about 1/2 inch. So I took it back to the dealer this past Monday and they said that my warranty is now out and it will cost me 300 bucks to replace the spring in the left strut.. I am now arguing with them and waiting on there response... This has been a night mare......


Also I have another problem and I hope someone can help me..
When ever I come to a stop I get a loud clicking/pop noise coming from the gear selector sometimes it's so loud you can hear it over the radio. It is driving me crazy. Sitting in traffic is the worse. I drive, then stop and it clicks.. Repeat that about 200 times a day while sitting in traffic and see how normal you are. I tried to get the dealership to fix it but they told me that it was normal.. I told them how can it be normal if it didn't do it during the first 3 years I had the car. They pulled a old RSX from the lot and drove me in it and it did the same thing.. they said "see it's normal". I was thinking yea right, this one is just as messed up as mine (the dealerships are sneaky like that). If anyone knows what this could be can you tell me how to fix it?

Also does anyone know how to disable the seat belt warning beep? That drives me crazy also...
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The only way to legally disable the seatbelt warning beep is to wear your seatbelt.

As far as the popping noise, that is really odd. Are there any other symptoms associated with the noise, like the car pulling to the left or right, or a violent vibration??
At this point I'd just stop dealing with the stealership, I fucking hate them. I'd go aftermarket suspension to solve the first problem.

The second problem, it only happens when you're coming to a stop? Brakes on or brakes off? Clutch engaged or disengaged? In gear or out of gear?
The only way to legally disable the seatbelt warning beep is to wear your seatbelt.
What are the illegal ways?
The illegal ways aren't to be discussed here, we can be held liable :(
Well..

Well, I wear my seat belt all the time, while driving... It just bugs me cause it doesn't give me enough time to get it fastened sometimes. :)

The bangin' in the gear selector happens when I come to a complete stop with it in drive. Man, it is driving me crazy!!! It's sounds like a metal clicking sound or something tapping every time I come to a complete stop. It's coming from inside the car, inside the long plastic piece that is in between the seats where the gear selector it. I have an automatic with sport shifter.
Actually, I don't really need to disable the seat belt warning, If I could find the speaker and muffle it so it wasn't so loud that would be fine.

Anyone know where the speaker is for the seat belt warning beep? :)
The illegal ways aren't to be discussed here, we can be held liable :(
Actually, I'm skeptical it's even illegal to disable the warning beep. It's illegal to not wear your seatbelt, but I don't know of any law requiring an annoying sound associated with an unplugged buckle.

RSX46 said:
Anyone know where the speaker is for the seat belt warning beep?
I'm not sure where it is, but it sounds like it comes from the dash - like, behind the guages or something. I'll see if I can find it this weekend if I have time.
Cool..

At this point I'd just stop dealing with the stealership, I fucking hate them. I'd go aftermarket suspension to solve the first problem.

The second problem, it only happens when you're coming to a stop? Brakes on or brakes off? Clutch engaged or disengaged? In gear or out of gear?
Yea, I hate the stealership now! What and where would you suggest I get new suspension parts for my car? You know anyone in Georgia that can work on my RSX? :)
I'm not sure of a shop, Chuck (slynky) may be able to help you he's in Atlanta and has springs I believe. Dean (C25a1guy) can get you parts cheap.
I'm not sure of a shop, Chuck (slynky) may be able to help you he's in Atlanta and has springs I believe. Dean (C25a1guy) can get you parts cheap.
And Dean is a great source of guidance and knowledge. He's a scary looking guy, but he really likes helping people!
Hey, I got my car back from the dealership this past Saturday and they said all they had to do was replace a plate that the springs sit on in the front Struts.. on the ride into work today it seemed a lot better! My car has not rode that quite and smooth in a LONG TIME!...

Let's see how long it holds up and how it drives during this week.. They are doing all kinds of Roadwork (patchwork) around here so there are a lot of places that I know made my car pop, bang and clunk... I will test it over the next few days...
I wish I could figure out what is banking and clicking in the gear shifter.. that is driving me crazy.. grrrrrrrr....
Hey, while I have you all on here I got another quick question.

What is the best stuff to use to make the weather stripping around the doors, hood, etc soft and subtle again?.. I thought about using armor-all but I thought I would ask first. I used to use silicon but I can't find it at any stores anymore. Also I would like to use something to make the hoses and plastic pieces around the engine bay soft and subtle again.. everything is drying out and cracking. I only have 40,000 miles on it... the weather is awful here in Georgia... :)
I use Meguiar's NXT Generation Tech Protect. It does wonders!
Hey, while I have you all on here I got another quick question.

What is the best stuff to use to make the weather stripping around the doors, hood, etc soft and subtle again?.. I thought about using armor-all but I thought I would ask first. I used to use silicon but I can't find it at any stores anymore. Also I would like to use something to make the hoses and plastic pieces around the engine bay soft and subtle again.. everything is drying out and cracking. I only have 40,000 miles on it... the weather is awful here in Georgia... :)
Never, ever, EVER, use armor all on a car. Their products do way more damage than good over time. Any quality rubber conditioner will be fine to use on the weather stripping. Mothers or Meguires are both good over the counter brands to use. Just make sure after you treat the stripping you wipe off the extra conditioner with a soft microfiber towel so that you don't end up with the leftover all on your door jambs. If your serious about it I would also treat the stuff once a month or more so it doesn't start to degrade. It may sound like a pain in the ass but its preventive maintenance that will pay off in the long run and it doesn't take much time.
Thanks for the reply man.. Yea, I hate armor all...
Plus, when your car is cleaning having deep black trim just makes it look that much cleaner... same reason you shine the tires :)
Well after driving my car for two days now the left front popping seems to be gone... the right is now popping, it really pops when I go over a patch in the road or where a bridge connects with the road. Also when the dealership had my car I called them two different times to tell them that if they do an alignment to make sure they get my steering wheel straight. well guess what? It's off about 15 degrees... while driving if I turn my steering wheel to where it is straight the car goes off to the right... grrr... man, I have had it with them.. do not go to Nalley Acura on Cobb Parkway in Georgia... they have the worst mechanics there!!!
:lol: add their name to the ever growing list.
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