Hey,
I have a 2009 Honda Pilot 160k miles. Makes some sort of rattling sound upon cold start and lasts for about 20 mins, then becomes faint. What could it be??
@rsharpe
You mean the engine rattles? As in, the rattle speeds up when pressing the gas pedal while in park?
It does speed up when I accelerate. I tried following the rattle. Sounds like it's around the left side/middle of the engine.
Does it have the correct grade of oil, and is it topped up?
@mountainmanjoe
yeah 5w-20 oil and it is topped when i last changed my oil, which was late sept.
Most likely timing belt tensioner.
@mrrangerzr1
Good idea. Should be quick & easy to check this visually. However, why would it stop when warmed up?
Once the tensioner warms up, it finally reaches the point where it starts putting tension on the belt again.
The cold start sound is your timing belt flapping around...and these are interference engines.
Usually goes away after a min or so, either way, must be addressed soon or you'll need to pull the heads if the belt jumps few tooths, takes only 2-3 tooths off.
@mrrangerzr1
Speaking of tensioner, I recently changed the serpentine belt back in sept. However, the tensioner nut broke off the tensioner while putting the new belt on. So I definitely need to change it. I'm curious how the belt can be removed. Would I need another new belt when the time comes to replace the tensioner?
Just remove the power steering pump.
Make sure all of the bolts on the tensioner are torqued to specs, and SLOWLY apply pressure when removing/installing the belt. Doing this will prevent anything from breaking.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cctTXIvuFw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgIUMTcsi_Q
@mrrangerzr1
Alright cool. Thank you!
Tensioner? Yes. Check that first!
Btw, have you had a valve adjustment ever done on your Pilot? Honda J35 series engines experience excessive camshaft wear, especially if valves are not regularly adjusted. Without adjustment, … after about 100K kilometres a metallic sound begins to emerge. It is a sign of camshaft wearing.
Anyway, a valve adjustment on those engines is not easy, … but it is needed to keep engine quiet. It needs to be done on cold engine, rather set on loose side of the spec each time, … and often - oh, about 50k kilometres will keep your engine healthy for a long time.
F.S.
@figmund-sreud
No i never had one done before. How do I know if I have a J35 series engine?
Pilots from ‘09 to ‘15 all have J35Z4 - VCM engines. There must be a label there somewhere. Usually on emission compliance sticker on the inside of the under-hood, I think. Have a look. There is also a label or a stamp on the engine block itself. Don’t know precisely it’s location, …
Anyway, … I believe all Honda V6 engines since ~1996 are J-type, … and should have valves adjusted routinely.
Best,
F.S.