My serpentine belt was recently replaced for causing noise. A piece had broken and was slapping against the engine.

The replacement of the belt has created a brand new rattling noise.
The mechanic thought the new noise was the tensioner and replaced it [OEM]. Noise still there. Mechanic says its a defect tensioner and replaced it under warranty. Noise is still there.

The noise only occurs when the car is in movement (revving the engine in park does not make it happen) and only when the gas pedal is pressed slightly to half way. If I gun it the noise disappears.

I've posted up a video and am hoping someone can give me some guidance on what this can be. The noise starts at :01 - stops at :12 and begins again at :37.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-L5...ature=youtu.be

 

Is it related to the A/C compressor? Try leaving the A/C off and see if it makes the same noise. Under load (gunning it) the compressor disengages.

Either way it doesn't sound like it needs fixing. Try turning on the radio.

 

Having the A/C on or off does not affect the noise.

It is a new to me 2009 with 95,000 miles on it. It received a perfect bill of health except for the serpentine belt/tensioner so I knocked the cost of that off the negotiated price and bought it as is. Given I've had the car for 2 weeks, the noise is REALLY annoying and worrying. I know very little about cars and keep thinking i'm going to end up stranding or with a $3,000 car bill. Maybe i'm just worrying too much Eh :-/

Is it possible the new pieces just need some time to settle in? That is my hope.

 

I'd take it by a Honda svc dept and pay for diagnosis. Could be lots of things, could be nothing...

 

Definitely doesn't sound normal.

My diagnosis would be belt tensioner, but....

Did he try a different belt along with the tensioner or just used the same belt with the new tensioner? That seems like the next logical step.

 

Have you checked the converter shield on the exhaust system to see if it is rattling?

 

Too easy a fix. Sounds possible though.

 

Does the noise occur from a complete stop you accelerate?

I think you are automatic, try holding the brakes hard, and SLOWly adding throttle until you feel the car tug. Did the noise occur at all? dont try that alot, it heats the tranny up quite a bit. Once to test is plenty

 

Really sounds like a heat shield. Otherwise it's just as noisy as our '09. Put it in neutral and experiment with different RPMs. If the noise appears in a particular range of RPMs but not in others, it's probably a heat shield. If it only happens when the car is in motion, it's something else.

I remember sweating every automobile symptom when I was a broke college student. I was sure every new noise was going to be a $100 repair. Don't blame you a bit for worrying about it.

Cheers and good luck.

 

I took the car to the Honda dealership and they determined it was the tensioner. I was already in for $110 diagnostic fee so I gave the go ahead on a tensioner/serpintine belt replacement with Honda Parts for $375 with diagnostic fee waived.

I really liked the original mechanic, but I think i got screwed here. The original tensioner was defective and the warranty tensioner was defective? What are the odds. To top it off, it turns out he was not using Honda parts to my surprise. I really didnt want to cough up the cash, but at $265 it was not worth the hassle of chasing him down for another shitty warranty replacement.

-Brian

 

Thanks for posting the update. Good to know it may be sensitive to aftermarket tensioners.

 

I've decided that oem parts are worth the money every time. I've spent countless dollars on aftermarket, supposedly superior parts only to be disappointed about 80% of the time.