I own 2 Fits. 2011 CVT, ignition key start. 2015 CVT, push button start. Never a problem with the key start. Intermittent (grinding starter) noises with the 2015 push button start feature. Cold weather, freezing weather, cool weather. Makes no difference. With all the reported problems here on FitFreak and Honda has no clue? Has anyone ever heard the starter noise on a 2013 or older Fit?

 

If it does, I know where to get those o-rings

 

I have the same noise as well. I live in Charleston, so it's never really that cold here. Have been noticing it maybe every other day lately.

I notice the CRV video above now has the resolution in the comments if you click the link.

Seems like the VTC actuator is the issue. I will mention to my dealer the next time it is in.

 

Someone smarter than me please figure out a way to crank the engine over without the fuel injectors operating, maybe a momentary push-button to hold down during a cold-start.
If a few owners with frequent noisy starts try it out and it works, then we'll have a work-around to flog Honda with.

Btw, the new 1.5T Civic has TWO vtc actuators, good luck to them!

 

I live in Pennsylvania, and originally, my Fit was only making this noise upon start-up when it was very cold outside. However, now that the temps have warmed up, it's even making the noise when it's warm outside. I'm calling my dealer today. Ugh, 4th trip back to the dealer for issues!

 

I dropped my car off at the dealer this morning to have this issue fixed on my Fit. Although they were familiar with this issue on the CRV and 4-cylinder Accord, they told me that in their experience, it hasn't yet been an issue on the Fit. I hate leaving my car at the dealer. . . don't trust them and I'm expecting to get the car back all grimy, fingered up, scratched, etc. (sorry, just been my experience with dealer/garage service). Grrrrrr.

 

My 2007 Fit did this for a couple years when it was new (circa 2006-2008).

Then the sound disappeared for about 8 years (2008-2016, approximately).

2 months ago (February 2016) it started making the sound again on cold starts.

 

Well, the dealer had the car for 2 days, but it wouldn't make the noise for them (of course it wouldn't! LOL). So, they couldn't/wouldn't go any further with the car. So all that I got back was the car, plus some greasy finger and dirty foot print. It always amazes me how you take in a spotless car for service, and they grime it all up and that's okay with them. Anyway, the service guy said to bring it back if the noise continues. It definitely had the issue more when it was cold outside, so I told him I suppose I'd see him in the fall. He said that if it is the cam actuator gear assembly, there is no long-term harmful side effects caused by this issue/noise. He also said that there is a service bulletin out there on the cam actuator gear for the CRV and Accord, but none yet for the Fit. He said that I was the first to complain of this issue on the 3rd generation Fit. And so that saga goes!

 

I just went to the local Indy dealer 2 days ago with the exact same issue that everyone else in this thread has said. I told the mechanic that I thought it could be a VTC issue. Lucky for me he could replicate it and said he agrees its the VTC actuator and will replace it. I'm just hoping the issue stays away.

 

My dealer had my car for 2 days and they couldn't replicate the noise, so they wouldn't fix it. The temps were in the 70's when I had the car at the dealer. However, the temps dipped back down here in Philly to the 40's and 50's for the past few days and the noise has returned. In fact, I had a friend in the car yesterday morning and they asked "what was that noise?" Now I just have to convince the dealer! Grrrrr.

 

This morning someone started up their car and I heard the exact same rattle start-up noises that I have. I frantically looked around to see who it is. Not a 2015 Fit, but a 2010 Toyota Corolla. My buddy's Matrix does the same thing, albeit much shorter rattle. Now I feel good; Honda is not the only one with VTC issues on the intake cam. 35k miles on my Fit; Looks like I will live like this from now on.

 

I have a CVT EX with no push button, and in Canada, and its like middle of summer right now and fairly warm, and its actually happening MORE to me now than in the winter.. so i'm not convinced its a temp issue nor is it a push button issue. but I had a civic hybrid before this fit and never had such an issue. so ya.. I dunno what it is.. maybe that VTC thing some people are talking about. but getting the dealer to fix anything is just painful when stuff cannot be reproduced reliably...

 

Did this end up solving the issue?

 

Just wanted to chime in with a bit of info from a different vehicle world.

In Ford's, the timing chain rattle on start up is usually traced to either a non-Ford oil filter or people using heavier than the recommended 5w20 oil. Prolonged use of non-Ford oil filters have lead to permanent problems with the timing chain assembly in some cases.

The factory filters have an anti drain back valve that keeps the tensioners in their forward position so that there is not slack in the chain on cold start. Many of the aftermarket filters lack a proper anti drain back valve.

That is not to say that all Ford's are solved by using the Ford filter and I'm sure that's true for Honda as well. Things can break regardless.

If you don't have a Honda filter with the correct spec'd oil viscosity, I suggest trying that first. I also highly recommend a full synthetic oil. Your car will thank you.

 

I do appreciate the info and insight from another brand, but that definitely isn't the case for me. I've always taken my car to the dealer for oil changes and now have had to deal with it twice (the noise came back after replacing the VTC actuator). It's sounding really ugly now, but I don't want to bring it back to the dealer if they're just gonna do the same thing. I'm not about to pay for another band-aid fix.

 

Update at 42k miles: rattles still coming on strong during cold starts, regardless of weather. They happen pretty much every single cold start. Warm starts are perfect, with no rattle whatsoever. Car has to sit for a while to hear the rattles. Engine runs strong with no issues. Oil consumption is about 0.5 quart every 7k miles. Fuel consumption between 30 to 35mpg depending on how I drive. It looks like there's no remedy for this, unless Honda releases a re-designed VTA to specifically address this issue.

 

We have noticed the Rattle in the last few months. Its hard to remember when it first started. However it has happened multiple times since I switched to a Purolator PureOne oil filter, Mobile1 0-20. So on the next oil change I'll try a Honda Genuine filter and see if it makes a difference. It just did it again yesterday, and it was over 80 degrees F in my garage...

 

Had my 2015 Fit into the dealer yesterday and we discussed the VTC actuator rattle. I had known that, after many years, Honda finally redesigned the actuator for the CRVs and Accords that had the same problem. The service rep advised me that the new design actuator was also used in the Fit. Even better - the dealer was able to hear the rattle upon start up after leaving it there over night and has replaced my actuator with one of the new design. I promise an update here if the problem returns. Otherwise I am considering the problem resolved.

 

hmm i have the SAME rattle on starup sometimes too, thought it was the starter, sounds exactly like the video...

 

update at 78k miles: very cold starts [i.e. below -10 celsius / 14 for US folks] have no rattle or almost no rattle (guessing due to quick cooldowns). Otherwise rattles are usual business, with engine running very well as per usual deal.

Engine starts extremely easily in very cold temps, almost no difference from summer. Using 0w20 edge ep. But the motor sounds like a tractor for the 1st 5 mins of driving if windchill is below -20 celsius/ 0 US degrees. So I try to take it easy for the 1st five mins.