Cold Start "Scraping/Rattle" Noise Grinding Cold Start - VTC Actuator Merged Threads

mno86

mno86

Well-Known Member
83
33
Minneapolis, MN
Vehicle Model
Honda Civic Si
Body Style
Coupe
It has been a brutally cold winter in Minneapolis (worse than normal). While I park underground in a heated garage, my car is outside in the elements during the day. A few weeks ago, I went to start the car after it was out in the cold for awhile, and it make a rattling/scraping noise for a few moments as the engine turned off. The car always turns over like a champ, but that rattle had me....rattled.

Our sister forum has a thread dedicated to this, and someone posted a video. This is what it sounds like:


While my first thought was "Okay, well its -20 zero without the windchill. This is normal", none of my other Civics ever did this - including an outdoor kept 2012 Si coupe. Another user had said the TSX has a bulletin for this very problem, and its the VTC actuator...whatever that is.

Anyone else experiencing this?
 
mno86

mno86

Well-Known Member
83
33
Minneapolis, MN
Vehicle Model
Honda Civic Si
Body Style
Coupe
Thanks for that information - that clarified what the VTC is and some others that are having issues with it. I have the 120,000 mile extended warranty on my Si so I'm not terribly worried, but it does concern me that my car only has 10,000 miles on it and it's doing this.

It has only done it twice to me, and both times the temperatures were colder than the surface of Mars (no, literally) in Minnesota, but I'm scared it's going to cause some damage. I wonder what my options are.
 
Dennis Rockholt

Dennis Rockholt

9k Alll Day
1,952
869
Franklin, TN
Vehicle Model
370Z Fairlady aka "Nismo"
Body Style
Coupe
same exact happens to me but only happens from time to time. shouldnt be too big of an issue I dont think
 
SI_2

SI_2

Active Member
1
1
Vehicle Model
Civic Si
Body Style
Coupe
HI Everyone,

First post for me in this forum - it's going to be great to get to know this community. Anyhow - here is a very good video of the rattle in my 2013 Si: View: http://youtu.be/UdLmtiNrq-U

I had my local dealership look at it and confirm it was the VTC actuator.

As it's warmed up here in Michigan, I have only had the problem maybe 25% of the cold starts. It's my understanding this is common with CR-V's as well; this is a design issue that Honda needs to address. I'll be following up with Honda in the Spring to see if a resolution is available.
 
Monk

Monk

Well-Known Member
4,218
2,196
SW Virginia
Vehicle Model
2012 Civic EX
Body Style
Coupe FG3:ASM
Sounds like the fan belt to me, doesn't mean it is though.........

EDIT: I don't why I said that....... What I meant was, it sounds like the fan is hitting the fan shroud, or something like that. which could mean there's a loose motor mount....... but when the motor is moved within it's parameters it's going a little too much, and the fan is hitting.
 
Last edited:
njhustler

njhustler

Well-Known Member
385
165
New Jersey
Vehicle Model
Civic Si
Body Style
Sedan
SI_2 said:
HI Everyone,

First post for me in this forum - it's going to be great to get to know this community. Anyhow - here is a very good video of the rattle in my 2013 Si: View: http://youtu.be/UdLmtiNrq-U

I had my local dealership look at it and confirm it was the VTC actuator.

As it's warmed up here in Michigan, I have only had the problem maybe 25% of the cold starts. It's my understanding this is common with CR-V's as well; this is a design issue that Honda needs to address. I'll be following up with Honda in the Spring to see if a resolution is available.
Click to expand...
That noise was very clear , nice job capturing it. Ive had it happen to me once and it was really cold out. It hasnt happened again so im not too worried. Keep up posted on the follow up.
 
Dennis Rockholt

Dennis Rockholt

9k Alll Day
1,952
869
Franklin, TN
Vehicle Model
370Z Fairlady aka "Nismo"
Body Style
Coupe
@Scornio its not a big deal, just a heat shield rattling. And if you have an aftermarket exhaust, it prolly wont even do it
 
Dennis Rockholt

Dennis Rockholt

9k Alll Day
1,952
869
Franklin, TN
Vehicle Model
370Z Fairlady aka "Nismo"
Body Style
Coupe
Scornio said:
So it's not the VTC actuator?
Click to expand...

Yeah it could be that too, but either way probably not really any solution for it that I have seen
 
Scuderi

Scuderi

Well-Known Member
382
93
Maryland
Vehicle Model
Civic Si
Body Style
Coupe
Recently I have been noticing a light kind of grind noise when i start my Si in the morning. It makes a grinding sound when the starting rev (for lack of a better turn) is at its peak. I have only noticed this on cold starts and have not noticed it on warm starts. Any advice would be great. Thanks a lot!
 
Michal006

Michal006

Well-Known Member
9,565
4,674
PA
Vehicle Model
Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4 6MT
Body Style
Access Cab
Not sure if I have the same grind noise, but sometimes when I start my car I can hear some noise. It's usually in the morning and then I don't hear that noise for the rest of the day. It doesn't happen everyday only once in a while.
 
Scuderi

Scuderi

Well-Known Member
382
93
Maryland
Vehicle Model
Civic Si
Body Style
Coupe
Mines pretty much every cold start. If it happens tomorrow morning (again) should I take it to the dealer?
 
Michal006

Michal006

Well-Known Member
9,565
4,674
PA
Vehicle Model
Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4 6MT
Body Style
Access Cab
I will definitely take mine and ask them to replace the starter. Our cars are still under warranty.
 
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