[Josh4x4e]

I drive a 2015 Honda Accord 4 cylinder with 136,000 miles.

After getting my oil changed, I was told that my vtc actuator needs to be replaced.

I was told that the top end of the engine isn’t getting enough oil during cold starts. Therefore, the actuator rattles until my oil pressure builds up, and oil enters the top half of the engine.

My car drives fine and doesn’t seem to be affected other than the noise on cold starts.

I found that If I cycle the key forward twice for a few seconds without starting the engine the vtc actuator wont rattle.

Most dealers are quoting around $2,000.00 to fix the issue.

I was wondering if replacing the vtc oil solenoid will fix the lack of oil on cold start issue and save me a lot of money?

How long can I drive my car with this problem?

What risk am I taking driving my car with this problem?

Thanks

 

[WiiMaster]

I can't say I've heard of this happening a lot on the 9th gen, but here it is. If you have the noise, yours has failed.

While people with this issue have driven for plenty of miles without an issue, you run the risk of the chain tensioner failing and the timing chain jumping out of time.

 

[dabruhh]

There's really no risk with having a VTC Actuator rattling. The pin inside the actuator is all gunked up, so it doesn't spring back to lock the actuator in as fast as before. The reason for the sound is the actuator bouncing back and forth before the pin locks, so yes, it may cause your chain to jump or it may damage your timing chain. It's a really common issue on CR-V's and Accord's with the 2.4 iVTEC engines, but yes you can try to replace the solenoid but it's most likely the actuator gunked up over the years.

 

[Ronch]

Sure it's not the timing chain tensioner making this noise?

Lots of threads about that noise so search for those. There was a Honda TSB covering all 4-cyl '15-'17 Accords for this tensioner issue.

Since you're out of warranty, they probably won't cover it, but you could ask Honda USA for some 'good-will' assistance. You'll have to be polite but persistant...

 

[dabruhh]

Sure it's not the timing chain tensioner making this noise?

Lots of threads about that noise so search for those. There was a Honda TSB covering all 4-cyl '15-'17 Accords for this tensioner issue.

Since you're out of warranty, they probably won't cover it, but you could ask Honda USA for some 'good-will' assistance. You'll have to be polite but persistant...

I believe it's a VTC Actuator because it only occurs on cold starts, similar to the CRV's and 8th gen Accord's. It seems that the tensioner is a continuous click, compared to the actuator only making the sound on cold starts.

 

[WiiMaster]

If you feel you have the skills you could DIY the job:

When I had mine done I managed to find a local dealership that was offering to do it + the valve cover gasket and spark plug tube seals for about $650 so I jumped on that offer immediately.

 

[Hudouc]

When I had mine done I managed to find a local dealership that was offering to do it + the valve cover gasket and spark plug tube seals for about $650 so I jumped on that offer immediately.

$2000 is WAY overpriced. Mine wanted $500 for labor plus parts, so about $50 more than yours. But I did it myself anyways.

 

[Rygrego]

You don't mention which state you're in. If your Accord has California emissions (which takes in several other states also) it is covered for 15 years or 150,000 miles. Otherwise you're out of luck. Federal emissions are 7/70,000

 

[Cepega]

Well, well, well the state known to cause cancer strikes again. It is quite outrageously not fair nor right that California gets the extended warranty while the rest of the states gets screwed.

 

[Rygrego]

Well, well, well the state known to cause cancer strikes again. It is quite outrageously not fair nor right that California gets the extended warranty while the rest of the states gets screwed.

HAHA , It's any state with California emissions. The states that accept California emissions standards are Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington, as well as the District of Columbia. These would all be covered under this warranty.

 

[Cepega]

The good old u s of a consists of a handful more than was listed. United we stand, my butt. This is a discrimination in its pure form. What a racket.

 

[Rygrego]

The good old u s of a consists of a handful more than was listed. United we stand, my butt. This is a discrimination in its pure form. What a racket.

Honda negotiated this warranty with these states in order to receive a PZEV rating. Any state can vote in California rules if they want.

 

[Kreymis]

Try the cam tensioner first. I had a cold start rattle on my 16 accord with 135k. Followed the tsb for this issue and replaced the tensioner. 3 bolts for the cover. 2 bolts for tensioner. Some Honda bond. Half hour job and about 70 bux in parts. Rattle is gone.


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[Ronch]

I believe it's a VTC Actuator because it only occurs on cold starts, similar to the CRV's and 8th gen Accord's. It seems that the tensioner is a continuous click, compared to the actuator only making the sound on cold starts.

Did you read the Honda TSB I linked?

Knocking or Clicking From Engine During Cold Startup <emphasis added>

SYMPTOM​

There is a knocking or clicking from the engine during cold startup. <emphasis added>​

Quite a few drivers have been told it's the VTC actuator, and spent piles of $$ getting it replaced but that didn't solve the problem. They only found out later that it was the tensioner noise issue.

@Josh4x4e - Your car, your $$, your decisions...

 

[WiiMaster]

Did you read the Honda TSB I linked?

Knocking or Clicking From Engine During Cold Startup <emphasis added>

SYMPTOM​

There is a knocking or clicking from the engine during cold startup. <emphasis added>​

Quite a few drivers have been told it's the VTC actuator, and spent piles of $$ getting it replaced but that didn't solve the problem. They only found out later that it was the tensioner noise issue.

@Josh4x4e - Your car, your $$, your decisions...

I don't think they meant to argue that the tensioner isn't during cold starts, though it was worded poorly. I believe they meant that the tensioner is a more constant rattle/knock while the actuator is only for a second or two.

 

[Ronch]

I don't think they meant to argue that the tensioner isn't during cold starts, though it was worded poorly. I believe they meant that the tensioner is a more constant rattle/knock while the actuator is only for a second or two.

Posts by @LibertyorDeath and others in this thread say the tensioner rattle lasts for ~1 sec or so on cold starts. And when LibertyorDeath replaced the tensioner, the noise was gone...

Can I guarantee that's the fix for @Josh4x4e? Of course not...!

Considering the cost difference between the two repairs, in light of Honda's tensioner TSB, does it make sense to do the expensive repair first? Even if a tensioner replacement doesn't solve the problem, it should only add a relatively small amount on top of the $2K estimate the stealership gave for the VTC job.

Worse, they won't care in the least if the VTC replacement doesn't solve the problem. They'll see it as just another opportunity to grab more money doing a tensioner replacement after they already did the VTC...

Like I said, @Josh4x4e - Your car, your $$, your decision...

 

[andrewtl96]

I would check the cam chain tensioner first. Those are pretty common to fail on the early years of the 9th gen, hence the TSB mentioned above. Heck, my car has 51k miles, and when it sits for more than 24hours it has a chain rattle for a split second. My next honda parts order I plan to order one, but I don't plan on changing it until it gets worse.

One way to tell if its the VTC actuator/sprocket making the noise is to let the engine cool over night and in the morning remove the valve cover. Its important to let the engine sit so that oil drains from the actuator and/or the timing chain tensioner.
If the VTC sprocket has failed, you can turn the intake cam freely (within reason) the few degrees it allows for variable cam timing.
If you can rotate the exhaust cam (which has a solid cam sprocket) or if the chain is easily moved, then that tells you its the timing chain stretched/elongated or that the tensioner is failing causing the chain to become loose.

 

[Josh4x4e]

You don't mention which state you're in. If your Accord has California emissions (which takes in several other states also) it is covered for 15 years or 150,000 miles. Otherwise you're out of luck. Federal emissions are 7/70,000

I'm in Texas.

 

[Josh4x4e]

Sure it's not the timing chain tensioner making this noise?

Lots of threads about that noise so search for those. There was a Honda TSB covering all 4-cyl '15-'17 Accords for this tensioner issue.

Since you're out of warranty, they probably won't cover it, but you could ask Honda USA for some 'good-will' assistance. You'll have to be polite but persistant...

Thanks, hopefully this is the problem.

 

[2Accordz]

As has been stated, the tensioner is what you should check first...
It's well known as a possible issue, in early 9th gens especially.
We've seen a few members who almost swore it WAS the actuator...and the replaced the chain tensioner and then, the noise disappeared.

It's a repair that most anyone can do with very simple tools, the kit...and some HondaBond.