Cold Start Rattle on MK3 Sport - VTC Actuator?

[madasafish]

Sound too faint.

[Jocko]

Doesn't sound faint to me. Sounds worrying. I take it, it is the half-second of rattling before the engine settles down.

[embee]

Not too sure what to make of the recording, could it be the starter not disengaging cleanly?

[Jocko]

could it be the starter not disengaging cleanly?

That is a distinct possibility.

[SuperCNJ]

Doesn't sound faint to me. Sounds worrying. I take it, it is the half-second of rattling before the engine settles down.

Yep that's it. It never used to do this and suddenly started to do it a few weeks ago. But over the past week it hasn't been doing it much which was why I struggled to capture it on video.

Hmm, I may have to bite the bullet and take it into Honda.

[degzi]

Unfortunately to my ears it does sound like the vtc actuator fault.

Hope you get it sorted.

[Fumle]

Same thing going on with my Jazz, done 140000km.

Its the VTC.
The dealer has seen 10-14 of them. Both in Jazz and HR-V’s.

The sound disapears that split second oil pressure is build up, so it makes it difficult to diagnostic for a non mechanic

[UKjim]

Ok, it's taken a little while but I've managed to get a video of the noise on start-up. Let me know your thoughts, please! Thank you

Could you take it to an Independent Honda specialist?


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[jazzaro]

Ok, it's taken a little while but I've managed to get a video of the noise on start-up. Let me know your thoughts, please! Thank you

Probably VTC.
In prevoius posts I talked about electric VTC but I didn't understand your engine is a 1.5: the electric VTC fits only in the 1.3, the 1.5 has an oil pressure operated vtc so IMHO the issue is there, if oil filter and VTEC electric valves are ok.

[madasafish]

Same thing going on with my Jazz, done 140000km.

Its the VTC.
The dealer has seen 10-14 of them. Both in Jazz and HR-V’s.

The sound disapears that split second oil pressure is build up, so it makes it difficult to diagnostic for a non mechanic

Wrong grade oil (Check)
or Incorrect non Honda oil filter allowing oil to drain out when engine stopped (Check)
or
Worn engine: possibly use thicker oil  but only a temporary measure
Or  just live with it

[Wilmo]

Would hope the engine is not worn as he says it's only done 24000 miles!

Ours has done just over 30k and we are not getting this noise.

[jazzaro]

Would hope the engine is not worn as he says it's only done 24000 miles!

Ours has done just over 30k and we are not getting this noise.

I agree.
The issue is in the VTC actuator or in the its oil feed line.  Both parts must be checked, because the VTC could be out of service because of the oil feeding is not ok: I remember many Renault 1.6 16v VTC actuators broken because people used to fit a wrong oil filter, the one for the 1.6 8v that was good for the 8V engine WITHOUT vtc, not for the 16v due a different oil pressure condition and a no backflow valve. The problem was both filters could be screwed in both engines, even if the 16v must not use the one of the 8V.

[SuperCNJ]

Thanks for your reply guys. We're actually due a service at the end of next month so will get the honda mechanic to take a look at the same time.

The car has only ever been serviced at Honda dealerships so there shouldn't be an issue with using the incorrect oil or filter. Strange this has happened at such low mileage.

We have been using supermarket fuels though, could that have had an effect on it? I can't think of anything else?!

[Fumle]

Same thing going on with my Jazz, done 140000km.

Its the VTC.
The dealer has seen 10-14 of them. Both in Jazz and HR-V’s.

The sound disapears that split second oil pressure is build up, so it makes it difficult to diagnostic for a non mechanic

Wrong grade oil (Check)
or Incorrect non Honda oil filter allowing oil to drain out when engine stopped (Check)
or
Worn engine: possibly use thicker oil  but only a temporary measure
Or  just live with it

Or simply just a failure in construction of engine after 5 years of full Authentic Honda Service.

And yes, my local Honda Service manager are fully reliable.

In The US these problems have gone all the way to court , so i doubt my problems are due to anything connected to a bad service schedule.

[Jameson]

To all the videos in this thread - the VTC Actuator is the cause of the noise and requires replacement. A very common issue on the 1.5lt, be it a Jazz or the HR-V.