‘16 Honda Pilot, 92k miles, intermittent start up grinding noise

[parshisa]

Not a new development, but finally loud enough to raise a concern. Randomly, I hear a 0.5-0.7 sec long grinding noise upon start up. Sometimes it grinds after car say for a while, sometimes after driving it. But very randomly and not often, hence I can’t catch it on video.

My car “knowledge” makes me think it has to do something with the starter/ starter gear. Folks who work on Hondas, have yall ever come across such issue?

Anyway, hoping for any feedback. I’m not a primary driver of said pilot, so chances of getting the grinding noise on video are pretty slim.

 

[Leo99]

My guess would be the starter is not fully retracting. This video shows how a starter works. Sometimes that little gear in the starter stays extended and the fly wheel contacts it making that grinding noise.

 

[Glenda W.]

Hard to tell without hearing it. Has the timing belt service been done? If the noise is from the front cover the actuator can make some interesting noises before it goes. I wouldn’t wait much longer if it’s original.

 

[parshisa]

Hard to tell without hearing it. Has the timing belt service been done? If the noise is from the front cover the actuator can make some interesting noises before it goes. I wouldn’t wait much longer if it’s original.

I’ve done the timing belt 4k mile ago. And noise was present before..

 

[Dino01]

The 8th gen Accords are famous for this, especially the v6, basically the starter sticks on for a second or two after the engine starts.

I believe it was a manufacturer problem with the factory starter, easily resolved with a new Denso or OEM starter. I’m not sure if this applies to your gen Pilot, but wouldn’t be surprised as I believe it also affects the gen Pilot prior to yours

 

[Glenda W.]

I’ve done the timing belt 4k mile ago. And noise was present before..

Perfect, that’s covered. I recently did my daughter’s Acura RDX. The actuator was making a strange fluttering noise on cold starts. I found it was binding.

 

[parshisa]

The 8th gen Accords are famous for this, especially the v6, basically the starter sticks on for a second or two after the engine starts.

I believe it was a manufacturer problem with the factory starter, easily resolved with a new Denso or OEM starter. I’m not sure if this applies to your gen Pilot, but wouldn’t be surprised as I believe it also affects the gen Pilot prior to yours

Is that a critical defect? I know it’s been doing that for at least 20-30k, so I’m not sure if will progressively get worse or affect any other components? Do I absolutely need to change it immediately (assuming it is the starter that’s causing it) or let it ride?

 

[Dino01]

Is that a critical defect? I know it’s been doing that for at least 20-30k, so I’m not sure if will progressively get worse or affect any other components? Do I absolutely need to change it immediately (assuming it is the starter that’s causing it) or let it ride?

Typically no, at least on the gen 8 Accord that I’m most familiar with , but I suppose it could become more of an issue as time goes on and may stop working, although it isn’t something I’ve heard of.

If that is your issue, avoid auto part store starters, they don’t play well with Hondas for whatever reason. OEM from a dealer or Denso (rockauto, partsgeek, etc. but not Scamazon or fleabay) seem to be the only safe bets

 

[The Critic]

Get creative and take advantage of this.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2023/MC-10229676-0001.pdf