2.0

hardly worth mentioning
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
89,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. not sure (1 reports)
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problem #1

Apr 302009

Accord EX W/NAV 3.5L V6

  • Automatic transmission
  • 89,000 miles

When starting from cold, after a few seconds the engine begins a ticking sound. This goes away after about 45 seconds, apparently as the oil begins circulating.

Dealer says this is "piston slap" and is caused by oil not lubricating the rings for the first few seconds after starting. The pistons "slap" from side to side until there is a cushion of oil in the cylinder.

Honda says this is perfectly normal, offers no other explanation, and sent me on my way.

Seems to me that any kind of "slapping" noise in a cold engine is not a good thing and will diminish the life of the vehicle.

Anybody else have anything like this happen? And what was the result?

- Jonathan R., Mount Vernon, IA, US