Many possible causes for Accord's ticking sound

Q: I have a 2003 Honda Accord with a six-cylinder engine with 52,000 km on it. When I start it up for the first time each day there is a ticking noise.

We have mentioned it to the dealership and were told that it is reading the key. The noise seems to be getting louder and longer; the ticking goes on for quite a while.

Technician Tom Zekveld replies:

I find the "reading the key" explanation confusing. Security systems "read the key" the instant the key is inserted and turned, not after the vehicle is started.

There are numerous items which can cause a ticking noise: a powertrain mechanical noise, an exhaust leak at the manifold, or any electrical component containing moving parts, and many others.

From your description, I think you are hearing an electrical noise like a switching relay, or solenoid, or a cycling force motor.

Next time you start your vehicle first thing in the morning, shut off the heating/air conditioning system and the radio before you insert the key. If this action eliminates the noise then you've either got a faulty heater force motor or faulty power antenna (if it has one).

If the noise is still there, leave your vehicle overnight with your service provider and hopefully they can reproduce the noise.

Honda has an advisory explaining that some 2003 Accord owners report hearing clicking or ticking while the engine is idling. The noise comes from the Purge Control Solenoid when it is purging the EVAP canister, and is considered normal. I don't think this is your noise, because the solenoid would not normally be on immediately after a cold start.

Q: I have a 1998 Toyota Camry with a four-cylinder 2.2-litre engine that has 66,000 km on it.

The car is like new, yet the dealer's service department is recommending that I change the timing belt and water pump. This is an expensive service.

Is this service necessary at this time given the low mileage? Technician David Gerson replies:

Although the car has very low kilometres, it is 11 years old and operating in harsh climatic conditions (i.e., extreme heat and cold).

As the timing belt is made of a rubber compound, even if the car is never driven it will fatigue just by aging.

For reliability, have the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, crank and cam seals replaced at the same time as the labour is not much more once the belt has been removed.

Following this method, everything inside the timing belt cover will have been addressed, and with a little luck you may not need to touch this area again for the next 10 years or so. However, five to six years maximum is the replacement time scheduled by the manufacturer irrespective of how many kilometres.

Q: Is the transmission and transfer case all one piece or two separate parts in the 1997 Honda CR-V all-wheel drive?

Technician Tom Zekveld replies:

The transfer case is bolted to the transaxle (transmission) and is part of the transaxle differential carrier housing. The two units function independently as a transmission and a transfer case, but share the differential function between the two units, making them totally dependent on each other. Therefore, from a servicing point of view, it will be serviced as a single unit.

Service Centre technicians Tom Zekveld and David Gerson are independent

garage operators.

Email your mechanical questions to wheels@thestar.ca.

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