Loud ticking noise passenger side 2011 lx

[North_Pole_Pilo]

Hello, I have a 2011 pilot with about 40,000 mile that developed a ticking sound after being started at -50*f. The ticking appears to be on the back side of the engine passenger side, hard to say but maybe under the timing belt cover, was wondering if maybe the timing belt cracked and is knocking the cover, it speeds up and slows with engine rpms. It runs and idles fine with no codes, running synthetic amsoil and always plugged in to keep warm.
Just guessing about the timing belt, there is a little rubber cover plug on the cover that I opened and compared to the front one. The rear one appears to be dirtier like a brown color inside.
Help with any ideas!
It looks like the top half of the cover comes off with just a few bolts for further inspection.

[armed]

it should be covered with the warranty aint it? i would tAke it to the dealer...just to make sure...just ask if its covered before they charge you a lot of money

[North_Pole_Pilo]

If its not a timing belt it will probably have to go in to the dealer. Think the warranty is out at 36,000 miles. Belt would not be to bad to change, just not sure why it would be coming apart already. Will post more info shortly, after dinner I am going to pull a top cover and see what's up with the belt, stay tuned.

[rocky]

What other things happen to cars at minus 50 deg? Did one trip to Canada and went to minus 40.


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[North_Pole_Pilo]

Well I pulled the rear timing cover and the belt is intact but way loose. Thinking now that either the bearing on a tensioning pulley or a tensioner went bad. Looks like I will be pulling it apart tomorrow. Found a few tutorials on the forum that shows how to do it, just looks time consuming but not hard.

As to -50*F, hard on everything, I run full synthetic oil and have oil pan pad heaters and a battery heater. Doors don't latch all the way, everything is stiff and brittle. Need to be very careful traveling at those temps

[North_Pole_Pilo]

Doing a little reading it looks like the timing belt and tensioners are covered to 60,000 miles. Looks like I will be calling for a wrecker Monday to bring it into the dealer. I am about 100% certain that the tension pulley went bad, pulled the rear top timing cover and the belt is loose.

[robs]

That belt should not move at all when you push it by hand. Sounds like you got it nailed.

Could you possibly get an audio clip of the sound and post it up for future reference? I've heard a tensioner go bad on a different truck with similar setup and it sounded like a rod.

[North_Pole_Pilo]

Well after sitting for a while in a warm shop the belt tightened up just a bit. Now I am sure it is the hydraulic tensioner assembly that has gone bad. Started it today after sitting outside at -10*F and it was quiet for a bit but was loudly clicking by the time I got it to the dealer 25 miles away.
Explained everything to the service rep, he said they would take a look at it and give me a call when it's diagnosed, if its a warranty issue no charge if not its $106 to diagnosis the problem plus repairs.
Read in the warranty book timing belts and assemblies are covered under the power train for 60,000 so should be no problems.
Did not get a sound recording of it as I was not keen on having it run any longer than had to, almost had a wrecker come get it as was.
It sounded like a flat lifter almost or bad rod bearing but varied with intensity as it was run.
Like I said I pulled the top cover and it (timing belt) was very loose maybe 1"~1.5" deflection when I first inspected it. Tightened up as it sat in the warm shop.
Upon further inspection I found that the hydraulic tensioner assembly is actually mounted outside the timing cover and has slight oil staining around it. It is the problem for sure. Hope they get it fixed soon and we get it back with no issues. Love the car!