I have been dealing with an intermittent/growing in consistency popping noise coming from the front end on my 23 EX-L 2WD for some months now, and have been to the dealer multiple times over it, and they pulled through on it!
The sound was a very distinct pop (sometimes multiple few pops) that would typically occur at various low speed situations, especially after the vehicle had been sitting for an appreciable time, such as pulling out of a parking spot when leaving work at the end of the day. The most common occurrence scenario was backing out of my inclined driveway in the mornings, when turning/reversing into the street and then again when taking off in drive and straightening the wheel. Rarely would it do it mid-trip after driving for a while.
I assumed it was going to be the steering rack, as it seems several others here have had theirs replaced for similar complaints. The first time I had my dealer inspect it, they initially had trouble replicating the noise, but my service advisor was finally able to do it himself. They found the front bumper beam needed to be retorqued, and one of the bolts they were able to get over a full turn out of! I picked up the vehicle and it made the noise as I was leaving, still in their lot. Ok, no big deal, let's try again. Several weeks go by until I can get it back to them again, but the sound became much more frequent over this period. They use their Chassis Ears tool on the front bumper beam and confirm the noise is coming from it, so they go ahead and submit the authorization request to Honda to get the part ordered.
Fast forward to this week, the part is in. They replace the front bumper beam (71130-T90-A00), and various associated bolts/hardware (90110-TK4-A00 x8; 93405-06016-04 x7; 95701-10025-05 x4) and retorque everything. The noise still comes back! Wash, rinse, repeat with retorquing various components under the front end (engine mounts, steering rack, subframe) to no avail, until finally the tech gets almost a full turn out of a bolt in the front passenger fender well that goes into the frame. Retorque that and the noise is gone!
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Wanted to share with others in case someone else has this issue and it winds up not being the steering rack like in my case. Also very, very pleased with my dealership (Patty Peck Honda in Ridgeland, MS). I feel like a lot of places would have thrown their hands up in the air or stopped before being able to replicate the issue.
The sound was a very distinct pop (sometimes multiple few pops) that would typically occur at various low speed situations, especially after the vehicle had been sitting for an appreciable time, such as pulling out of a parking spot when leaving work at the end of the day. The most common occurrence scenario was backing out of my inclined driveway in the mornings, when turning/reversing into the street and then again when taking off in drive and straightening the wheel. Rarely would it do it mid-trip after driving for a while.
I assumed it was going to be the steering rack, as it seems several others here have had theirs replaced for similar complaints. The first time I had my dealer inspect it, they initially had trouble replicating the noise, but my service advisor was finally able to do it himself. They found the front bumper beam needed to be retorqued, and one of the bolts they were able to get over a full turn out of! I picked up the vehicle and it made the noise as I was leaving, still in their lot. Ok, no big deal, let's try again. Several weeks go by until I can get it back to them again, but the sound became much more frequent over this period. They use their Chassis Ears tool on the front bumper beam and confirm the noise is coming from it, so they go ahead and submit the authorization request to Honda to get the part ordered.
Fast forward to this week, the part is in. They replace the front bumper beam (71130-T90-A00), and various associated bolts/hardware (90110-TK4-A00 x8; 93405-06016-04 x7; 95701-10025-05 x4) and retorque everything. The noise still comes back! Wash, rinse, repeat with retorquing various components under the front end (engine mounts, steering rack, subframe) to no avail, until finally the tech gets almost a full turn out of a bolt in the front passenger fender well that goes into the frame. Retorque that and the noise is gone!
Wanted to share with others in case someone else has this issue and it winds up not being the steering rack like in my case. Also very, very pleased with my dealership (Patty Peck Honda in Ridgeland, MS). I feel like a lot of places would have thrown their hands up in the air or stopped before being able to replicate the issue.
