I have read a lot about the tensioner problem on this website and it sounds exactly like the problem I am having. I have the grrrr sound in deceleration around 1200 rpms and can even hear it during acceleration in some spots if I listen for it. I also have an extended warranty that will pay for parts and labor if there is evidence that the tensioner was bad.
My question is whether you can tell that the tensioner was bad by visibly inspecting it. The warranty won't pay for it unless the inspector determines the part is faulty. I don't think it counts if you replace it and say "see, no more sound".
Thanks in advance for the help.

 

The noise it makes does NOT mean the part is going to fail or that the belt is going to come off. I don't think the dealer is going to replace it--it's too expensive. All my bitching to Honda, including the head office, did nothing. The belt has to be replaced at 90K anyway, and you'll get the updated part with it.

I'd think you'd be close to that mileage anyway since the problem should have been fixed as a running change to 2000 models.

 

My prelude is a 99 and only has 47k on it. Do you think I should just deal with the sound and disregard it? I would like to fix it, but don't want to spend the $ personally, especially since I paid for this damn warranty.

 

You've only got about 40K to go--which is only a year of driving for me!
But, in truth, this noise is all part of the timing belt, which is a wear item, and therefore wouldn't be covered by any warranty, xtended or not.

If you're only putting 12K a year on your car, and/or the sound really is driving you nuts you could go in for the fix. I didn't have that option when mine made noise as they didn't have the updated part yet!

It's the more expensive of the 2 tensioners (about 140 bucks), with the (new) part # ending in 013. But labor will be high. Your call.

 

One last question. If the tensioner is the problem creating the noise, will you be able to tell by inspecting the part? The warranty said it would pay for labor and tensioner if that was the problem. I would just have to pay for the belt.

 

So I may car started to make a loud ticking sound under the valve cover. I took the car in and my mechanic (honda) told me it was the tensioner. He's going to replace both the tensioner and timing belt for $660. My car has 54k miles 2000 non-sh 5sp.

Anything I can do to avoid paying this. Wasn;t there a service bulletin on the tensioner?

 

If you do not have any current warranty for your car, then unfortunately there is nothing you can do to avoid paying the price. If you do have a warranty, they need to be able to prove that the tensioner was "defective", which they may or may not do from what I'm told. I still have this problem as well, so please let me know what you decide to do and what they say.

 

I don't have the extended warranty.. I'll ask again when I pick up the car...

thx

 

Autotensioner part didn't arrive ... I guess it'll be another day before I can pick up the car.

If you go into Honda with the same issue, make sure they have a autotensioner in stock - this is not a normal stocked item!

 

I finally got it back yesterday.

WOW - what a DIFFERENCE!!!! The car drives so much better. The car feels tight again. I guess I forgot what it was like when it was new. It revs easier with more power.

Now, after a long time, I love to drive the car again.

The 5th gen prelude is one sweet drive!