# Gremlins under the hood!

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/gremlins-under-the-hood/50620>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** noises, rsx, acura\
**Created:** [June 20, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gremlins-under-the-hood/50620 "2010-06-20T23:13:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![doctorFred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@doctorFred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/doctorFred)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gremlins-under-the-hood/50620/1 "2010-06-20T23:13:43Z")

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My 2002 Acura RSX has started making a bizarre noise while idling/at low RPMs (around 1000.) It sounds like someone is under the hood playing a hollow drum, but the noise is only discernible in the car - I’ve tried running it with the hood open and don’t really hear anything. I’ve posted a link to the noise so you guys can listen for yourselves!  
  
 [http://www…Ic-pgqX1VI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ic-pgqX1VI)

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**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gremlins-under-the-hood/50620/2 "2010-06-21T00:32:46Z")

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Sounds like some one tapping on a bongo drum to me.

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**Author:** ![doctorFred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@doctorFred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/doctorFred)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gremlins-under-the-hood/50620/3 "2010-06-21T01:18:18Z")

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exactly. but, it’s definitely coming from my car!

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**Author:** ![doctorFred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@doctorFred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/doctorFred)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gremlins-under-the-hood/50620/4 "2010-06-21T21:31:33Z")

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no takers? i figured posting a link to the noise would at least pique some interest.

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**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 10:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gremlins-under-the-hood/50620/5 "2010-06-21T22:56:16Z")

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If I heard correctly the noise does not seem to have a discernible pattern. Do the ac and heat controls work properly? Thinking it could be something in the climate control system.

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**Author:** ![doctorFred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@doctorFred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/doctorFred)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/gremlins-under-the-hood/50620/6 "2010-06-21T23:40:31Z")

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both ac and heat work properly, and the noise is there whether they are on or off. the only thing associated with it is shifting gears from park to drive or reverse - this causes a quick run of the noise “bum bum bum bum bum” before slowing back down to the irregular baseline.