When I start my 2009 Honda Accord after it is cold, the engine makes the noise heard in this video for about 2 seconds:


It stops after 2 seconds and does not do it again after the engine is warm. The engine cools off and it does it again. Its been doing this for over a year now and Dobbs was unable to diagnose (I don't think they tried very hard).

Any idea what it is?

 

This sounds could be noise due to low oil pressure which stops as soon as oil pressure is achieved (usually a few secs). It could noise from connecting rod or crank bearing.

One way to see if noise is oil pressure related is to start but kill engine before it catches. Do this several times and oil pressure will be achieved. If subsequent start doesn't produce noise, its pretty likely to be result of low start oil pressure. This noise frequently happens after an oil change in many cars where empty oil filter delays achieving oil pressure.

Why? A rod or crank bearing is out of spec (loose) on bearing tolerance which causes slight delay in achieving oil pressure and preventing bearing noise.

Above is only one theory. Frankly noise sounds a little high pitched for bearing noise, but timing makes this possibility more likely. It could be loose exhaust heat shield. Many sources of startup noise.

Suggest trying to pinpoint location of noise to help trace cause; lower engine, upper engine, pax or drivers side, etc.

good luck

 

It's most likely due to a faulty VTC actuator.

Honda TSB 09-010