Hello guys,

Recently bought an '05 Evo VIII MR.. the ACD light is stuck on Tarmac, switch is unresponsive, and I've never seen all 3 lights light up. Thoughts?

It also makes a strange groaning sound when I pull away after backing out of my driveway/parking spot. It sounds similar to a power steering rack groaning at full lock. It lasts for 4-5 seconds then makes a distinctive 'click' (sounds like a solenoid) and goes away abruptly. It usually makes the same sound when my front wheels hop up onto the garage floor (slightly higher than driveway) - but only last for a split second.

It also occasionally makes a light/tinny but pretty nasty sounding metal grinding noise that increases w/ rpm. Kinda sounds like a heat shield rattle, but also kinda sounds like stripped gear teeth. It seems to make this metal sound when it does not make the groaning sound. When it first happened and the sound remained.. I've found that if I increase rpm/load, it will go away after a couple seconds.. thoughts??

 

I am sorry. Hope the seller told you about it if the problem is there before you took prosession.
Sounds like your ACD pump setup is going out. Send it out or do it yourself and save about $1,000.

 

The heat shields on my IX have been coming off in some way since the day I rolled off the lot.

 

So you think that metallic noise is just heat shields?

 

If the ACD is faulty, wouldn't it show 3 solid lights? Why is the light stuck on tarmac and I'm not able to change it? I've also read that all 3 light up upon startup, then goes to one solid.. is that true? Is it possible that this guy wired the ACD lights in a way that the tarmac is solid green to mask a problem?

 

Check that the diff oil in the boot has enough ATF in it.

 

I just had the car in the shop to get all fluids changed.. oil, trans, t-case and rear diff.. is that something they would have missed? This was at a reputable Evo shop. The invoice does not mention anything about ACD.

What are your thoughts about the ACD light being stuck on tarmac? I have never seen all 3 light up, and the switch doesn't work like I said.. Thanks!

 

The only fluid reservoir in the trunk is the windshield wiper fluid on the right side.. the left side compartment just has a small tool kit in it.. there is an ATF fluid reservoir right by the air filter.. what does that mean? Are 8's supposed to have the ACD fluid reservoir in the trunk? This is an '05 USDM Evo 8 MR.. just to clarify. All that said, is it possible that someone replaced the t-case w/ a non-acd version? That might explain the ACD light stuck on tarmac.. if that's the case, what the heck is that groaning sound?

 

OK.. Just went out and turned the key to position 1.. All three lights came on, then switched to tarmac. Pressed the gas pedal to the floor, and I heard the same groaning sound as I described above.. It slowed down after a few seconds then shut off.. What does all this mean? Could it just be a bad switch?

 

Hi,

I am not sure about the USDM Evos, but my JDM MR has the ACD reservoir in the boot on the left side.

Don't be concerned about the ATF reservoir. What you need to find is the ACD reservoir and see if it has in enough fluid. The fluid that goes in there is the red diaqueen.

It sounds to me like your pump is on the way out, common problem on evos.

 

What specifically about what I said makes you think that?

 

You said something about an ATF reservoir in the engine bay.. It doesn't matter really.

Did you locate where the ACD reservoir is? Do you get noises when the car is driving from the pump?

 

I don't know where the ACD reservoir is.. Hoping someone here knows where it's at on a USDM model.. Yes I have heard it for a split second once or twice while driving.. What does that mean?

 

Man u sound way over your head not sure whats wrong, usually u have 3 lights for acd faliure. The acd fluid is on the drivers side of the engine bay right up front behind the headlight, sound like you need someone to read the acd codes and see what fault code its throwing

 

The only time I see three lights is on startup, then it switches to tarmac. My ACD reservoir is at the top line. Could I just have a bad switch? Would that throw a code?