Loud Honda Stream Exhaust = Failed Flap Valve?

I had a similar issue with my 2013 Honda Accord (gasoline engine) last year. The exhaust flap was indeed defective, causing that distinctive loud noise, especially during cold starts. At the garage, they found the actuator for the exhaust flap had failed, and the flap itself was stuck in an open position. The issue wasn't super serious, but leaving it unfixed would've affected engine performance and fuel efficiency over time. The repair involved replacing the actuator and cleaning the flap mechanism. The whole job took about 2-3 hours. Since then, the exhaust noise has been normal, and the rough idle during cold starts completely disappeared. My advice: Get it checked soon. While it's not an emergency, these symptoms usually don't fix themselves and could lead to other issues if left unattended.

Oh thanks for sharing that info! I actually had the exact same thing happen with my Stream. It's really helpful to know I wasn't the only one dealing with that annoying exhaust noise and rough idle. Mind if I ask how much you ended up paying for the fix? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the repair? Just want to make sure no other problems popped up later.

Hey there! Happy to give you an update. I got my Accord fixed a while back and it cost me 190€ to repair that pesky exhaust flap. The mechanic did a great job, they replaced the actuator and got everything working perfectly again. I'm really glad you asked about how it's running because honestly, it's been fantastic since the repair! The annoying loud noise is completely gone and those rough cold starts are history. The car runs super smooth now, just like it should. Haven't had a single issue pop up related to the exhaust system since then. Funny how these things work, when the flap's acting up it sounds way worse than it actually is, right? But getting it fixed was totally worth it. My fuel efficiency is back to normal too, which is a nice bonus. Trust me, once you get it sorted, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner! Let me know if you end up getting yours fixed, would be interested to hear if your experience is similar to mine.

Thanks for sharing those details! I bit the bullet and took my Stream to a new mechanic yesterday. You were spot on about everything, they diagnosed the exhaust flap issue right away. The repair cost was actually pretty similar to what you paid, and wow, what a difference it's made! The mechanic was super honest and showed me the old actuator, it was completely shot. They had it fixed in about 2 hours, and I couldn't believe how quiet my car was on the drive home. No more embarrassing loud noise when starting up in the morning! Took it for a longer drive today and it's running like a dream. The engine's smooth, even during cold starts, and that awful rattling is completely gone. Really glad I didn't put this off any longer. Thanks again for helping me make the decision to get it checked out, you saved me from a lot more stress and probably some bigger problems down the road!