Inextricabledrvr

I am trying to figure out for my little brother where this noise is coming from? It sounds like something is rubbing/knocking. Anyone have any input? I posted a video below for everyone to hear. :/

It Wasn't Me

A. Your link doesn't work. When I click it, I get this.


.. but I found the video in your photobucket stuff.


B. It would help if there were some light in the video, so we could tell where you're pointing the video camera in the engine bay, but there isn't, so we can't. All I can make out is a little bit of the valve cover, and the A/C line.

Would you mind making a better video? During the day, or with a flashlight, or .. something .. so we can see.

Maybe you'll luck out someone else has experienced this exact problem and can tell you what it was. Whatever it is doesn't sound good.

Inextricabledrvr

Sorry about the lack of lighting. I will post a better video with lighting sometime tomorrow. In the meantime, hopefully someone can chime in on what this may be? It sounds really bad. I couldn't tell where the sound was coming from so, I went from one side of the engine bay to the other side.

Inextricabledrvr

Here's some info on the car...

2001 Honda Civic LX coupe 5 speed

1) 113K miles
2) Timing belt never been replaced (Water pump, belts etc)
3) Fluids regularly changed at proper intervals
4) Valve adjustment never been done

Can anyone distinguish what problem this may be by just listening to it?
3)

It Wasn't Me

It happens.


You should consider buying one of these things.



It's a "mechanic's stethascope" and comes in handy for pinpointing noise origins. There are many different manufacturers, styles, and prices. Many of them are $20 or less. It's well-worth buying.

Inextricabledrvr

Will definitely have to pick one of those up.

Inextricabledrvr

Updated video with better picture.

honda.lioness

The timing belt on your Civic is due every 7 years or 110k miles, whichever comes first. If the timing belt fails, the chances of irreparable engine damage are pretty good.

Change the timing belt, combined a/c and alternator belt, power steering belt, water pump, valve cover gasket, front crank seal and front cam seal.

Valve lash should be checked, but it is not common for it to go out of spec. I did not play the video.

I have successfully used a couple feet of 3/8" or so tygon tubing for narrowing down the source of odd sounds on my car. Though what "It Wasn't Me" suggests is better.

It Wasn't Me

Timing belt and water pump need to be change, and in the process of doing them, you'll likely find where the noise is coming from. It sounds like it's coming from the driver's side of the engine bay, but even with good light it's hard to definitively say what is making the noise.

The valve clearances should also be checked. It's due.

Because it's a video, and not an in-person inspection, it really does make it more difficult to determine the source. In-person, there's more depth to what you're able to hear vs. the flat, cluttered together sounds of a video.


This will help with the work involved.
They're from the FAQ's

It Wasn't Me

LOL! I've use garden hose for the same thing.

Inextricabledrvr

Thanks guys for your input and advice! I will inform my brother that he needs all this done.

Inextricabledrvr

So, he went to the local Honda dealer and he bought all the necessary parts. He spent about $160 for everything. (Timing belt, water pump, both seals, and valve cover gasket) He is planning on getting the other belts later. Not too bad for all original Honda parts.

lordhelmet1584

What happens when you give it a bit of gas?

Inextricabledrvr

It sounds like it goes away when driving. The noise is mainly heard during idle. :/

It Wasn't Me

The sound is probably just being drowned-out by road and engine noise while driving.

Hopefully it's something simple .. like bad alternator bearings or A/C compressor clutch components. (not saying that's what it is, just that they'd be easy to fix if they were the culprit.)

lordhelmet1584

I was saying give it a bit of gas while stationary. Take your exhaust manifold off and shake it. Mine sounds a lot like that because there is a chunk of catalyst rattling in the converter.

Inextricabledrvr

I tried it stationary and the sound disappears when I rev it up. Once again it only happens during idle. Possible bad cat?

It Wasn't Me

Anything's possible.

Have you been working on the car alone, or is someone helping?

My catalytic converter's heat shield used to rattle at a certain RPM, but it didn't sound like that. I ended up taking the whole thing off. (the heat shield, not the cat)

Have someone poke their head under the car while you press-and-release the throttle. If it's exhaust related, it should be really easy to tell.

Inextricabledrvr

He just got his Full timing belt over the weekend by a good friend of mine. He told me that the alternator bearings are shot and that's making the noise. :/

It Wasn't Me

Ah-ha!! I thought that would probably be the culprit.

You can replace those bearings, btw. You don't have to buy a new alternator.

Inextricabledrvr

Seriously? That would save him alot of money. Is it a difficult process?

It Wasn't Me

It's not difficult, but you'll need a heat-gun at least. You'll need to heat the rear bearing seat until it's 130-140 degrees, then separate the two halves of the housing. Once it's apart, inspect the rotor shaft and bearing journal for damage. If it's damaged, replace the alternator. Jaw pullers will help with removing the rear bearing and pushing the rotor shaft out, but probably won't be 100% necessary.

theineffable

can you describe the sound better?

i've had a quiet ticking sound on my car since the car was near new and it only happens on a cold start then goes away after a few minutes. it also goes away if rpm changes.

i've already adjusted the valve clearance twice but the problem didn't go away.

now i think it might be a bad bearing somewhere. i know if i rev the engine slightly, the noise disappears for a moment. i also know bad bearings can make noises at certain resonant frequencies.

i'm hoping it's just bad alternator bearings. i would hate for it to be the timing belt tensioner pulley because i've already replaced the timing belt + water pump recently.