Canadian EX model, 150,000 kms. Less than ideal "oomph" & so-so fuel economy.

Hearing rattly metal noise around top of head at idle, becomes a 'whirring' sound when revved. (Valves? Adjustment or other problem?)

1) Should I leave it if it drives "just okay?"
2) What are known problems?
2) What are possible fixes?
3) How should I advise the garage approach the diagnostic?

(On my '92 I had installed a great lo-mi Japanese engine. Worth doing with a head?)

Thanks, JK.
(Hello to everyone by the way )

 

Sounds like something came lose in the valve train. Pull the valve cover and it should be easy to tell what is happening.

 

It could be your heat plates under your car.


Modified by businessmanph at 7:38 PM 2/18/2005

 

if its valve lash adjustment, it is a clicking, or tapping noise. the tapping gets faster with engine rpm..

 

You might want to listen carefully thru a piece of garden hose or something, to pinpoint the location.

You say 'whirring' sound - that makes me think of bearing noise.
Alternator bearings?
Waterpump or timing-belt-tensioner bearings?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JimBlake &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You say 'whirring' sound - that makes me think of bearing noise.
Alternator bearings?
Waterpump or timing-belt-tensioner bearings?</TD></TR></TABLE>

couldn't agree more

 

Hey,

Thanks for ALL your replies, you seem like some good blokes here and I feel encouraged to deal with this annoying problem somehow.

(My garage is dead honest with me, they just don't trifle with 'unneccesary' work as a general policy so maybe I try a performance-oriented shop.)

(PS what are "head plates", should I buy myself the Honda manual at this point?)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mynameisjonas &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">... what are "head plates"? ...</TD></TR></TABLE>I was kinda wondering that myself...

 

Well guys... I THANK the general Forum for one thing: octane reccomendations.

I switched DOWN from 94 octane Sunoco to 87 and - holy **** - the engine runs a bit quieter and smoother. I can't believe it. Maybe I'm imagining this (I don't TRY to notice these things) but the car seems to run better not having to break down a much higher octane fuel than it's designed for (the 94 octane really just delays fuel ignition in my car right?) The car's really at least as peppy, perhaps more. You know when winter's over and the car just seems suddenly happier? The change is like that, starting up on a cold Toronto morning.

So thanks. That's HALF the noise problem solved anyways. Maybe I'll have a serious garage tune the valve lashings or whatnot.

 

the minimum requirement is 86. I also heard that canadian gas sucks ***. what's the oct requirement for h22 engines 91 or 93?

 

re: the minimum requirement is 86.

(I guess the average octane was a mix of the old and new.)

I also heard that canadian gas sucks ***.

(Well I've heard American beer sucks *** but now I know of 1 or 2 good ones . In general Esso really sucks, extremely dirty fuel, Shell less so, but Sunoco is supposed to be the best thing here. I guess Sunoco is like the Dogfish Head of Honda fuel.

It's really retarded how gas is wildly over-taxed in general and yet the profiteering nimbyheads running this country don't enforce gas quality level or pollution standards. Much like with Annheuser-Busch. )