Hi guys and gals, I have a bit of a problem with my Civic ('93 UK spec EG6), and was hoping someone might be able to give me any advice..

Recently the car has been making a rather unpleasant grinding of metal sound around 3000-4000rpm. The car only makes the noise when moving, and when the car is in gear (if I cruise along and put it in neutral, the noise stops). The noise does not happen all the time - only after the car has been running for a while, and I open her up a bit. Then the noise becomes apparant for a fair while afterwards. If the car cools down (park up for 5/10 mins), the noise dissappears for some time afterwards.

It does not seem to be affecting performance at all, and everything otherwise seems normal. I'm pretty sure it's not brake related, as the noise does not change/go away when applying the brakes. I had the exhaust checked out for any rattling heatshields etc. and the only thing they could find were slightly loose baffles in the backbox.. Could this possibly be causing such a high pitched metal grinding noise?

I'm a pretty competent DIY mechanic, but I'm lost on this one - I can't see how loose baffles would make this specific noise.

The car is completely standard at the moment.

Sorry for the essay, but I thought I would be as thorough as possible. If anyone has any suggestions I would love to hear them - want to get this sorted ASAP as it's ruining an otherwise fantastic experience with my new car!

Cheers!

 

Just to add to this - it has been suggested to me it might be the input thrust bearing or clutch release bearing, but I took the car out for a drive to see if I could work out any more...

Let her warm up and normal for 15 mins driving around town, then take it to VTEC in 2nd and 3rd... Noise returns around 3000rpm.

Now, I'm a bit confused, because if I engage the clutch in gear, the noise DOES NOT go away. It only goes away in neutral. After reading some threads, I'm thinking it couldn't be the clutch release bearing, as this noise would dissappear once the clutch is engaged? Is this the same for the input bearing?

Also, the noise is not a constant grinding noise - more like a rattling/grinding which has an inconsistant sound (quite high pitched, but not a flat noise).

The gearbox/clutch feels exactly as it has since I bought the car - could the noise not be something else? Anyone have any other ideas?

I hoping it's something simple like the baffles in the box like I said before - but I find it hard to believe it could produce such a sound! It's hard to pinpoint where the noise comes from, as it is quite loud. However it does seem to come from the left of the car.

Any suggestions? Really must get it sorted as it's driving me insane!