Okay, I am possible buying a 2001 Prelude Type-SH from an original owner who is around 45.

He said that the only thing "wrong" with the car is that an odd sound comes from the engine. He said it is very rare and that this is how you re-create the sound:

If you are facing up on a hill and turn your wheels (kind of odd), press the clutch, give it gas and put it into first, you hear the sound.

He said that he took it to a Honda Dealer and the mechanic said that it was the clutch, and that repacing the clutch would fix it. Does this sound feasible?

I'm inclined to trust the guy. Based on the CARFAX it looks like he always got services done on time and from a Honda Dealer. The only mods on the car are a tape deck and mud flaps, both dealer installed, etc etc.

Thanks in advance! Any insight would be appreciated!

 

I would assume so - get a clutch and go for it.
He's 45 - i don't think he'd lie - at least he told you about the problem.

Clutches cost a lot - he probably didn't have the money for one......

But if you have to push in the clutch to recreate the noise......it could be the clutch.....

 

Discribe the sound, is it a knocking when you are turning or does it start and stop when u engage/disengage the clutch? If you were having clutch problems it would be making that sound all the time and not just when you turn hard uphill in first gear. I would have to bet maybe a CV is binding at low speed start when your wheel is cranked to max.

"I feel much better,
Now that I have lost all hope."

 

Thanks for the input guys!

He described the noise to me...it was more like a whinning noise than a cliking noise. If it is the CV joints would the noise be coming from the engine? How much would it cost to fix if a) it is the clutch and b) it is the CV joints?

Thanks again!

 

Whinning pretty much rules out CV joints as they make more of a grinding noise or clunking noise. If its a whinning noise when you are turning your steering wheel hard over it could be power steering. Just a guess.

 

Update: I talked to the Honda dealer he takes the car too and they confirmed the issue is listed on the service records, said they looked into it, etc. Nothing "wrong."

I bought the car. I have heard it occasionally and I don't think the wheels have to be turned for it to happen. Basically I would describe the sound as an extra "vroom" in addition to the engine noise when you are putting the car into first (I think I might have heard it in reverse once or twice too). The sound could be described as a whine but it is lower in frequency.

Considering the wheel may need to be turned, I thought perhaps the previous owner misunderstood when the honda mech. said "clutch" and it is actually one of the clutches in the ATTS.

Does anyone have any other ideas what it could be?

 

I better way to describe the noise...a hum. Nobody has any ideas?

 

ATTS chattering? My LSD on my last car made this noise...right before I had to replace it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sober_John &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ATTS chattering? My LSD on my last car made this noise...right before I had to replace it.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What did it sound like?

Another thing I thought...could it just be the transmission clutch slipping? It doesn't feel like it has trouble engaging really...but I have noticed that it is OCCASIONALLY difficult to put the stick into first (I have to double-clutch).

Any more input? ...anyone?

 

i have the exact same noise you described with my car, its driving me crazy. only happens when starting out in 1st.

 

im not sure about this case, but be mindful of whining noises coming from the tranny area...

you may have bad differential bearings, and if they fail, the asphalt is going to steal your differential and part of your tranny case.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by eric416 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i have the exact same noise you described with my car, its driving me crazy. only happens when starting out in 1st.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Does it always happen starting in first or when you are on a hill/slant? Have you ever heard it while in reverse?

Do you have a Prelude? Either way I'm glad someone else can relate, but if you had a Prelude that would back up the sellers story that the honda mechanic who drove it and heard the noise while he was driving said it was somewhat common in the Prelude.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mgags7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">im not sure about this case, but be mindful of whining noises coming from the tranny area...

you may have bad differential bearings, and if they fail, the asphalt is going to steal your differential and part of your tranny case.....</TD></TR></TABLE>

Would that cause a humming noise? It seems like sometimes it's a low hum and sometimes its a higher pitched hum.

If someone could post just about every possible thing they think it could be, that would be really helpful.

Thanks for any help!

 

I've been searching online trying to find anything about my problem. I read a response to a similar-sounding problem in a Mazda that said perhaps the noise was caused by a slipping timing belt. Is that a possibility? Is there a way I can check that myself?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by preludeChaos &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I've been searching online trying to find anything about my problem. I read a response to a similar-sounding problem in a Mazda that said perhaps the noise was caused by a slipping timing belt. Is that a possibility? Is there a way I can check that myself?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Timing belts really don't slip on H22s. It has teeth that if they jump, it will barely run at all. If any of the accessory belts were to slip, it would make a loud squealing noise.

Maybe you could change the tranny fluid and see if that helps. Otherwise you start getting into stuff that's not so easy to check, like the clutch, throwout bearing, etc....

 

it happens only in first doesnt matter if im on a hill or not. Which side of the car is the sound coming from? oh, and i drive a 4th gen with a h22a4 swap

 

So we both have the same engine...do we have the same transmission?

It seems to be on the left side.

 

Okay...I heard it a few times tonight. Let me update my description.

Only happens when putting the car into first gear. Does not have to be on a hill or have the wheel turned (I think it lasts longer if the wheel is turned) Sounds like a screech or whir...maybe one could describe it as an elephant call but it is not very loud. I seriously doubt you could hear it from outside the car. Lasts for a VERY shot time. 1/2 a second at the most.

Help me eliminate possibilities..... Would it be reasonable to assume that it isn't the differential or the ATTS since I can take a sharp corner at 30 MPH without hearing it? Could it be as simple as the clutch fluid is low? Any other ideas based on the updated description?

As always, ANY help is greatly appreciated!

 

I have the same issue w/ my 98 and I had a buddy of mine find the source of the sound, by using a screwdriver (by the way, he is a Honda Tech). He says that MOST of the sound is coming from the tranny. We havent had a chance to run a full diagnostic on it yet. But I too hope it is a simple problem...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by shimmy015 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have the same issue w/ my 98 and I had a buddy of mine find the source of the sound, by using a screwdriver (by the way, he is a Honda Tech). He says that MOST of the sound is coming from the tranny. We havent had a chance to run a full diagnostic on it yet. But I too hope it is a simple problem...</TD></TR></TABLE>

Okay, thanks for posting. It would be great if you could post your findings on here!

 

Maybe a belt is tight?