Hey guys.. I have a 99 civic lx and I'm having a problem with this pinging noise coming from the engine every time I accelerate rapidly especially going up a hill. There is no pinging when the car is idling. anyone knows how to fix it???

 

Pinging is usually caused by low octane levels. You sure its pinging and not something else? Could be time for a tune up.

 

I use octane 87. Is that too low? How does pinging sounds like?? I was trying to google a video to hear how the pinging problem sounds but no luck..anyone can find a video so I can make sure it's a pinging sound? to me my problem sounds like pinging/sparking noise but if i could compare it to a pinging noise I could tell for sure

 

could be a heat shield. jack it up and bang the exhaust pipes.

 

no it's not the heatshield. I already checked that

 

bump

 

are u running stock muffler..cause sometimes the rear section of muffler might hit against the rear lower control arm.that happened to me before

 

just run higher octane, like i have a B18C and if i run lower than 92 octane then it has a ping, and the same with my stock D15B7 (when it was in the car) i used to run 86-87 octane and i allways had a ping when id put a load on the engine but my friend told me to run my car to empty and put 92 in it and i have never went back to low octane.

 

If you have a quarter of gas tank with octane 87 can you fill it up with octane 89 or 92 the next time at the pump or do you have to get rid of octane 87 before putting octane 89? Can you mix the 87 with 89 or 92?

 

yeah u can mix them.what u can do now is driving around until the fuel is low and then go to pump the 89 or 92 or higher

 

Would it cause any engine damage if you mix the two octane grades?

 

No it would be diluted if you had half 87 then topped it off with 93. SO just run it down then fill it up with higher octane.

 

to clarify... it is a pinging sound and hot a knocking sound? ... i spun a bearing in my y8 at the sound was intermittent until it got worse... then i could here it regardless of whether it was idle or not...

also, perhaps check your timing...

 

geez....browsing these threads pains me....check your timing its pretty obvious you are experiencing spark knock. its ez to check it just takes 10mins of your time and a few tools. low-end hondas take regular grade gasoline. why would you waste money using premium fuel? unless you have a high comp. engine...............?

 

So how would I check timing?? Any how to guides would be useful...

 

take off upper timing cover - valve cover removal isn't required without some prying...ok so line up the cam sprocket so that UP points up. now on the LOWER LEFT of the sprocket you will see a notched line. turn the crank so that line lines up with the pointer on the plastic cover. you can't miss it...now on the crank side, you will see a sight and pointer on the cover, you can't miss that either, now that should line up with the WHITE LINE, THAT IS 'OUT FOR LUNCH' (THE FAR ONE). there you have it...

**for your car the cam sprocket should line up with the lower pointer, if not the notched lines at SIDES of sprocket should line up with the head

**turn counter clockwise only

 

i've had this problem on my d15b7 vtec mini me swap...check the timing pistons prob coming up and hitting the valves.

 

The funning thing is that the engine pinging sound comes only when the engine is warms. When I turn on the car in the morning and I accelerate fast there is no pinging sound but when the engine warms up the pinging sound comes back..Also, about a week ago I changed spark plugs and there was carbon build up on the spark plugs. The pinging sound was there even before I changed spark plugs. Would this still be a timing problem?? Anything else I should check? The mechanic is asking $62 to see what the problem is

 

check the timing urself....get a manual

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sexyrex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">take off upper timing cover - valve cover removal isn't required without some prying...ok so line up the cam sprocket so that UP points up. now on the LOWER LEFT of the sprocket you will see a notched line. turn the crank so that line lines up with the pointer on the plastic cover. you can't miss it...now on the crank side, you will see a sight and pointer on the cover, you can't miss that either, now that should line up with the WHITE LINE, THAT IS 'OUT FOR LUNCH' (THE FAR ONE). there you have it...

**for your car the cam sprocket should line up with the lower pointer, if not the notched lines at SIDES of sprocket should line up with the head

**turn counter clockwise only</TD></TR></TABLE>

He needs to check ignition timing, not cam timing. Having your cam off a tooth isnt going to produce pre-ignition.
Turn the car on, jump the service connector, us a timing light.
Thats it.

My question is, how long has it been pining? Its possible you just got some crap gas. My suggestion would be to fill up with some premium. If it goes away, it was probably the gas. If not, check your ignition timing.

 

Everyone is telling me to look at ignition timing but no one is actually explaining how to do it. If someone can tell me how to check ignition timing it would be great..This is my first Honda so I don't know how to do it.. To sexyrex, which manual explains how to check the timing???? I've been searching for how to guides online that explains how to check ignition timing with no luck.

To Slopoke, how do I jump the service connector and how would I use a timing light???

I've noticed the problem for about a year and the problem before occured when I was driving the car for hours. I was doing highway driving where there was no pinging but when I would get into the city where it's stop and go traffic and I would accelerate and go up a hill I would notice the pinging but it wasn't as bad before.

I've started to use premium gas 2 days ago so I'm going to try premium gas for another 3 refills and see if it goes away. I always used to put octane 87. Last one I filled it with octane 89 and the next refill is going to be with octane 92.





Modified by globy123 at 1:07 PM 6/16/2007

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by globy123 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

To Slopoke, how do I jump the service connector and how would I use a timing light???
</TD></TR></TABLE>

http://www.c-speedracing.com/h...g.php

http://www.c-speedracing.com/faq/06.php

 

.......PAY SOMEONE TO DO THE WORK IF YOU CANNOT DO IT YOURSELF!!

 

Thanks Slopoke...That was what I was looking for!!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sexyrex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">.......PAY SOMEONE TO DO THE WORK IF YOU CANNOT DO IT YOURSELF!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Relax, Mr. "check cam timing for engine ping".
Everyone has to start somewhere.