I just bought a 96 Civic EX and somehow when I'm in 2nd and 3rd gear, something keeps rattling from my engine. It kind of sounds like my clutch is shaking but it stops rattling when I get to 4th and 5th gear! Pleads help! i can't figure out whats wrong with this. It seems as though a lot of Honda cars have this rattling noise when in gear! Thank You!

 

rattling.. like metal vibration?... does it happen when not under load(neutral) try sitting in neutral and revving slowly throught your rpm band.. do u hear the noise? if so have someone else rev up and try and listen to where its comign from.. might just be a heat shield .. if it is.. try to clamp it down.. get some large tbolt clamps and just tighten the ***** down

 

Well I don't think its the heat shield cause I've checked that. Its weird, like when I'm in 2nd and 3rd its like the clutch is rattling agianst something. Its like ka ka ka ka ka! My girlfriend used to have a 90 civic and it also did that on 2nd and 3rd gear also, thats why I think it happens in civics alot! Thanks man!

 

If it's something in the clutch housing, maybe one of the springs broke and is rattling around in there.

Does the clutch pedal or shifter vibrate when you hear the rattling noise? Does the tranny slip or jerk when it's rattling?

Otherwise, did you really check out the heat shields? It sure sounds like a loose heat shield to me, most likely the one for the catalytic converter.

 

the easiest way to stop the heat shield from rattling is just take it off then you will know for sure but that is what it sounds like

 

the shifter does rattle but the clutch peddle does not though. but it mostly rattles when its over 70 mph. so i dont know whats wrong. and when the car is on neutral when u rev the engine it does not rattle its quiet like normal it jus on 2nd and 3rd gears. when ur on 2nd if its close to 2500 rpm it starts rattling into 3rd and then 4th is fine.

 

**Bumb** up for help plz

 

After all these years, I have figured out what was wrong. One of the bearings in the transmission is bad. This is what is causing the grinding noise that is coming from the engine when you are in lower gears.