Hello,

I have a 2002 honda civic lx 4 dr. The problem I'm having is when ever driving in rainy weather I get a loud grinding/popping sound when there seems to be 'water build up' somewhere in the engine area, seems to make the noise when i am turning sometimes, when I brake some times, when i accelerate sometimes... but it only happens when it rains.... doesn't seem to happen after a good car wash even....


* EDIT *

Update, wasn't raining today but roads were wet, sound did come again, only after driving through some good puddles. Also popped the hood, seemed pretty dry.

My uneducated guess it sounds like suspension or something maybe? seems that sound comes from the front of the car. When slowing down travelling at low speeds, when making right hand turns more then left hand...

 

Not exactly the same but whenever it rains and only when it rains, while going through puddles and accelerating I get a strange what sounds like a muffled version of a fart can muffler. But it comes from the engine compartment. I was thinking maybe while going through the puddle, given that the engine compartment is not very well sealed off from the wheel wells, water is squirting in and hitting some moving component, maybe the alternator fins, maybe the AC clutch, but it only causes the noise while going through the puddle.

Is yours anytime it's raining or when you might be driving through a puddle?

 

Do you have aftermarket exhaust? Ever since I installed mine I've had the same problem you've described... I think it is down by the cat where the heat shield is.

 

Stock here.

 

Hmm, I noticed that space_eyes has an LX, which has a little bit different exhaust layout than ours. I had a little bit of a problem with mine when it was stock but, it has definitely gotten worse with the aftermarket. Also, mine only does it when I splash water from larger puddles. It's probably from the low amount of clearance down there.

 

it happens to my EX but it was when i had an aftermarket exhaust. the exhaust was super heated and when water got on it, it banged up against the heat shield.

 

Do you not have Exhaust anymore?

 

There is an after market exhaust, and as well does sound more like metal farting ... Yes it seems more when going through puddles or wet roads when it's raining,

Another problem I had not sure if I should make an additional thread, went in for an oil change/trani at Mr. Lube... Buddy some how racked the casing a little on the trani where the plug is... It's around the plug and 2 inches down the casing... Anyone have some recommendations...

 

My exhaust used to occasionally rattle against the heat shield under my car, but only on rainy days. I slightly bent the heat shield up and away from the mid-pipe, and it's been fine since then.

If it's only a scratch; complain about it to the manager and make the suggestion that your next service should be free.
If it's actually cracked, or damaged enough that it poses the danger of cracking, make them replace your transmission.

 

yea i know i have the same thing going on when it is rainy. i have an 01 civic but it happends to me when i'm on the freeway when i let go of gas. my pipe is just stock. but it sound like i have a big leak on my pipe. and cause my power do go down. like everything is going to shut down on me. do really know why but by readying all your guys, it seems like the em2 have that kind of thing going on.

 

i have the same problem in my 03 civic!
but the sound comes from right near me, trans area. im just guessing its the pipe being hot then being splashed with cold water and then it just beats up against a heat shield! :-) ..i guess its time for some research.

 

Dang i thought i was the only one with this issue. I have a GReddy catback and there the banging noise from under the shifter..

 

looks like we all have the same issue i got 2 1/4" piping to a mugen twin loop..............

 

update, ok well now I'm getting the sounds in dry weather too, only when I'm turning right, a little fast, like off a freeway or something... Anyone have any ideas where I should start looking?
I not sure, but was thinking maybe shocks or struts? but it loud grinding sound...

what are boots? maybe I look there....

 

So, has anyone ever come up with a solution for this?

Now that rainy season has started, I'm getting this same sound whenever there is standing water/puddles and it's very disconcerting.

 

So, is there supposed to be a cover that fills in the hole where the tie rods exit the engine compartment? The attached picture shows the hole I'm referring to, taken from the wheel well and looking at the back of my dirty engine.

Seems like there should be something covering this hole, and water sprays off the wheels right to this area. However, I don't see any obvious ways for a cover to attach.