Hello all long time lurker, first time poster!


I have a 2003 Civic LX 1.7 SOHC 4-dr automatic w/ approx 103,000 +/- a few miles.

Last week, I left the car parked for a couple of days and then went to drive it Saturday AM. I noticed a small and faint whistling/whirring noise during acceleration that was not there before. This noise is very faint, only happens when accelerating and sounds as if it is coming from the front of the car. The noise does not change tone or speed when engine speeds up, but does seem to get a tiny bit louder. It happens in all gears, but stops when I lift my foot from the accelerator.

Windows down or radio on, I cannot hear it. But, with windows closed and no radio, I can just make it out. Wife thought I was crazy, but now she can also make out the sound as well. I have tried to search for the sound with the car parked, but no luck. Seems to only happen while moving.

Car does have a short ram intake w/K&N filter, but the noise is new and I have had the intake on for about 50,000 miles without the noise. I cleaned the filter and the noise persists. Also, had timing belt/water pump/belts done about 9,000 miles ago, also without the noise. Factory everything else. All important fluids are at correct levels and appear normal. Sound does not change with steering or when running lights/electrical devices. Gas mileage normal and no computer trouble codes.

Tranny fliud and filter changed approx 12,000 miles ago. Auto seems to shift as it always has, but in the last 40,000 or so miles, the car needs to warm up on a cold day or the tranny will slip a bit going 2nd to 3rd until warmed up. This was after fliud change as well.

I am a bit of a hypochondriac when it comes to car problems and do not like strange new noises. Years ago, I had an older mini-van that started making small whistling noises and the tranny went out less than a week later!! I always worry about auto trannys, more so in this car as it is "weird" compared to other auto trannys in past vehicles (wish I could have found a 5-spd!!!). I have no idea if this sound is tranny related.

One more issue, I was recently hit from behind by an ambulance, which caused me to be pushed into another car (Celica). No damage that I could find (low speed), but it may be relevant? However, the noise started about a week after that.

Any ideas?

 

Check front wheel bearings, easiest way to check this, have car on a hoist and have simulated driving, use a stethescope to check for noise from the wheel bearings.

 

Almost sounds like my EX, but I have a 5spd and I KNOW it's something to do somewhere in the drivetrain

 

Could it be an alternator bearing? My ants car wined and it was here alternator haha it sound like it was going into boost when you floored it and it was NA car. And an easy why to check your wheel bearing is to lift your car grab the tire at 2 and 7 and see if you can wobble the wheel from side to side. Also try the opposite from that, and try at 12 and 6 o'clock and several other axis if the wheel wobbles from side to side you found your problem.