Hello all,

I'm posting this for my freind who needs to know a few things about whats going on with his car. Its a 1999 Civic siR with a GSR Bottom end, B16 top end. When he bought the car, a slight knocking noise was coming from what sounded like the head. Recently, this noise has gotten worse, and (to me) sounds like something is hitting the valve cover.

Can NEONE suggest what this could possibly be? I was thinking possibly valve related? I can't make a video, but I can say with certainty it sounds like something is smashing up against the valve cover.

 

The motor is JDM, and it has roughly 110,000KM.

 

Could be piston slap. I'm not there to hear the noise though. But a ticking sound is more the valve train.

 

Hmmm. What does a piston slap mean?

 

Sounds like a rod knock to me.
The only sound that is consistent with your description of something hitting the valve cover???

Id also check lost motion and the rocker assy as a whole.

Ticking can be valve lash or injectors.

 

It would be extremely helpful if the OP would get (or make) a motor stethoscope and pinpoint exactly where the sound is coming from.

 

bottom line the engine needs some help asap, would recommend not driving it, could be as bad as a spun rod bearing or could be something easier such as valve adjustment. I had a valve tap and I spun a rod bearing, luckily I caught it before the engine went catastrophic and I ended up having to get the engine rebuilt. good luck

 

Thanks guys. I am deffinately going to show him all of this so he knows where he stands with her.

 

Sorry if this is a stupid question folks,

But if its a sticky valve lifter or something thats going on inside, can't he just run SeaFoam in the motor to loosen it up?

 

Bump. Sorry, my buddy needs an answer here if he can get one.

 

these engines dont have lifters. seafoam wont do anything. has he adjusted the valves yet?

 

No, but I will deffinately suggest that he does that next (by a professional).

 

K folks, he's got it worked out. Its his LMA, he needs to take it out clean it and put it back (I think). Thanks for the repllies!!

 

No.

Defective/worn/sticking LMA's should be replaced.

Honda has a new design that isn't hydraulic style, it is now just a spring style that is not as prone to failure.
If you can afford it replace them all as not to encounter this problem again with one of the other 7.