I may be chasing up the wrong tree here, but I have this peculiar knocking kind of noise coming from the upper drivers side fender/dash/hood area. The noise goes away when the temp is above about 50 degrees, strange but true. The noise occurs only when the left front hits a bump, but not always. At first I thought the issue might be the top of the strut. But the noise doesn't seem to be indicative of a strut, and shaking it vigorously with the tire removed didn't reveal the noise. I simply can't replicate the noise moving the car up and down or pounding on area's I believe the noise is coming from!
But, I'm trying to get the inner fender off to get a better look at things, and to see if it is or isn't the culprit. I can remove the plastic nuts no problem, but the 3 plastic Phillips nuts that hold the mud guard seem to be a problem. Is there a proper way to remove those little buggers without destroying them? Or, should I just destroy them and buy new ones?
Has anybody else experienced this peculiar knocking kind of noise that I described?

 

Never had mine off, but they are really cheap and available at the dealers parts counter. I say pop the guard off and take a look, but get the replacement screws first.

 

Sounds similar to the bump stop issue on the 06-11 Si. What year is yours?

 

vladd,

My Civic is a 2006 EX. Yes, I originally thought it may be something to do with the strut. But, I can't replicate the noise when I move the left front rather vigorously up and down. Also, it doesn't take much suspension movement at all for the noise to appear. It is very peculiar that the noise is very definitely heat sensitive, as I have learned now, above 40 degrees, and the noise is gone. I wouldn't think a bump stop would fall under those circumstances?
What do you know about the SI issue vladd?