Hi, Honda-Tech! I have a 1995 Honda Civic EX Auto with 121,000 mi. I recently changed the valve cover gasket because it was leaking, but discovered the leak was still apparent, and in addition, the car now idles very rough when stopped at lights or in park, but only after it reaches operating temperature. It idles around 500-600 rpm, and the steering wheel shakes badly. If I give it gas, the shaking goes away. I took it to my mechanic and reported the issues. They told me there were leaks elsewhere and repaired those, but in the process on their testing their work a tensioner pulley apparently seized up and needed to be replaced, but the new one makes an intermittent clacking noise that only appears after the engine is warmed up and is audible from inside the car with the windows up. It's incredibly annoying, it's not a squeak or whine like a bad bearing. I've tried WD-40, no help. It seems to be on straight. As far as the idle, the cap and rotor was just replaced, and the plugs and wires only have about 20,000 miles on them. I never had an issue before replacing the gasket, so I doubt it's the coolant system or the IACV, though I haven't checked. I have a theory that the old gasket may have had a vacuum leak which was rectified by the new gasket and the ECU hasn't adjusted yet. No check engine lights are on, checked for codes and none. Any help from the pros on this site would be much appreciated.

 

You can reset the ECU simply by disconnecting the battery a few mins to clear any cells stored.

Show us what tensioner pulley was replaced and is making the sound!

If I was you take it back and report the issue with the pulley they replaced! they should warranty there work and honor the repair or replacement free.

 

I took it back and did tell them about the issue but since it only happens after it warms up they told me they didn’t hear it even after road testing. But it’s clearly there. I’ll try and get a video soon, but it sounds like someone briefly scaping knives together on and off every second or so constantly. Gets louder with gas.

 

Here is a video from this morning. I suspect it’s the A/C tensioner pulley, since it’s the only idler pulley that can be accessed without talking the timing cover off.

 

You suspect?? dude call the shop and ask what pulley they replaced its not that hard! And the video doesn't play, the AC idle pulley usually NEVER needs to be replaced! they will last forever! I highly doubt they changed that and you need to ask why they changed it because they cannot seize! Its eaither the AC pulley or the alternator pulley they changed. I still cannot figure out how ANY of those pulleys gets seized! while doing a valve cover gasket repair! they shouldn't even need to remove any of those parts/belts to service your valve cover gasket!

"I took it to my mechanic and reported the issues. They told me there were leaks elsewhere and repaired those, but in the process on their testing their work a tensioner pulley apparently seized up and needed to be replaced, but the new one makes an intermittent clacking noise that only appears after the engine is warmed up and is audible from inside the car with the windows up."

I'm 99.9% sure just like most mechanic shops they RIPPED you off and tricked you into paying for more stuff you didn't even need and made up a silly story of your IDLE PULLEY SEIZED! that sounds like complete bullshit! I would find a friend who knows about Hondas and head back there and get some answers!

 

They sourced the leak to somewhere else and told me I did a good job on the VC gasket job myself. The part listed on the invoice just says "tensioner pulley". The mechanic said the car blew a seal like twice that he was replacing trying to stop the leak and also seized up the pulley, but they didn't charge me extra for the labor. The invoice says "tensioner pulley: 1 units" and "engine timing cover gasket set: 1 units". Any ideas?

 

I think they replaced your timing belt tensioner! If that's the case you need to have it inspected again, the belt may be on wrong or too tight! Now it kind of makes sense why your having engine issues, I suspect the mechanical timing may be off and also possibly the ignition timing. You need to pull the Valve cover off and have the timing checked and also the timing belt tensioner that they replaced, Hopefully they used a OEM tensioner not a China brand. last have the ignition timing checked with a timing light gun.

 

Oh no, is it safe to drive the car like that? Can't have the belt breaking on me...Why would the timing belt tensioner seize up like that?

 

I couldn't tell you! that's why I mentioned to ask what tensioner they replaced, the belt wont break but it could be loose and it skip timing which still isn't good. I don't see how a timing belt tensioner seized but anything could happen. Also find out what exact seals they replaced to fix the leak you had. Could of been the cam gear seal, But its possible they didn't put the timing belt on back properly.

 

I found out that they replaced the A/C tensioner pulley. I verified by using a screwdriver to the ear, it makes a horrible noise when I put my ear to it. I tried WD-40 on it, but it's still just as loud. I'm glad it wasn't the timing belt tensioner, but any ideas on how to fix the noise? I took it in twice after the first time to get the noise fixed, and both times they told me they didn't hear anything. I'm at wit's end, it's clearly audible while driving, to give you an idea of how loud it is.

 

The mechanic probably reassembled the A/C idler pulley incorrectly. It is composed of several pieces that can easily be reassembled incorrectly, if you are not careful.