hey everyone!

i have a 1993 honda civic LX.
recently my car has begun making a strange noise coming from right inside the distributor cap. it sounds like a metal on metal scracthing and whining sound. it also is not consistent - sometimes it sounds worse, sometimes it's just a little squeak, and sometimes it isn't there at all. i've replaced the cap and rotor and it didn't change anything. so i'm thinking i need a new distributor unless you guys can think of something i can replace inside that might be making this nosie?
also - i have 160,000 miles on my car(i bought it with 126,000) and have no idea the last time the Timing belt was replaced. do you think it's possible that my belt is loose and it is causing the cam to act funny - which in turn may be screwing up things in my distributor? i read that this can happen, and screws inside the distributor come loose, causing it to damage itself.
as far as i can tell my car doesn't run any worse than before this noise - idle is smooth, gas milage is normal - although once a few days ago the idle was jumping from 500 - 1100 and slowly drop back down to 500 - but it isn't doing that anymore.
wow, i know this is a long post, but if anyone can shed some light on this i would be very thankful. thanks for your time!

dave kroondyk

 

do you have an oil light on? or know your oil pressure?

 

sounds like the bearing could be going bad or something mught be wrong with your rotor rubbing on the cap. Open it up and take a look.

 

Yea sounds like a bearing problem.

 

Distributor bearing is probably going bad. Happened to my '93 Civic EX once; the noise was a horrible intermittent screeching sound. You'll need a new distributor.

 

thanks guys for all the responses! sounds like i'll be getting a new distrib. thanks again!

dave kroondyk