I have a 92 DX sedan for a daily beater now.. Just today it started acting up. It makes this noise, it sounds like it's coming from the timing area, it's very noticeable at idle. While driving I can barely hear it with the radio off and windows down. My first inclination was, "uh oh a bearing took a **** on me" but the car has driven over 30-40 miles in this condition and there is no lose of power, and the noise doesn't get louder with RPMs. So then I thought maybe the cam seal cause the sound was similiar to the grinding/clicking you'll have when you have a cam seal outta place, but no oil or anything so my next thought was timing belt.. I pulled the valve cover off, looked at it, all appeared okay, but I didn't get to look at anything else cause it's dark adn I can't see ****. Should I change the timing belt? Could the tensioner be making the noise? Thanks for any help, I really need this car to drive to college.

 

Could it be another belt besides the timing? Oddly enough, it seems as if I can't hear the sound when the engine is under load as well as I can dry revving.

 

You could always test the tension of your alternator, PS and AC belts.

 

may be your water pump

 

Found the problem, unfortunately. Crank pulley was broke in half and the key that goes into the crank was destroyed. The car needs a new shortblock, I'm done with it.

 

that sucks. sorry to hear that...who did you by it from???

 

I got the car when I sold my GS-R Civic. He gave me cash + this car, he's my friend though. The motor had only 31K on it. I've never heard of anything like this happening.