Here’s a slightly amusing story that I doubt has happened to anyone else, enjoy!

I bought my 2000 Civic Si used with 6,500 miles on it (private seller). When I test drove it, I noticed that at idle, the engine emitted a faint but very noticeable whistle or whine. It only occurred at 850 rpm and never came up during driving. I really didn’t think much of it, nor did I ask about it and bought the car. After a couple of months of driving, it bothered me enough that I decided to take advantage of the factory warranty and brought it to a dealership.

Wed. - They really didn’t seem concerned about it, they thought it had something to do with a vacuum line. After 5 hours they said they were stumped, something that hardly ever happens, so they say. They wanted the car overnight.

Thurs. - I got a call and they said that they checked every vacuum line on the car and even replaced a few small parts and the noise was still there. They called Honda Tech and they had never heard of it before and told them to let them know what it was when they find out. The guys in the shop had concluded that the intake manifold had a casting flaw that was causing the noise. He told me that a new intake was being overnighted to them. Of course the car had to remain another night.

Fri.- I get a call from Honda and he said that they put on the new intake and the noise was still there. After a second call to Honda Tech, Honda told them to replace the throttle body and the water pump. Both the Honda mechanic and I were surprised at the water pump suggestion but was going to do it anyway. Since this was at the end of the day on a Friday, the car had to remain at the shop for the weekend.

Mon.- At the end of the day Monday, I get a call and the water pump was the problem! I picked up the car, asked to see the water pump, and sure enough when you turned the wheel it made a faint squeaky whine!

I have to give props to the guy at the dealership, who on the phone was loving this because they were true wrench heads with a challenge on there hands and really seemed concerned. I wish that it wasn’t with my car! I tried to figure up what the whole ordeal would have cost me if not under warranty, I came up with like over $2,000 with parts and labor! Gotta love new car warranty!


[Modified by bluesiguy, 12:35 PM 10/4/2001]

 

Lucky that you have someone who cares about other people's cars like that guy....
1. Don't ever forget that Mech!!!!
2. What shop/city/name of the tech!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It has been a while, so I can't remember his name. But the Honda dealership is Don Ayres Honda located in Ft. Wayne Indiana.