Honda Civic: Why is My Car Whining When I Press the Gas Pedal?

This article applies to the Honda Civic/Del Sol (1992-2000).

If you hear your Honda making any abnormal sounds, it's definitely a good idea to get it checked and resolved as soon as possible. If that sound happens to be a whine, then you will need get your car checked very, very soon. The cost to fix this problem may be as little as $60 or upwards of $1,500. In this article, you will learn the likely sources of your car's whining noise. Check it yourself or take it to an automotive mechanic, but don't leave the problem for another day.

Step 1 – Incorrect tension of the timing belt

A very common cause of your engine's whining on acceleration is an incorrect tension of your timing belt. If your car's timing belt was recently replaced, it's likely that the tension was adjusted too tight, which can result in a whining noise. When the timing belt is too loose, the result would be a rattling noise. It is recommended to check the timing belt tension if you are experiencing a whining noise.

Servicing your timing belt is usually accompanied by the replacement of the water pump and accessory belts, or sometimes the seals. This job will usually cost you around $550 for parts and labor at a good shop. Doing the job yourself is relatively easy, and the cost for a new timing belt kit starts at $60.

If your timing belt tension is correct, move on to the next step.

(Related Article: How to Replace Timing Belt and Water Pump - Honda-Tech.com)

Step 2 – Faulty alternator

Alternators tend to make a whining noise when they're about to completely break down. An alternator is driven by the accessory belt, which is ran by the crankshaft pulley. If the pulley is not in correct alignment with the belt or the bearings/bushings are worn out, a whining noise from the alternator is an indication that something is wrong.

A new Honda Civic alternator costs around $80. Unless you replace it yourself, labor costs start at around $150.

If your car's alternator is in working condition, move on to the following steps.

(Related Article: How to Replace Your Alternator - Honda-Tech.com)

Step 3 – Worn out transmission gears

It's likely that you would hear a whining noise when your transmission gears begin to wear out. If this is the case, the best choice would be to have an automotive mechanic inspect your transmission. Opening it up is a difficult task, and replacing the gears themselves is just as difficult. Because transmission problems can escalate and lead to bigger transmission problems, get it checked right away if the first two steps are not the cause of your car's whining noise.

If a mechanic reveals that the source of your car's problem is coming from the transmission, first determine the cost of parts and labor. Compare those to the cost of purchasing a new or used Honda Civic because the difference in price may well be the same. Professional labor costs for a rebuilt transmission starts at $1,500, and it does not include the transmission itself.

In addition to the transmission gears, check the transmission bearings.

Step 4 – Worn out transmission bearings

There are two main bearings in the transmission that can go bad, which (as with the gears) would also result in a whining noise. These are the throwout bearing and the input shaft bearing. If you have a bad throwout bearing, the whining noise should go away when you step on the clutch (when the engine is in neutral or idling). If you have a bad input shaft bearing, the whining noise would likely be heard under heavy load such as upon acceleration (noise may also be heard while cruising).

The cost of bearings start at around $50. But again, the labor costs to open up the transmission or completely replace it run very high depending on the auto shop you take it to.

Related Discussions

• Discussion: Whining Noise when Pressing Gas Pedal - Honda-Tech.com
• Discussion: Bad Throwout Bearing - Honda-Tech.com