Engine noise?

I recently bought a 1999 Civic DX with 46K on it. The motor seems noisey to me. It is worse cold. It is kind of like a hollow metallic knocking sound. I cant determine if it is in the top end or bottom. Any ideas? BTW it is a 1.6L SOHC motor. Thanks!

[ebpda9]

i think it's time for a valve lash adjustament. i guess you don't have any clue when it was done the last time, but honda reccomends it every 15k miles.

How much to get that done?
Also does it make sense that it gets alot quieter as it warms up?
But even warm you can still here a slight noise.
When cold and revving the motor it almost sounds like marbles rattling.

Also my brother in law has a 2000 with 60K and has never had the valves adjusted, and is totally quiet???

[AzCivic]

if the valves need adjustment it should sound like a ticking noise coming from the engine. marbles rattling almost suggests detonation, which i doubt that it is, but check the ignition timing just incase.

[Shaved &/or Laid]

detonation rules.

if you let it keep doing that, youll bend a rod twice and tear up a crank and a piston and a bearing, as well as holes in cylinder wall and block !

get that shit looked at IMMEDIATELY

Can you explain detonation?

No its NOT pinging or detonation. I meant it had a marbly sound revving it in park.

it could be the same sound ihave in my accord....but it's deff not the valves or w/e, i think it's because i bought my accord at 98k and i have no idea what's it been through....i think accords are prone to get their rods bent in a little, i believe that's correct, i'm sure someone will prove me wrong. That's my noise

[pdiggitydogg]

"marbles" sounds a LOT like detonation to me

Like bb's/marbles in a tin can? Popcorn in a microwave?

Originally posted by allglock
No its NOT pinging or detonation. I meant it had a marbly sound revving it in park.

spun rod bearing

BTW u can use a piece of wood (like a 2 foot 2 by 4 or something) or a metal rod and put it up against the block at certain points. Put your ear on the other end and listen. Its an an old easy way to tell where the noise is coming from. U would be suprised what u can hear.

[ebpda9]

Originally posted by Honda_Tengoku
BTW u can use a piece of wood (like a 2 foot 2 by 4 or something) or a metal rod and put it up against the block at certain points. Put your ear on the other end and listen. Its an an old easy way to tell where the noise is coming from. U would be suprised what u can hear.

LMAO. that old trick, i thought it was lost in the age of the diagnostic computers and stuff.

[pdiggitydogg]

Ive used a big ass screwdriver before

[Kyle]

the deaf guy in "mr. hollands opus" used a screw driver...

[pdiggitydogg]

i tried to watch that movie once

Had valves adjusted still has tapping noise...........................
Can solid lifters go bad?

[pdiggitydogg]

...there are no lifters.
There are, however, followers. Unfortunately, if they were bad, and you went to a good shop, they would have told you that (thats if you had it done).

I STILL say detonation.

What do your plugs look like? What gas octane are you using?

Originally posted by allglock
Had valves adjusted still has tapping noise...........................
Can solid lifters go bad?

u dont have lifters. No such thing on a Honda. A worn out valvetrain can be the other culprit on a high mileage engine.

Originally posted by hondaman-iac
LMAO. that old trick, i thought it was lost in the age of the diagnostic computers and stuff.

why not use it if it works?

[ebpda9]

Originally posted by Honda_Tengoku
why not use it if it works?

i still use it. it's just i was amazed someone else besides me uses it

[AzCivic]

Originally posted by Honda_Tengoku
spun rod bearing

"Also does it make sense that it gets alot quieter as it warms up"

well perhaps not. It maybe he is thinking it is but he may just be getting used to the sound. Who knows. He really needs to do more troubleshooting and pin point the problem a bit. There are just too many variables right now.

Anyone know of any other Honda forums out there? I would really like to get an answer to this. For a 46K mileage car, this thing should be quiet.

[pdiggitydogg]

youre not being specific enough...youre just saying "my car makes a noise"
try honda-tech.com

[ebpda9]

who adjusted it for you ? if you did did u use an offset feeler gauge ? was the mark on the cam gear at the required positions ? i know for sure that doing it without an offset gauge it's pure lottery. the first time i did it it came out sweet, the second time came out like shit and my engine knocks even worse that before. is the hollow noice inside the cabin ? or is it when the hood is raised and you are in front of the car. so many knocks can come out of an engine it's not even funny