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Hi Everyone,
Starting about 2 days ago, my '02 Civic LX (65K miles) began making a new noise. It seems to come from the left front area and sounds like what you might hear from large truck tires (road noise) or a lower volume version of a prop plane taking off. I can barely hear it at 25mph and it gets louder as I increase speed. At 70mph, it's very noticable.
* Pressing the clutch, changing gears or applying brakes has no affect on the noise.

It would seem that the problem would have to be between the output side of the transmission and the wheel.

Things I have or are still considering are:
- Broken belt in the tire - But I feel no vibration in the steering wheel.
- Tires mounted in the wrong direction - Not sure if they are directional. Had them rotated a couple weeks ago but it just started so I doubt that is the problem.
(BTW - The noise seems constant over different types of pavement, etc...)
- Wheel bearing, although that would be a new noise to me for bearing problems.
- Transmission - But not on the engine side because changing gears, coasting, etc... has no affect on the noise.
- CV joint

Tonight, I plan on putting it on blocks to check out things and eventually bringing it up to speed while the wheels are elevated to try and pin point the noise. (CAREFULLY!)

Anybody have any ideas or suggestions on what it might be or what to look for?

Thanks!

Jerry

 
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Your tire could be rubbing on your tire well garnish- happened to my sisters car, it looked fine, but at high speeds the air entering the fornt of the car pushed the plastic garnish into the tire and it made that weird noise. A few clips had just fallen out. Might be your problem, might not- just a heads up.

 
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Yes, I thought about that after I posted too. I would think that turning the wheel would affect the noise (it doesn't), but I'm going to check for that too.

 
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I bet its something to do with the tire or wheel bearing. When I bought my car there was a lump in of of the rear tires(they were really crappy tires) causing a whirring noise. Naturally it got louder as I increased speed, which is what yours is doing. I dont know if this would affect your steering. As for the cv joint, isnt the most prominent symptom of a failing joint a clicking sound when you turn the wheels?

 
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ya loud clicking.

 
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Yep, CV joints usually clunk while turning so it would be a new sound for me if that was it.

Unfortunately, it's looking more and more like the manual tranny. I put it up on blocks and brought it up to speed. The sound is MUCH more noticable due to the lack of other road noises, etc... It's very hard to hear while you are outside trying to pinpoint the location of the noise because of the motor noise, but from inside, it's prominant.

I removed the tires and it's still there. There is still a slim chance it's the CVJ or wheel bearing but it sure seems to be coming from inside the transmission.

Guess I'm going to have to roll the dice and take it to a shop.

 
Rep Power: 291

Good luck if its the tranny. I just had mine rebuilt because of bad input shaft bearing and third gear syncro.