Rep Power: 0

I have a 97 civic ex sedan auto with the stock y8. I had to replace the cylinder head about 2 months, or more, ago. It ran perfect for a few weeks. Then I started hearing a slight rattle that sounded like thin metal rattling lose. It wasn't steady, it came and went. No rim or reason when or how it would come or go. I triple checked the adjustment on the valves and the oil level. There was no change with the rattling. Then after 2 or 3 weeks of that the cel came on. When that happened the car bucked and lunged repeatedly so hard the tires where squealing on the road. It would do that any time id revd the engine over 5000 rpms. The code it thru was the vetec switch malfunctioned. I checked the oil level and there was nothing on the stick. Topped it off and reset the light. It runs and drives but now at idle the oil light flickers with the speed of the engine. Some times the idle drops to about 2 or 3 hundred rpms. Once the rpms get above 1000 rpms the light goes out. I hear knocking when I'm accelerating and when it's idling. If im costing or barly touching the accelerator I don't hear knocking. I believe the pump is going bad or the pickup might be blocked. Any other suggestions on what it might be? I apologize for the long post just felt the more history the better idea u might have of what it is.

 
Rep Power: 518

Replace the engine.

 
Rep Power: 141

Sounds like it munched some bearings. Sounds like you were driving it hard with no oil in the crankcase. You are now left with the choices of:

1) selling car
2) rebuilding engine
3) replacement engine
4) keep it full of oil and drive it until it blows

The only likely thing to block the pickup of the pump would be metal debris and cleaning out the pickup isn't going to fix the underlying problem.

 
Rep Power: 0

Yeah I think the blocked pick up would be one of those rare out the box things. Hey now lets be positive, no chewed up bearings. I hope that's not the case cause I just bought this car like 3 or 4 months ago from a guy who didn't maintain it at all. Had to put 3000 into rebuilding the top end and other things to get it running and street legal and I'm still not done. What do u think the possibility of the oil pump being bad is?

 
Rep Power: 141

I'm pretty sure a vacuum cleaner salesman did not climb into the engine and is causing the knocking.

Noise means clearance. Clearance has to have came from somewhere. So where do you think the knocking is coming from?

 
Rep Power: 0

Again thinking positive I'd like to think the noise is from oil not being distributed thru the engine lol. U know that's why the lights on no oil pressure means it's not getting pushed thru the engine. Deep down I know you guys are right I'm just dreeding taking the pan off to see how bad it is.

 
Rep Power: 221

And you think he bothered to maintain a proper oil level in the car?

You're looking at either rebuild or replace. I know in my area I can get those engines for $200 or less all day long.

 
Rep Power: 518

When the engine ran out of oil, the oil was no longer distributed thru the engine. That's how the noise started.
It's gonna take time and money to make it better now.


Lack of pressure, because the oil is leaking past the trashed bearings faster than the oil pump can push it.
Once we know the noise is wiped out bottom end bearings, many of us wouldn't bother taking it apart at all....unless you just want to go on a discovery mission as a learning experience.

I can write up an estimate from here, no teardown needed LOL.

Used engines can be found pretty dang cheap.
www.car-part.com

 
Rep Power: 0

Yeah all the civics in the junk yards around here have already been stripped of the engine. So i might just rebuild this engine. Unless one of you know if Honda makes a twin cam vetec that can work with an auto Trans. Its the wife's car so i cant ditch the auto as much as id like to. I'm new to the Hondas and am still educating myself about Hondas and different drive trains they offered thru the years. Seen as this is my dd it would have to be a swap that can be done in a weekend or 2 with 1 to 2 people.

 
Rep Power: 518

Rebuilding it right will probably cost more than a used engine. At the very least it's gonna need the crank turned, replace at least one connecting rod, and a thorough cleanout, along with stripping the cylinder head far enough to thoroughly clean out all of its oil passages (bearing debris can get carried all throughout the oiling system when a bearing lets go, and that debris can hide just waiting to cause problems later on)
Plus bearings, gaskets, and all that.

Check the website in the previous post for used engines.
Or check any of the JDM engine places

 
Rep Power: 210

Used engine:
http://stores.ebay.com/LKQonline__W0...LH_TitleDesc=1

http://car-part.com/

Used engines are a crap shoot at best. Better to rebuild, buy a rebuilt or for the same price buy another used 6th gen Honda Civic.