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It sounds like your timing belt has been over-tightened. I’m not sure about the civics but I know on my integra, there will be a teardrop-shaped insert on the upper timing cover where you can adjust the tensioner bolt.
There’s a chance it’s the alternator, but it sounds identical to when I replaced the timing belt on my integra.
It sounds like your timing belt has been over-tightened. I’m not sure about the civics but I know on my integra, there will be a teardrop-shaped insert on the upper timing cover where you can adjust the tensioner bolt.
There’s a chance it’s the alternator, but it sounds identical to when I replaced the timing belt on my integra.
How do I adjust? You don't think it's the water pump? The PO said he got the TB replaced 40k ago but, they didn't do the WP, which I find odd.
I cleaned the engine bay with degreaser and a carefully used a hose. I used a leaf blower to dry the engine bay, let it sit for a bit and started it up. There was a horrific sound as if bearings were crushing. I revved it and the engine seem fine but, that sound was very scary.
A little bit later I started the car again and that horrific sound went away but, the whining sound didn't. I'm wondering if I got something too wet that there's no grease ie.. alternator pulley, PS pump pulley, etc.
It would be something that accelerates with the engine. Knowing that info you gave me, I'd guess alternator belt. If it was a weird shrieking noise that went when you revved it, I'm pretty sure the alternator belt isn't tight enough.
I don't think the 2 noises are related, but there's only one way to find out. Let me know after you adjust it. It's a pretty simple process: if I remember correctly, you need to move the PS pump and you should have unlimited access to it. You only need to adjust the tension.
It would be something that accelerates with the engine. Knowing that info you gave me, I'd guess alternator belt. If it was a weird shrieking noise that went when you revved it, I'm pretty sure the alternator belt isn't tight enough.
I don't think the 2 noises are related, but there's only one way to find out. Let me know after you adjust it. It's a pretty simple process: if I remember correctly, you need to move the PS pump and you should have unlimited access to it. You only need to adjust the tension.
The other noise I mentioned, where it sounded like ball bearings crunching dissipated but, I don't recall the whining noise being present when I started the car several times prior to cleaning the engine bay. I cleane dthe engine bay with Gunk degreaser, soap and water and a hose with a gentle spray.
How can the time belt be over tightened? Isn't the tension managed by the tensioner? Is the tensioner adjustable?
I am hoping the noise is from being wet. I'm going to start it up tomorrow. Letting it sit overnight should allow it to dry thoroughly.
I hope the pulleys are ok. I will try to lube their seams to make sure there's some lubrication.
If your pulleys are wet, it may create more friction than before and make a whining noise. I'd still be guessing alternator pulley/belt.
The tensioner just holds the belt in place. You have to set the tension, but if you don't remember hearing it before, then don't waste your time trying to look at it.
Post a video of that other noise if you get the chance.
If your pulleys are wet, it may create more friction than before and make a whining noise. I'd still be guessing alternator pulley/belt.
The tensioner just holds the belt in place. You have to set the tension, but if you don't remember hearing it before, then don't waste your time trying to look at it.
Post a video of that other noise if you get the chance.
Before I cleaned the engine bay, there wasn't any odd noises. After cleaning and letting it dry for a bit, is when I heard the horrible noise. I tried hard to pinpoint the sound but, it was difficult to find it because it was loud. Then after restarting the car several times, revving the engine and letting it warm up, while turning the car on and off throughout, I grabbed my phone to record and the crunching ball bearing sound went away.Now I am left with the whining noise. The belts were fine prior to the engine bay cleaning. So that brings me to, what the heck got wet and was making such a sound? The sound was so weird that I'm afraid when I start driving the car 60 miles a day, a pulley is going to go flying off! I forgot to mention I added some Gummout Cleaner in the engine and I'm going to let it idle for about 10 minutes then change the oil but, I honestly don't believe the cleaner made any of the sounds. I've used that for years in my BMWs without issues. The horrible noise sounded like a piece of metal was in the engine bouncing and crunching. Even my neighbor said, oh boy! What did you do now Drew... I said, rinse the engine! LOL I'm going to start it up in a bit and see what happens. I'm going to change the plugs, oil and VCG today. I wish I could drive it but, I can't transfer my plates from my BMW because DMV is closed until further notice...
I started the car and no more horrific sound however, I still hear the whining sound. So, I let the car warm up so I can get ready to change the oil. I slid the jack right under the subframe and started to jack it up, then I noticed something on the ground. Does anyone know what this is?
That looks like the bushing that goes in the alternator or power steering pump for the bolt to pass through
Interesting. It was on the passenger side of the vehicle. No other cars were on that part of the driveway except the Civic. I'll check after it stops raining but, wouldn't something go wrong while the car was idling? For example, a belt come off or some kind of wobbling from the belt area?
Is this what I found on the driveway??? If so, where does this belong on the car??? I forgot to mention I was turning the steering wheel full lock both directions because I can hear a little thump on the passenger side when I turn the steering wheel full lock to the right. As if there might be something wrong with the strut. https://www.ebay.com/p/222931289?iid=193319774944
I'm going to assume that part must have made that crunching horrific noise but, where the heck did it come from? The car starts up fine and idles fine. I drove it up and down the driveway about 10 ft both ways yesterday after the crunching sound went away and it seemed fine besides the whining sound but, that part wasn't there yesterday evening when I was under the car.
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Re: Whining Noise during idle
Originally Posted by StockD16
That's a bearing, different than a bushing.
Originally Posted by StockD16
Interesting. It was on the passenger side of the vehicle. No other cars were on that part of the driveway except the Civic. I'll check after it stops raining but, wouldn't something go wrong while the car was idling? For example, a belt come off or some kind of wobbling from the belt area?
Originally Posted by StockD16
I'm going to assume that part must have made that crunching horrific noise but, where the heck did it come from? The car starts up fine and idles fine. I drove it up and down the driveway about 10 ft both ways yesterday after the crunching sound went away and it seemed fine besides the whining sound but, that part wasn't there yesterday evening when I was under the car.
I can't see anything from here in Canada.
Maybe somebody knocked it out and never noticed, or put in a replacement and assumed the old one was lost. the bushing sat near the belts for a while until one day it fell into the belts and pulleys, causing the grinding noise until it was eventually launched out, bounced around the engine bay until landing on the driveway on the passenger side.
That is odd. The PO drove the car everyday. I bought the car, put it on a flat bed, was towed 58 miles, drove off the flatbed and drove on my driveway. I cleaned the engine bay (the top of the bay), let it dry and voila!, the horrific sound. Waited a bit, started the car, noise went away. Drove the car back and forth on the driveway and called it a night. Went out this morning, started the car to get it warmed up, shut the car off, put the jack under the car and noticed the piece on the ground. My question is, which part did that piece come from so I can inspect it tomorrow.
I didn't take anything apart. It's just odd that all of a sudden this piece is on the ground and I have no clue where it came from. Now I'm going to be worried when I actually drive the car.
Looks like the one for the power steering pump. If that falls out, it means there’s no bolt holding it in place.
I can’t remember if that one mounts the pump or helps tension the belt, but based on the noise, I’m guessing it tensions, and your belt could be loose.
Looks like the one for the power steering pump. If that falls out, it means there’s no bolt holding it in place.
I can’t remember if that one mounts the pump or helps tension the belt, but based on the noise, I’m guessing it tensions, and your belt could be loose.
I will definitely check in he morning. It's snowing right now. How would that come off? I looked at the tensioner earlier and it looks fine. I tried to twist the butterfly nut and wouldn't budge but.., I did not look any further because I didn't know where the bearing came from. Thank you. I will check in the AM, weather permitting.
How would that just come off? It doesn't look broken and I don't see a broken bolt anywhere. Thanks for the response.
Further investigating the piece, it doesn't look like a bearing or a bushing. It looks as if it sheered off of something. You can see the circular portion where it looks like it snapped off but, it also looks as if something was inside of it because there is either oil or grease inside the hole. I'm new to this so I could be wrong.
Gentlemen, we are now al title closer. I looked under the car and this is what I found on the driveway, by the front of the car., right under the radiator fans. In that area of the driveway.
what can this be? How bad is it? That bearing piece fits right in that hole.
That bearing/bushing definitely belongs to that something. It looks like a pulley but, there aren't any grooves. I'm sure that made the horrific sound. I looked at the power steering pump, alternator and tried to look at the AC and everything seems in tact. Nothing is leaking and the car starts up and idles fine.
Ok.. Well, I'm a jerk. Just went outside to see where the heck that part fell off from. As I was jacking up the car (hydrolic Jack), I happened to look at the jack wheel.... Looked at the other side of the jack and you know the rest..
Stupid me.. Sorry all.. At least I know it's not from the car. Thanks!
That's a relief. I'd be wondering how they managed to stay in during the test drive.
I knew it didn't belong to the car as soon as you posted the wheel. Nothing on the car looks like that. '
Have you checked anything we've suggested yet?
I;ve checked the power steering and alternator belt. they seem fine. I don't know how to tell if the timing belt is too tensioned. I thought that was a one shot deal because the tensioner is spring loaded. Right now I have the VC off because I'm replacing the VCG and grommets. Anything I should be looking for?
Since you already have it somewhat apart, just remove the upper timing cover and you should have enough room to check the slack. You should be able to wiggle it about 3/4".
The other option (if you feel like going further) is to disconnect the belts entirely, then start the car to isolate the noise. That's how I did it on my Integra. It's a fool-proof way but it's time-consuming.
Since DMV is closed and I can't put the car on the road yet, this is a perfect opportunity to do what I need to do to make sure everything is tip top. Looks like it's a beautiful day today. I will check the timing belt, put the VC back on, change the oil, then remove the belts to further test.
Although the PO said the TB was changed 40k ago, I ordered a new timing kit anyway. Better to be safe than sorry. There's one thing I noticed while the car is idling. The interior light have a slight flicker. The tach lights and the dome lights slightly flicker when I turn it on. Can that be the alternator? Thanks for the responses. It helps a great deal.
