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I know this happens as cars get older...however, I figured I might as well try to see what's going on here so that maybe I can fix it.

Whenever my car is idling, it makes a "thud thud thud thud" sound as the engine is rotating... Of course you can't hear it when the car speeds up, as the motor starts moving very quickly and you can't make the noise out much. However, it's quite distinct when the windows are up, AC is off, and the radio is turned off.

Anybody know what could be causing this? Some type of belt? Something I can do to quiet it up or completely stop the noise?

Is this a bad sign?

Thanks in advance.

 
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Sounds like your valves might need some adjusting ... it's normal as your mileage starts piling up. (how much mileage you got?) Complicated job though, so best to let a Honda mechanic do it.

 
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It's got 88,000 miles on it. However, it's a 98 civic (not quite 7th gen, but... I still love browsing this forum!)

...how much would a job like this cost?

 
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I'm guessing around $100 -150 at the dealer.

May be cheaper at a regular garage ... but if you go that route, go to one that knows Hondas well.

 
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Is a thud or a ticking sound? I think a thud noise would be different from the valves which usually make a ticking noise. A thud could be alot of things. Pop the hood and try to isolate it down to where the noise is coming from is a good place to start.

 
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It's more of a ticking. btw, I made a typo - 68,000 miles, not 88k

The car is acting a bit strange. I'm gonna pop the hood and tinker around a bit and see what's going on. This is the first time the car has ever given me problems. It is normally quiet and smooth. Now, things are acting up a bit.

Thanks for the help so far. I really appreciate the help!

 
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Heh, I was kinda confused too by the "thud" you mentioned. So yeah, that ticking is most likely your valves needing adjustment ...

 
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Thank you all for your help!

I really appreciate it.

 
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Try some of these before getting the valves adjusted:

--greased lightning fuel system cleaner
--spray belt lubricant on all the belts (I think there's 3).
--Get throttle body cleaner and wipe inside of the TB to help idle probs.

But that ticking sound is normal. Mine did it since day 1.

 
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That was actually my first thought -- the fact that the belts might be making the noise... Wouldn't it just be easier to replace the belts instead of replacing them?

Hummm -- what precisely is the throttle body? Never heard of it...

sry, you'll have to forgive me - I do not know a ton about the mechanics behind the car.

One more question: spark plugs. Maybe it's the whole idea of the car making the noise, but for some reason I feel like the car is acting a bit strange in general...the engine, that is. Could it be the sparkplugs causing all the trouble?

Just a n00b guess on my behalf.

 
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Oh yes, I wanted to let you all know about something that might hint as to what is going on with the car. When the air is cool in the morning and I go to start the car, everything starts perfectly fine. The engine starts as it always has.

However, if I go home from work around 3pm, when the sun is blistering hot and the air is very warm, the car has a bit of problem starting. I have to keep the key in the "start" position at least a second or two to start the car, when it's almost instantly started in the early morning.

Any ideas?

Like I said, the car is just acting weird.

 
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I'm gonna change the oil (which was lookin' pretty bad) and the spark plugs. Let's see if that does anything to improve the situation.

 
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where could you find throttle body cleaner and do you know of a specific brand

 
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Get some NGK iridium plugs and try the greased lightning fuel cleaner. The TB cleaner can be found at any auto parts store in a spray can. It's all the same. Also when you're starting the car, keep it in the ON position for a few secs before turning the key to start the engine. It will build fuel pressure in the injectors. If it still doesn't start right away, your injectors are clogged.

Throttle body is the thing your intake connects to above the engine. If you look down in the hole, there's a circular, gold cover over it. You can pull a lever to open it. That will give you room to clean inside it on the sides.

 
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i have that same ticking noise, i can only hear it when it idols.. and actually when u press the clutch in it goes away, or rather stops.. i poped the hood and i have it narrowed down to something in the transmition area..

 
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If the belts look badly worn or you seen any cracks / fading / have any threads showing, or have excessive glazing (shiny coating) on the wear side of the belt replacing them would be a smart thing to do. Loosing a belt is never good, and it always seems to happen at the worst time or location.

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re: car acting strange, if it's uneven idle or hesitation when accelerating it could be time for that recommended service / tuneup: plugs, air filter, gas filter, injector cleaner, lube/oil/filter, and would recommend having that valve adjustment done. Honda dealers do these routinely so (depending on your area) this may be the best place to get the adjustment done, although any full service shop that does motor / Honda work should be able to do as well. ( AFAIK the valve adjustment is best done when the engine is cold, so if the dealer/garage recommends leaving the car overnight for next day service: this is not a bad thing to do. )

>> One more question: spark plugs. Maybe it's the whole idea of the car making the noise, but for some reason I feel like the car is acting a bit strange in general...the engine, that is. Could it be the sparkplugs causing all the trouble? <<

If the plugs are badly fouled or the gap is excessive then yes, the car will run idle & perform badly, but that is just (1) possible cause out of a bunch of different possibliities. That's a good guess, though.

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68,000 isn't a bad place to be with a Honda, if you invest a few dollars now you can get another 68,000 miles easy, or if you get Dealer service done (and they know the car) you could have some nice trade-in value there.

Hope the info helps.