Rep Power: 0

My Civic is developing some noises that sounds like it's going to be draining my wallet here soon. I'm kind of at a loss as to what it might be, so I was thinking maybe you guys had some ideas.

When I turn right I get a "clickity-clickity-clickity" rattling sound from the area of my front driver's-side wheel, but only when I'm in second gear. If I'm in neutral or any other gear I don't hear it.

Also I've started getting a creaking sound in that same area when I'm braking and coming to a gentle stop. Seems like if I stop hard it doesn't creak.

The right-turn rattle is obviously something in the power train since it only happens in gear, and since it only happens in 2nd I'm thinking it's something tranny-related. I tested the right turn in 4th gear also, since I know 2nd and 4th share a shift fork, but the noise is only happening in 2nd gear.

I probably won't have the time to get it to the mechanic for another couple weeks, and this noise has already been going on for several weeks. The know the longer I let it go the more expensive it will become.

Any ideas on what might be going on?

 
Rep Power: 327

Sounds like your left CV joint is bad...check your drive axle and look for the CV boots. Most likely you've got a bad boot that never got changed, and now the grease has come out, and the bearings have little to no lubrication. Sometimes you can have the CV (constant velocity) joint repaired, but usually you have to replace it. Check into your local area specialty shops...there might be a CV joint repair shop near you. DO NOT buy a remanufactured CV joint. This is basically the part that connects your hub to your tranny...pretty much a drive axle.

As for the creaking, it sounds like you may need new struts...is your car lowered? If so look into the Koni Yellows. Go outside and check if you've got grease or an oily substance on your wheel. It could be from either the CV joint or from the struts...but in either case you should really have it looked at.

CV joints are normal to go out...but be weary of it...if you let it go for too long, it could just go out all together, and that particular wheel will lose power and traction...as you can guess it'll be bad...Just make sure you monitor your CV boots, and change them when they need to be. As for your struts, just do your research on it...it may just be a normal sound...my springs tend to creak when it's real cold outside...

 
Rep Power: 0

The CV joint crossed my mind, but why would a bad CV joint only make noise in 2nd gear and no other?

 
Rep Power: 327

Well mainly because at any other gear, the bearings would be spinning too fast to make the noise. I think in first, it might be too slow...plus the engine doesn't seem to be as loud in 2nd...all my opinion of course, I don't get too many chances to drive the old civic anymore, but from what I can recall...

 
Rep Power: 341

Cars do weird things sometimes, I have an exhaust problem that only occurs in first gear.

 
Rep Power: 353

Dont worry about the Breaking Sound, that normal, Our break pads have like an inch of free space so that they can move around a bit, and when u break slowly they tend to make sounds, mine does that too and thats what the dealership told me.

As for the cllick, if you car is lowered, it could be your sturts, or the springs binding. Or it could be the CV as they said.

 
Rep Power: 341

^^ i think youve been lied to

 
Rep Power: 327

Definitely. Brake pads are ALWAYS in contact with the rotor. That's why if you let your brakes go for too long, they will make a metal on metal sound even when you're not braking. This is why you pump the brakes when you finish a brake job so that the pads can properly seat themselves.

 
Rep Power: 341

its official, player has been the victim on a lazy or just uneducated dealership, go get that checked out buddy

 
Rep Power: 811

I've also got some noises when turning. And the creaking can be fixed by lubing the rear sway bar bushing. I had it done and the creak stopped, but now it came back after winter.

 
Rep Power: 306

def get that checked out because if you do have a bad cv joint......g'luck when it breaks

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for the input guys.

My car isn't lowered, and I don't have stock brakes. I have EBC Greenstuff pads and Powerslot rotors. The creaking sound doesn't seem to e coming from the brakes, but it is difficult to tell from inside the car.

I'll try to get it inspected somewhere locally and then get it to my mechanic out in freakin' Santa Ana.

 
Rep Power: 301

The clicking sound when turning right in 2nd gear sounds like the transmission TSB to me.
If I recall, it was a gear clearance problem, and housing change.

I have the TSB. PM me if you want it.

 
Rep Power: 304

yes TINMAN is right, the clicking sound is comming from your planetary gear or something like that. its a TSB so it should be fixed for free...

 
Rep Power: 0

I've exceeded my warranty mileage by about 20k, so I doubt it would be covered under a TSB anymore.

Never hurts to try, but I know first hand that Honda's warranty division are stingy motherfvckers.

 
Rep Power: 327

Regardless of warranty, they are required by law to correct any recalls, and to some extent TSB's...

 
Rep Power: 0

You said TSB's to some extent. What are the deciding factors on whether or not they'll fix it outside of warranty? If this particular TSB ends up being my problem, I definitely want to put the screws to them and get them to fix it for free.

 
Rep Power: 301

WD40, I sent you the TSB.

Good luck.

 
Rep Power: 0

hm....how is it exactly to lube the CV joints?

 
Rep Power: 327

Factors that determine driveablility of safety due to manufacturer deffect are reasons they have to fix the car under TSB or recall. TSB's are usually mass customer complaints that become recalls later. It's kina like a bill and a law in a sense. My car has 53,000 miles but they had to fix the wiring harness on the headlights.

By the way you don't "lube" cv joints. They have boots on them, large rubber pieces that protect the bearings that are packed with grease. These boots go pretty often, and if you don't replace them, your bearings start to go bad, and you have to replace the whole damn thing.

Okay, this is from a Porsche 928 S4, but anyways...



The rubber piece there is the CV boot, the civic has two. One inner and one outer. At the end of the cv joint that is a reddish color with teeth is where it plugs into the differential.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for that TSB dude, it describes my problem exactly. According to the TSB, the reverse idler gear is contacting the 1st/2nd hub sleeve set. It's going to be a pain in the *** to find time to get this taken care of, but hopefully they'll fix it under goodwill and it won't cost me anything.