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Hey I got a 2003 ex about a month ago so I have no idea what maintenance has been done on the vehicle. Recently I've been noticing a few issues:

1. Power loss/rattling or knocking noise: this issue only happens when the engine is at the normal hot temperature. When idling, when you rev it from 2k-3k there is a kind of knocking or rattling noise. (timing belt, tensioner, water pump?)

2. When accelerating I hear whining noise increasing with acceleration (alternator?)

3. When changing gears with hot engine it feels like it grinding.

4. Probably related with the above problems is a loss of power. Always seems like the engine is working really hard. I have to step on the accelerator almost fully and it slowly goes from 100km/h to like 130km/h. When driving in city. Plus my fuel mileage is less than perfect. I drive 100km everyday to and from work. Highway mileage I'm only getting about 525km/tank. I initially thought the brakes were seized because it seems like the car is working too hard so I replaced the front calipers. Still getting bad mileage.

What do you guys think the issue might be? Any help is appreciated.

 
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Is your check engine light or maintenance light on?

 
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No it is not

 
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Have you popped your hood and revved it to see where the noise is coming from? It could be your A/C pump going bad, but that wouldnt explain the power loss. Also, your timing belt could be to tight. Give it a tug and see if it feels abnormally tight. Its possible you could have a small vacuum leak if your noticing power loss. Hows your idle?

I would start with changing the spark plugs and wires, oil and transmission fluid and see if that helps the problem. Could just need a good tune up.

 
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The car idles normally (around 800rpm).
I changed the oil 2k ago.I have no record of spark plugs and wire ever being replaced so that could improve things. Many online posts that describe the noise I'm hearing perfectly say the timing belt tensioner is probably going bad. The noises all come from the driver side (where timing belt, alternator is).
I'm thinking about doing the works sometime in the next 2 weeks. (alternator, timing belt, water pump, spark plugs, wire, and possibly replace rear brakes and adjust parking brake because I have a small suspicion that there might be something holding me back in the braking system)