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I've got an '02 Civic. A few weeks ago I started experiencing increased resistance that has gotten steadily worse and an almost unnoticeable hum while driving and a feeling of increased vibration in the accelerator. The ride has seemed a bit bumpy and I took it in to get that looked at months ago, but they found nothing wrong...

One month ago I had the oil changed and the technician said I had a transmission leak. Shortly after that is when the sluggishness/resistance problem really started, so I thought maybe it had to do with that. I took it into the dealer (still, barely, on warranty) and they found nothing wrong with the transmission. They managed to find an electrical problem with the airbags and a cracked valve cover gasket, which covered me by warranty and they also gave me a good deal on a belt change. They said the sluggish resistance might be a need for maintenance and offered a tune-up, which I declined. I know the air filter is relatively new, but I thought the plugs probably did need a change, which I did today. I also notice a burning smell from my engine after a drive, which I guess would be the new rubber on the belts? If I am wrong on that let me know.

Anyway, the new plugs don't make a difference to the resistance or hum. Googling around, I started to think maybe I had a bad wheel bearing or something else having to do with the hub or suspension. There really isn't much play in the wheels when jacked up, and the car doesn't bounce too much with a good shove to the bumper. The front driver side strut does have the boot down, exposing a shiny bar, whereas on the passenger side it's up.

The wheels don't spin very far when free of the ground, which I have just read could be a sign of a bad bearing, but all the advice on forums like this one suggest a hum as a sign and don't much mention any resistance or vibration, which is my main problem. Also, I don't notice much change when steering. The resistance seems to increase when the car's been driven a little and has heated up. There is also a little sway, or wobble, occasionally on the road.

I'd like to know if I really have a problem here, as a fruitless diagnostic will cost more than a problem covered by warranty.