CRX: Re: Noises, Noises, and MORE NOISES!!!

[Lee & Tracy Grimes]

I'll take a stab at these, most are typical:   1.  One of two things- either a tire wear pattern from alignment problems or a dying rear wheel bearing. If it is emphasized on right turns then especailly check the left rear as that is extra loaded in right turns.  If it is a tire wear pattern, you will likely find it by lightly dragging the flat palm of your hand across the tread face (be careful if the tire is worn to the steel cords with wires hanging out as you will cut your fingers).  If there is a wear pattern, you will feel undulations on your palm across the tread face as raised or lowered tread blocks.  Specifically feel for or you may be able to actually see multiple flat spots at 45 degree angles across the tread.  This is what happens when your rear toe alignment gets out of spec and eats the tires.  Nothing you can do about a wear pattern as it will not wear away even if the cause is fixed.  It will be there for the rest of the tire's life until you replace it.  Of you do feel a uneven wear pattern, check to see if the front tires are smooth.  If so, then rotate the tires and see if the noise has moved up front.   If it is wheel bearings, grab the top of the rear wheels and rock back and forth toward you to see if there is any movements at all.  About any perceptable movement of looseness is too much.   2)  Metal noise- It is an exhaust heat shield and odds are it is one for the catalytic converter as they are notorious rattles.  Usually the shield rusts or breaks enough to cause a rattle.  To repair, jack it up and rip it off.   3)  Bad CV joint(s).  Go to either a cheap Autozone or similar parts house.  Many of this group like www.raxles.com as they are nice folks, well priced with great prices and great service.   4)  Rear knocking under braking-  Something is amuck in the rear drum brakes.  Either an out of round rear drum or one of the retainers holding a rear brake shoe flat to the backing plate is either weak or broken and may be letting the shoe flip against the backing plate.  How is the adjustment or number of clicks on the emergency brake?  This can often tell a bit about the health of your rear drum brakes with the e-brake.  Not difficult, just a matter of taking it apart and seeing what is up.  Try driving at slow speed, keeping off the brake pedal and pulling the e-brake and see if the noise repeats.  This may help tell if it is a mechanical part of the rear brakes.   5. Engine chattering-  Time for a valve lash adjustment.  When running, open the hood and it sounds like a general orchestra of light metalic tapping.  No big deal, plan on doing it when the engine is overnight dead cold and get a new valve cover gasket while you are at it. A screw driver, 12mm box wrench, feeling guage, instructions and patience are all that is needed. Get a tube of Honda Bond silicone or similar import engine silicone to help guarantee the sealing of the corners of the new gasket.   Brand new noise-  Tough one, not enough info.  Isolate if it is in the cabin, engine bay or under the car.  Does it happen over bumps or in flat running?  Is it a regular pattern or repeating?  A particular speed or any speed?   Sounds to me like you probably have a perfectly good car that is simply telling you it is time for a little normal maintainance and certainly not surprising for a recently bought car.  Nothing that a little time and not much money (except the axles) can't take care of.  Not to worry, just easy to fix used car noises.   Lee ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, May 16, 2002 8:10 PM Subject: CRX: Noises, Noises, and MORE NOISES!!! I bought my 88 si a few weeks ago. I have experienced noise after endliess noise ever since I got the damn thing. I want to get rid of all these noises so I can make the car what I really want it to be. But almost every few days I hear another brand new noise and it's really starting to piss me off. So, pick a noise from below and see if you can help. Here's the list as of now (in the order that I began to hear them):1. Hum that sounds like its coming from rear. Only experience this noise when the car is moving. It goes higher in pitch the faster I go. And today I noticed that when I turn left the noise will cease and when I turn right the noise gets ever louder. Doesn't really make the noise at low speeds. IDEAS: I have no clue what this noise is! But it certainly is one of the most annoying ones.2. Metal vibration noise. This noise only occurs at certain RPMs. Always at around or just! befor 4000. Sometimes around 2000. It's a high-pitched clanking sound. IDEAS: I think it some part of the exhaust system that's loose...but as always not sure.3. Clicking when turning at low speeds. I know this one is busted CV boots. I'm gonna replace my drive axels...both outter CV boots are busted. Any tips well appreciated.4. Knocking from the rear when braking. This noise sucks. Only when I brake I hear a knocking from the rear when I brake and the knock slows as the car slows. I can kinda feel this in the brake pedal...just a little bit. Ideas?5. Engine chattering. I mostly notice this in the morning on the way to school. I don't really know how to describe it other than "chattering". I have suspisions of misfiring....I suppose I need to have a look at my timing belt, the timing, spark plugs...ideas?6. BRAND NEW NOISE. This one starting tonite. Clicking noise seems to be coming from the engine bay or console. May be my shitty radio jiggling around...maybe the engine ! imploding in on itself...who the hell knows! This one is the mystery n oise.Also non-noise related...my car has trouble starting sometimes...almost for sure if its really hot outside.Thanks for any input...please help me make this car a joy instead of the pain in the ass it has turned out to be.