imported_My93Civic

Okay my brother has had this problem come up within the last 2 days.

Its a 1992 Honda Civic with original D15B7 engine from purchase in 1992. Maintained properly up until this big problem

He drove in the highway for 40 minutes and then the car started to make noises, almost like he was "dragging a pop can" he says. He then proceeded to stop the car with the engine on to see what was the problem. Anyways the problem went away once he revved the engine some more...

My Dad checked the car yesterday and he doesnt know whats the problem, he doesnt think there is a problem actually because he didnt hear it. He checked the bearings, etc and they were fine. The thing is the suspension is probably not the problem because when the car stopped, the sound still came.

Fast forwrd until today, my bro gave me a lift to work. Right off the bat around the corner, we hear the clanking/dragging a pop can noise. He revs the engine a little at the light and it stops...

Intermitedly we heard the noise but on a smaller scale.

But later it got worse when we stopped for a red light. Started vibrating like crazy and started sounding like a chopper...lol.

Anyway we get to work and get out of the car and check the engine. The clanking noise seems to me coming from the timing belt/belts area, but the thing is the timing belt was already changed...

But I'm thinking its obviously something to do with the engine/transmission. Maybe a leak somewhere? Leak either on the header, or lines or something.

He drove off and it sounded really like a loud motorcycle chopper...Pretty scary....

So what can you guys think of the problem.

RDub99

iTrader: (1)

maybe the cat is done.. is the car bogging down?

imported_mikepasini

what was he doing on the hwy for the first 40 minsn before the noise came?

last time i was on the highway for 40 mins coming back from kitchener to mississauga... well, it only took me like 25 mins, but yeah... thats the reason the noise came... 170km/hr in 3rd gear... spun rod...

imported_slowandfurious

might be a crack somewhere in the exhaust.Or the cat heatshield might be coming off/lose.

imported_My93Civic

I dunno. I suppose he was just driving at least 120KMH...He doesnt do anything that I know stupid on the HWY.

I will check your suggestions everyone. I think there is indeed a crack somewhere...Maybe its the cat or the old header...................

imported_My93Civic

It did feel like that. Let me ask him to make sure though. It was vibrating like mad though...

RDub99

iTrader: (1)

well when my cat went I had the same symptoms and it sounded like a can with something rattling inside it.. if you want to test it just unbolt the cat from the header and test it with open header

bbarbulo

iTrader: (2)

I'd start pulling **** apart before you make it worse.

To check for leaks in your exhaust, plug the tailpipe with your hand (careful, might be hot) and listen for hissing noises.

that being eliminated, pull the timing belt cover and check to see nothing inside came loose or broke off. then check your oil for metal shavings.

the whole vibration thing makes me thing it was misfiring on one cylinder, and the noise you were hearing was backfire from the unburned gasoline getting ignited inside the cat.... but then you said it sounded like it came from the timing belt area.

was there noticable power loss, or overheating?

imported_95bluelx

almost everything you say makes it sound like the cat, not the heat shield but the actual ceramic catalyst inside, would make it sound like there's rocks in your exhaust kind of, but the dragging can thing also works, coming from timing belt area sounds worrysome though, I don't know. to Check if it's the cat even without taking it off, just jack up the car, and knock on the cat (shake it around a little) there's some play there because of the rubber mounts, if you can hear anything loose inside, then the cat is blown.

imported_My93Civic

Hey guys sorry for the slow update. We fixed it the same day. Found out that the A/C compressor died. So when we turned the A/C on would get 10 times worse.

So we took out the compressor and belt and all is fine now. Going to have to replace it obviously. But glad it wasnt something else.

THANKS for the ideas!