YACT- Knocking noise on 95 Civic

[BeeVo]

I own a 1995 Honda Civic CX with 122,000 miles on it. Everytime I accelerate it makes a knocking noise from the front of the car. If I let off the gas or accelerate really slowly it doesn't make a knocking noise. It has been getting a little louder lately and being the 1337 car guy that I am

, I wanted to see if it is something I need to get fixed right away.

 

[Red]

Change spark plugs and wires. Check air filter, check oil.

 

[imported_Papi]

rodbaring, perhaps

 

[BeeVo]

I love how fast you guys are here.

 

[Lifer]

Originally posted by: BeeVo
I own a 1995 Honda Civic CX with 122,000 miles on it. Everytime I accelerate it makes a knocking noise from the front of the car. If I let off the gas or accelerate really slowly it doesn't make a knocking noise. It has been getting a little louder lately and being the 1337 car that I am

, I wanted to see if it is something I need to get fixed right away.

you're a 1337 car?

from what you describe, knocking is detonation coming from the engine. try higher octane fuel.

 

[Vette73]

Knocking a engine knock or knocking like metal hitting metal???

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: BeeVo
I own a 1995 Honda Civic CX with 122,000 miles on it. Everytime I accelerate it makes a knocking noise from the front of the car. If I let off the gas or accelerate really slowly it doesn't make a knocking noise. It has been getting a little louder lately and being the 1337 car that I am

, I wanted to see if it is something I need to get fixed right away.

you're a 1337 car?

from what you describe, knocking is detonation coming from the engine. try higher octane fuel.

That's good reasoning. However, this vehicle is a low-compression 4 cylinder. Usually spark-knock is found in 6 cylinders and up...and usually only when the car is under a load and on lower octane fuel.

I would seriously consider that it could be valves tapping. You might need to get one replaced, but check your oil and make sure you aren't low. Also check to see if it could be your fan or anything else making the noise. I've seen fans hit the fan housing when the motor surges forward on the engine supports.

 

[imported_Papi]

Originally posted by: BeeVo
I own a 1995 Honda Civic CX with 122,000 miles on it. Everytime I accelerate it makes a knocking noise from the front of the car. If I let off the gas or accelerate really slowly it doesn't make a knocking noise. It has been getting a little louder lately and being the 1337 car that I am

, I wanted to see if it is something I need to get fixed right away.

Yeah dude, now that I actually read what you wrote, sounds like a rod baring. Sooner or later it will get louder and louder until it snaps and either come flying through the hood of your car or gets stuck somewhere in the engine. Either way, if it is a rob baring you need a new engine.

Just my experience though.

 

[edro]

Mine did that, and it turned out to be my wheel rotor... it was worn too thin and warped to hell...

 

[StageLeft]

That's good reasoning. However, this vehicle is a low-compression 4 cylinder. Usually spark-knock is found in 6 cylinders and up...and usually only when the car is under a load and on lower octane fuel.

I know somebody with a POS saturn (is there any other kind?) 4 cylinder crap box with just under 100k miles and her crappy useless saturn engine is at the point now that it knocks on 87 so she puts in 89 and swears that it helps

 

[BeeVo]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Knocking a engine knock or knocking like metal hitting metal???

It sounds like it is coming from the front drivers side. Doesn't really sound like metal hitting metal. Used to only knock when I accelerated and made a left turn. Now it does it whenever I am accelerating.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: BeeVo

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Knocking a engine knock or knocking like metal hitting metal???

It sounds like it is coming from the front drivers side. Doesn't really sound like metal hitting metal. Used to only knock when I accelerated and made a left turn. Now it does it whenever I am accelerating.

Check your plugs and see if one of them is different color then the others. Also are you up to date on plugs, wires, O2 sensor, etc..... ??

 

[BeeVo]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

Originally posted by: BeeVo

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Knocking a engine knock or knocking like metal hitting metal???

It sounds like it is coming from the front drivers side. Doesn't really sound like metal hitting metal. Used to only knock when I accelerated and made a left turn. Now it does it whenever I am accelerating.

Check your plugs and see if one of them is different color then the others. Also are you up to date on plugs, wires, O2 sensor, etc..... ??

I had the plugs and wires changed about 5,000 miles ago. I will have to check the O2 sensor.

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: BeeVo

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
Knocking a engine knock or knocking like metal hitting metal???

It sounds like it is coming from the front drivers side. Doesn't really sound like metal hitting metal. Used to only knock when I accelerated and made a left turn. Now it does it whenever I am accelerating.

I would check your side engine mount first, look for broken rubber inside the metal bracket.

Pic

 

[Vic]

cv joint?

 

[Thegonagle]

It used to only do that when you made a left turn?

Is it a clack-clack-clack noise that gets faster as the wheels get turning?

If so, check your CV joint boots on the ends of the drive shafts. Just park the car with the steering turned all the way in one direction, and look behind the wheel. Are the rubber boots intact, or torn all to hell? If they're torn all to hell, there's your problem, and at this point, you don't have long before total failure.

 

[BeeVo]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle
It used to only do that when you made a left turn?

Is it a clack-clack-clack noise that gets faster as the wheels get turning?

If so, check your CV joint boots on the ends of the drive shafts. Just park the car with the steering turned all the way in one direction, and look behind the wheel. Are the rubber boots intact, or torn all to hell? If they're torn all to hell, there's your problem, and at this point, you don't have long before total failure.

Well I just checked it and you are right. My CV boot on the front driver side and rear passenger are all torn up. So my next question is what needs to be replaced and should I take it in immediately?

 

[CraigRT]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi

Originally posted by: Lifer

Originally posted by: BeeVo
I own a 1995 Honda Civic CX with 122,000 miles on it. Everytime I accelerate it makes a knocking noise from the front of the car. If I let off the gas or accelerate really slowly it doesn't make a knocking noise. It has been getting a little louder lately and being the 1337 car that I am

, I wanted to see if it is something I need to get fixed right away.

you're a 1337 car?

from what you describe, knocking is detonation coming from the engine. try higher octane fuel.

That's good reasoning. However, this vehicle is a low-compression 4 cylinder. Usually spark-knock is found in 6 cylinders and up...and usually only when the car is under a load and on lower octane fuel.

I would seriously consider that it could be valves tapping. You might need to get one replaced, but check your oil and make sure you aren't low. Also check to see if it could be your fan or anything else making the noise. I've seen fans hit the fan housing when the motor surges forward on the engine supports.

my car knocks like its going to explode on anything less than 91 octane... i try to use Ultra 94 all the time... oh it's a 2.0L
and yes in the manual it says USE HIGH OCTANE.

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: BeeVo

Well I just checked it and you are right. My CV boot on the front driver side and rear passenger are all torn up. So my next question is what needs to be replaced and should I take it in immediately?

Well, you don't have them on either REAR wheel. Did you mean both front wheels?

 

[BeeVo]

Originally posted by: Thegonagle

Originally posted by: BeeVo

Well I just checked it and you are right. My CV boot on the front driver side and rear passenger are all torn up. So my next question is what needs to be replaced and should I take it in immediately?

Well, you don't have them on either REAR wheel. Did you mean both front wheels?

Oops....Yes I mean both front ones are pretty torn up.

 

[Thegonagle]

If it's been that way for awhile, and it's to the point that they're making noise when you're going straight, then yes, you should get that fixed immediately, or it will leave you stranded. The car won't go at all. The broken drive shaft will make terrible noise, and possibly fall out of position and cause other damage.

The rebuilt drive shafts that most mechanics install will only last half as long as the originals, but they're the most economical option, unless you're looking to drive this thing another 100,000 miles.

 

[Papagayo]

Try a better gas..

 

[Thegonagle]

Originally posted by: Papagayo
Try a better gas..

Sorry, the CV joints won't care. Use cheap gas. My Civic LOVED the cheap stuff! I always got great mileage.