Noise at 4500 rpm - only when in gear - some loss of power - (no it's not vtec)

SeanInLACA · 11-19-2006, 08:05 PM

Issue...
I hear a noise when the engine gets to 4500 rpm. It sounds like a large rattle. It's hard to explain but the sound is close to someone shaking body panel.

1) The noise does NOT appear if the car is in park or N and I rev the engine to 4500 rpm.

2) You can only hear it when the car is moving and you hit 4500 rpm. When it shifts to the next gear the sound goes away. But even at highway speeds you can slightly hear it in 3rd gear, but the wind/engine noise blocks it out.

3) It "seems" to take the car a lot of time to get from 4500-6500 rpm. I just seems to have very little power at 4500 rpm - and this is where I think the car should be more powerful. I don't know if this is an issue or if the car just isn't powerful to begin with.

Ideas? (YES I will take it to the dealer but if I can get any ideas to lead them in the right direction that would be great.)

RedSIinPA · 11-19-2006, 10:23 PM

I don't think what I'm thinking this is could cause #3 - but I'm curious, do you have an aftermarket header on your car? I had a similar, RPM-specific metallic rattle on another Honda of mine and it turned out to be a busted L-bracket on my DC header, right around the collector pipe. It also happened at a certain RPM (about 3000-5000 RPM) and only when the car was moving.

SeanInLACA · 11-19-2006, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedSIinPA

I don't think what I'm thinking this is could cause #3 - but I'm curious, do you have an aftermarket header on your car? I had a similar, RPM-specific metallic rattle on another Honda of mine and it turned out to be a busted L-bracket on my DC header, right around the collector pipe. It also happened at a certain RPM (about 3000-5000 RPM) and only when the car was moving.

The car doesn't have any mods. It also only has about 1000 miles. One issue could be when someone bumped my rear bumper. It didn't do much damage but it may have broke a bracket that I didn't know about.

RedSIinPA · 11-20-2006, 02:25 PM

I would look into that. my experience has been that clearly audible metallic rattles were exhaust related - i have been through couple instances of this including my previously cited example. have a friend drive you car past you while you watch from the street. see if that helps narrow down the problem. or like you said, just take it to the dealer.

SeanInLACA · 11-21-2006, 03:34 PM

DEALER UPDATE
"They all do that, it's a factory feature." I did drive in a another civic and it seemed to have the same sound but at about 1/5 of the volume level. When I drove mine it was much more noticeable. The dealer sent me home with a repair bill saying "OPERATING AS PER FACTORY DESIGN". Had I know "FACTORY DESIGN" was to rattle I would have bought another car.

Now I am not sure what to do. Ideas?

11-19-2006, 08:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
SeanInLACA Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 67 iTrader: 0 / 0%	Noise at 4500 rpm - only when in gear - some loss of power - (no it's not vtec) Issue... I hear a noise when the engine gets to 4500 rpm. It sounds like a large rattle. It's hard to explain but the sound is close to someone shaking body panel. 1) The noise does NOT appear if the car is in park or N and I rev the engine to 4500 rpm. 2) You can only hear it when the car is moving and you hit 4500 rpm. When it shifts to the next gear the sound goes away. But even at highway speeds you can slightly hear it in 3rd gear, but the wind/engine noise blocks it out. 3) It "seems" to take the car a lot of time to get from 4500-6500 rpm. I just seems to have very little power at 4500 rpm - and this is where I think the car should be more powerful. I don't know if this is an issue or if the car just isn't powerful to begin with. Ideas? (YES I will take it to the dealer but if I can get any ideas to lead them in the right direction that would be great.) Last edited by SeanInLACA; 11-19-2006 at 11:45 PM.

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11-19-2006, 10:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
RedSIinPA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,019 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I don't think what I'm thinking this is could cause #3 - but I'm curious, do you have an aftermarket header on your car? I had a similar, RPM-specific metallic rattle on another Honda of mine and it turned out to be a busted L-bracket on my DC header, right around the collector pipe. It also happened at a certain RPM (about 3000-5000 RPM) and only when the car was moving.

11-20-2006, 02:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
RedSIinPA Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,019 iTrader: 0 / 0%	I would look into that. my experience has been that clearly audible metallic rattles were exhaust related - i have been through couple instances of this including my previously cited example. have a friend drive you car past you while you watch from the street. see if that helps narrow down the problem. or like you said, just take it to the dealer.

11-21-2006, 03:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
SeanInLACA Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 67 iTrader: 0 / 0%	DEALER UPDATE "They all do that, it's a factory feature." I did drive in a another civic and it seemed to have the same sound but at about 1/5 of the volume level. When I drove mine it was much more noticeable. The dealer sent me home with a repair bill saying "OPERATING AS PER FACTORY DESIGN". Had I know "FACTORY DESIGN" was to rattle I would have bought another car. Now I am not sure what to do. Ideas?