On Thu, 22 Jan 2004 19:30:44 -0800, "Paul Kim" <none@nowhere.com> wrote:

>> You're about the right mileage/age for catalytic converter heatshields to
>> start rattling, especially if you live in the frost belt.<GRRRRR>
>
>Hmm, well, the history of the car is this:
>
>2 years in upstate New York
>1 year in Atlanta
>1 year in Los Angeles
>
>I've probably driven cross country 4 or 5 times in this car. I bought it
>back when I was in college, and spent a year in Atlanta doing Americorps.
>Originally from LA.
>
>Do you
>> get it at approx. the same RPMs in every gear?
>
>Yes, but most pronounced in 2nd and 3rd...probably around 3000rpm, but I
>don't have a tach.

If it's the heatshields it'll get gradually worse and the noise will tend
to change character.

>Your description is kinda
>> vague but I guess it *could* be the valves which need adjusting - probably
>> time anyway if they haven't been looked at before.
>
>Possibly also an exhaust leak? Could it be pinging?

It's early for an exhaust/muffler leak; other than the muffler itself, the
only place I've seen an exhaust leak on a Honda is the front of the B-pipe,
right behind where it is fastened to the catalytic converter. IME Honda
mufflers tend to last ~70K miles here in the N.E. and the B-pipe often
lasts an extra 10K miles on top of that, so almost worth doing both at the
same time. To test for pinging, try a tankful of a higher grade gas to see
if it eliminates it.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??