Honda Car Forum

Hi there,

I wonder if someone could be kind enough to offer me some advice. I
recently bought a 2003 Honda Civic Sedan, and have noticed that when the
car is moving there's a "rattling noise" coming from the air vent on the
left of the steering wheel. It's not terribly loud, but it's terribly
annoying!

The "rattling noise" gives the impression of something very small (e.g.
a tiny, tiny rock or ball bearing) vibrating/hitting against the sides
of whatever lies back there as the car vibrates while driving over the
road surface.

My car's still under warranty. The dealer (sell, service engineer) said
that they would have a look at it. If it was a defect (e.g. a nut had
come loose) then it would be free to fix, but if it wasn't (e.g. there
was a rock in there) then it would cost me $200 at the VERY MINIMUM to
have it fixed.

What are the chances of it being a defect? Is there anything back there
that could possibly break off? Before I go and buy a compressed gas
canister to try and blow anything out, can anyone tell me if it's easy
to take the cover of the air vent off to look around?

If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be grateful if you'd share 'em!

Thanks in advance!

- Best regards,
Leigh

Coud be a screw. A screw fell in while I tried to remove the dashboard
on my left vent. It rattles over bumps, and was annoying. I proceed to
remove the grill and crack it. I then stuck a string magnet in there
and got the screw out.

If it’s a screw try a magnet. If it’s a rock try a bubble
gum. If it’s a rock then drop a screw in there so they
don’t screw you with a $200 bill. Sorry for the language.

> I wonder if someone could be kind enough to offer me some advice. I
> recently bought a 2003 Honda Civic Sedan, and have noticed that when the
> car is moving there's a "rattling noise" coming from the air vent on the
> left of the steering wheel. It's not terribly loud, but it's terribly
> annoying!
>
> The "rattling noise" gives the impression of something very small (e.g.
> a tiny, tiny rock or ball bearing) vibrating/hitting against the sides
> of whatever lies back there as the car vibrates while driving over the
> road surface.
>
> My car's still under warranty. The dealer (sell, service engineer) said
> that they would have a look at it. If it was a defect (e.g. a nut had
> come loose) then it would be free to fix, but if it wasn't (e.g. there
> was a rock in there) then it would cost me $200 at the VERY MINIMUM to
> have it fixed.
>
> What are the chances of it being a defect? Is there anything back there
> that could possibly break off? Before I go and buy a compressed gas
> canister to try and blow anything out, can anyone tell me if it's easy
> to take the cover of the air vent off to look around?
>
> If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be grateful if you'd share 'em!
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> - Best regards,
> Leigh

Could be a screw. A screw fell in while I tried to remove the
dashboard on my left vent. It rattles over bumps, and was annoying. I
proceed to remove the grill and crack it. I then stuck a string
magnet in there and got the screw out.

If it*s a screw try a powerful magnet. If it*s a rock try a bubble
gum. If it*s a rock then drop a screw in there so they don*t screw you
with a $200 bill. Sorry for the language and for posting twice.
Someone let me know why my text is garbled.

> I wonder if someone could be kind enough to offer me some advice. I
> recently bought a 2003 Honda Civic Sedan, and have noticed that when the
> car is moving there's a "rattling noise" coming from the air vent on the
> left of the steering wheel. It's not terribly loud, but it's terribly
> annoying!
>
> The "rattling noise" gives the impression of something very small (e.g.
> a tiny, tiny rock or ball bearing) vibrating/hitting against the sides
> of whatever lies back there as the car vibrates while driving over the
> road surface.
>
> My car's still under warranty. The dealer (sell, service engineer) said
> that they would have a look at it. If it was a defect (e.g. a nut had
> come loose) then it would be free to fix, but if it wasn't (e.g. there
> was a rock in there) then it would cost me $200 at the VERY MINIMUM to
> have it fixed.
>
> What are the chances of it being a defect? Is there anything back there
> that could possibly break off? Before I go and buy a compressed gas
> canister to try and blow anything out, can anyone tell me if it's easy
> to take the cover of the air vent off to look around?
>
> If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be grateful if you'd share 'em!
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> - Best regards,
> Leigh

In article <3f60fca5$1_3@news3.es.net>, Leigh Riley
<dontEmailMeDirectly@home.org> wrote:

> Hi there,
>
> I wonder if someone could be kind enough to offer me some advice. I
> recently bought a 2003 Honda Civic Sedan, and have noticed that when the
> car is moving there's a "rattling noise" coming from the air vent on the
> left of the steering wheel. It's not terribly loud, but it's terribly
> annoying!
>
> The "rattling noise" gives the impression of something very small (e.g.
> a tiny, tiny rock or ball bearing) vibrating/hitting against the sides
> of whatever lies back there as the car vibrates while driving over the
> road surface.
>
> My car's still under warranty. The dealer (sell, service engineer) said
> that they would have a look at it. If it was a defect (e.g. a nut had
> come loose) then it would be free to fix, but if it wasn't (e.g. there
> was a rock in there) then it would cost me $200 at the VERY MINIMUM to
> have it fixed.
>
> What are the chances of it being a defect? Is there anything back there
> that could possibly break off? Before I go and buy a compressed gas
> canister to try and blow anything out, can anyone tell me if it's easy
> to take the cover of the air vent off to look around?
>
> If anyone has any thoughts, I'd be grateful if you'd share 'em!
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> - Best regards,
> Leigh

Leigh,
It's impossible to know for sure but my guess is a screw. Have the dealer
fix the problem unless you have the mechanical skills needed to take
everything apart and check for yourself. If you try it yourself and damage
something--the dealer won't fix it under the warranty. If I was you--I
would not take that chance.

On Thu, 11 Sep 2003 16:52:28 -0600, Leigh Riley
<dontEmailMeDirectly@home.org> wrote:

>Hi there,
>
>I wonder if someone could be kind enough to offer me some advice. I
>recently bought a 2003 Honda Civic Sedan, and have noticed that when the
>car is moving there's a "rattling noise" coming from the air vent on the
>left of the steering wheel. It's not terribly loud, but it's terribly
>annoying!
>
>The "rattling noise" gives the impression of something very small (e.g.
>a tiny, tiny rock or ball bearing) vibrating/hitting against the sides
>of whatever lies back there as the car vibrates while driving over the
>road surface.
>
I had a similar situation with my 2003 Accord. I heard something
"rolling" around. Almost sounded like a marble when I went around
curves. I finally figured it was coming from the vent to the left of
steering wheel. I used a flashlight and saw that there was a screw
loose. I called the dealer and they told me to come in and they would
get it out and make sure it wasn't needed. Perhaps you can try
looking into the vent with a flashlight and possibly see what it is.

G