Honda Car Forum

I have over 85 K miles on my 98 V6 sedan. A few weeks ago it started
making two noises -- don't know if they are related.

Driving forward, the engine makes a mechanical noise that sounds to me
like scissors opening and closing; sharpening a chef's knife against a
sharpening rod; a steam radiator valve letting off steam
intermittently; or someone shushing, shhh, shhh, shhh. The noise
stops at idle and seems to pick up in rhythm as I drive faster.

Related or not? I hear a high pitched "eeeeeeeeeee" sound when I go
into reverse. Can't pinpoint the location.

Thanks.

"minnow" <minger@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:576179fc-34bc-4c88-a2a8-53d9c6b12ccd@8g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
>I have over 85 K miles on my 98 V6 sedan. A few weeks ago it started
> making two noises -- don't know if they are related.
>
> Driving forward, the engine makes a mechanical noise that sounds to me
> like scissors opening and closing; sharpening a chef's knife against a
> sharpening rod; a steam radiator valve letting off steam
> intermittently; or someone shushing, shhh, shhh, shhh. The noise
> stops at idle and seems to pick up in rhythm as I drive faster.

Sounds like the brakes as opposed to the engine. If you rev the engine
while in Park and not moving does it happen? If it only happens with motion
I would rule the engine out.

> Related or not? I hear a high pitched "eeeeeeeeeee" sound when I go
> into reverse. Can't pinpoint the location.

Lots of cars do that.

Seth4/5/08 9:11pUKJj.344339$r03.166016@fe10.news.easynews.com

> "minnow" <minger@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:576179fc-34bc-4c88-a2a8-53d9c6b12ccd@8g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
>> I have over 85 K miles on my 98 V6 sedan. A few weeks ago it started
>> making two noises -- don't know if they are related.
>>
>> Driving forward, the engine makes a mechanical noise that sounds to me
>> like scissors opening and closing; sharpening a chef's knife against a
>> sharpening rod; a steam radiator valve letting off steam
>> intermittently; or someone shushing, shhh, shhh, shhh. The noise
>> stops at idle and seems to pick up in rhythm as I drive faster.
>
> Sounds like the brakes as opposed to the engine. If you rev the engine
> while in Park and not moving does it happen? If it only happens with motion
> I would rule the engine out.
>
>> Related or not? I hear a high pitched "eeeeeeeeeee" sound when I go
>> into reverse. Can't pinpoint the location.
>
> Lots of cars do that.
>
Small rocks trapped between the rotor and the sheet metal splash shield on
the disk brakes will make this sound. The noise is different when backing up
than going forward. Noise stops when you stop and changes frequency as you
drive faster. One day it will just go away when the rock wears off enough to
fall out. Sometimes the built in wear indicators on Hondas make a similar
noise. Pull your tires and check the pads if you are concerned.
--
Pickleman
halfsour@roadyourpantsrunner.com
Please remove "yourpants" to reply
1998 Civic HX MT with 142K
2000 CRV EX MT with 98K

Thanks for all replies, it is most likely brake related. Friend just
told me he has heard my brakes and thought I knew about it. Unless
the sound of the brake wear indicator has changed between my first two
sets or my hearing is shot, I don't hear that characteristic screech
on (forward) braking, so I like the rock theory.

I just gunned the engine in park and didn't notice the noise at all --
the problem is motion related.

I did notice something interesting: the engine sputters at 4,500 RPM
and doesn't go beyond that, like 1-1,500 RPM short of red line. Did
an engine governor kick in or do I have yet another problem with the
car?

On Apr 5, 9:30 am, delbert brecht <halfs...@roadrunner.com> wrote:
> Seth4/5/08 9:11pUKJj.344339$r03.166...@fe10.news.easynews.com
>
>
>
> > "minnow" <min...@gmail.com> wrote in message
> >news:576179fc-34bc-4c88-a2a8-53d9c6b12ccd@8g2000hse.googlegroups.com...
> >> I have over 85 K miles on my 98 V6 sedan. A few weeks ago it started
> >> making two noises -- don't know if they are related.
>
> >> Driving forward, the engine makes a mechanical noise that sounds to me
> >> like scissors opening and closing; sharpening a chef's knife against a
> >> sharpening rod; a steam radiator valve letting off steam
> >> intermittently; or someone shushing, shhh, shhh, shhh. The noise
> >> stops at idle and seems to pick up in rhythm as I drive faster.
>
> > Sounds like the brakes as opposed to the engine. If you rev the engine
> > while in Park and not moving does it happen? If it only happens with motion
> > I would rule the engine out.
>
> >> Related or not? I hear a high pitched "eeeeeeeeeee" sound when I go
> >> into reverse. Can't pinpoint the location.
>
> > Lots of cars do that.
>
> Small rocks trapped between the rotor and the sheet metal splash shield on
> the disk brakes will make this sound. The noise is different when backing up
> than going forward. Noise stops when you stop and changes frequency as you
> drive faster. One day it will just go away when the rock wears off enough to
> fall out. Sometimes the built in wear indicators on Hondas make a similar
> noise. Pull your tires and check the pads if you are concerned.
> --
> Pickleman
> halfs...@roadyourpantsrunner.com
> Please remove "yourpants" to reply
> 1998 Civic HX MT with 142K
> 2000 CRV EX MT with 98K

minnow <minger@gmail.com> wrote in
news:b7199d6e-dab4-4ec3-9f1b-8bd02ad4b941@2g2000hsn.googlegroups.com:

> Thanks for all replies, it is most likely brake related. Friend just
> told me he has heard my brakes and thought I knew about it. Unless
> the sound of the brake wear indicator has changed between my first two
> sets or my hearing is shot, I don't hear that characteristic screech
> on (forward) braking, so I like the rock theory.
>
> I just gunned the engine in park and didn't notice the noise at all --
> the problem is motion related.


If the noise increases and decreases in direct relation to car speed, it's
almost certainly brake related.

You're in the DC area it appears. Don't know how much rain/snow you get in
winter, so the following may not apply.

A common source of the noise you describe is rust on the perimeter of the
rotor. This builds up, eventually contacting the slide shims on the pad
mount bracket. The contact is not uniform, so you get a chk-chk-chk sort of
noise. To see if this is the case, you need to pull the pads and shims off,
and look for bright scuff marks on the shims.

See here for a photo of that, almost all the way down at the bottom of that
page.
<http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/rustybrakes/moredetail/brakes2_detail.html>

--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

minnow wrote:

> I did notice something interesting: the engine sputters at 4,500 RPM
> and doesn't go beyond that, like 1-1,500 RPM short of red line. Did
> an engine governor kick in or do I have yet another problem with the
> car?

-----------------------

The computer in some cars won't let you go anywhere near redline unless
the car is in a gear. Your Accord may be that way. Same reason you're
never supposed to go WOT with a chainsaw unless it's in wood.

'Curly'

On Sun, 06 Apr 2008 09:16:47 -0600, motsco_ <motsco_@interbaun.com> wrote:
>minnow wrote:

>> I did notice something interesting: the engine sputters at 4,500 RPM
>> and doesn't go beyond that, like 1-1,500 RPM short of red line. Did
>> an engine governor kick in or do I have yet another problem with the
>> car?

>-----------------------

>The computer in some cars won't let you go anywhere near redline unless
>the car is in a gear. Your Accord may be that way. Same reason you're
Can you name a single car that is like that?

WTF difference does it make wether or not the engine is under load?
Valve float doesn't care.

2000 civic with A/T will not exceed 4500rpm unless in gear.

t

AZ Nomad wrote:
>>> I did notice something interesting: the engine sputters at 4,500 RPM
>>> and doesn't go beyond that, like 1-1,500 RPM short of red line. Did
>>> an engine governor kick in or do I have yet another problem with the
>>> car?
>
>>-----------------------
>
>>The computer in some cars won't let you go anywhere near redline unless
>>the car is in a gear. Your Accord may be that way. Same reason you're
>Can you name a single car that is like that?
>
>WTF difference does it make wether or not the engine is under load?
>Valve float doesn't care.

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...-cars/200804/1

loewent via CarKB.com wrote:
> 2000 civic with A/T will not exceed 4500rpm unless in gear.

eh? mine did. are you sure the timing belt hadn't slipped?

the only vehicle i know to have a deliberately low rev limit in
different circumstances is a ferrari when being driven with the valet key.



>
> t
>
> AZ Nomad wrote:
>>>> I did notice something interesting: the engine sputters at 4,500 RPM
>>>> and doesn't go beyond that, like 1-1,500 RPM short of red line. Did
>>>> an engine governor kick in or do I have yet another problem with the
>>>> car?
>>> -----------------------
>>> The computer in some cars won't let you go anywhere near redline unless
>>> the car is in a gear. Your Accord may be that way. Same reason you're
>> Can you name a single car that is like that?
>>
>> WTF difference does it make wether or not the engine is under load?
>> Valve float doesn't care.
>

jim beam4/8/08 23:09LPCdnZ8E3bHormHanZ2dnUVZ_vDinZ2d@speakeasy.ne t

> loewent via CarKB.com wrote:
>> 2000 civic with A/T will not exceed 4500rpm unless in gear.
>
> eh? mine did. are you sure the timing belt hadn't slipped?
>
> the only vehicle i know to have a deliberately low rev limit in
> different circumstances is a ferrari when being driven with the valet key.
>
>
>
>>
>> t
>>
>> AZ Nomad wrote:
>>>>> I did notice something interesting: the engine sputters at 4,500 RPM
>>>>> and doesn't go beyond that, like 1-1,500 RPM short of red line. Did
>>>>> an engine governor kick in or do I have yet another problem with the
>>>>> car?
>>>> -----------------------
>>>> The computer in some cars won't let you go anywhere near redline unless
>>>> the car is in a gear. Your Accord may be that way. Same reason you're
>>> Can you name a single car that is like that?
>>>
>>> WTF difference does it make wether or not the engine is under load?
>>> Valve float doesn't care.
>>
In my experience this behavior is sometimes mimicked by an ignition
breakdown at high rpms. Most of the Hondas that I saw it appear were
Preludes for some reason. Usually traced to something simple like spark plug
gaps getting too big or bad plug/coil wires or breakdown of internal
insulation in the coil or valve adjustment. It sometimes FEELS like a fuel
delivery problem. Check all the simple stuff first.

Once had a gentleman bring in an accord that would start when cold but then
die out when warm and would not restart until cold again. He had spent $1500
dollars trying to fix it at a local garage and finally brought it to the
dealership. A quick call to Honda's TechLine indicated that there had been a
batch of distributor rotors with a injection mold defect that allowed spark
shorting to the distributor shaft. The hole that the spark traveled through
was smaller than a hair when warm and absent when cold. The fix was a part
that cost less than $5.00. He only brought it in when his previous mechanic
told him that the car needed a new ECU for $600 (this was in the 80's).
STF-Simple things first. The bad rotor looked perfect. A new rotor fixed
the problem 100%.
--
Pickleman
halfsour@roadyourpantsrunner.com
Please remove "yourpants" to reply
1998 Civic HX MT with 142K
2000 CRV EX MT with 98K