my 93 civic si hatch has noise coming from engine area
 

OK I got back to my gf's house after eating. I drove my car for about 40 miles round trip. When we went to leave her house I heard a rattling noise coming from the engine area. I opened up the hood and it is pretty loud. sounds like someone dropped a bolt or nut in the engine. Just a metal rattling sound. then I noticed on the ground there was a lil bit of coolant. any ideas of what happened? Think maybe a broken rod, piston or something? I took off the valve cover and the timing belt seems to be in place. I really didn't take off the timing belt cover becaue the ac bracket thing is right in the way of the bolt. If it was the timing belt would the car even start? if it was the timing belt would the sound be a rattling noise like metal hitting each other? I NEED HELP

thanks ryan

Re: my 93 civic si hatch has noise coming from engine area
 

take your desk top over by the car and I'll have a look ::)

Re: my 93 civic si hatch has noise coming from engine area
 

is it a clunking noise? or tapping noise?
if its a tapping noise adjust your valve lash
if its a clunking check your rod and main bearing clearances.

Re: my 93 civic si hatch has noise coming from engine area
 

haha



You make it sound so easy, Leroy. :D If it's a bearing you can forget about checking the clearance. :y

Re: my 93 civic si hatch has noise coming from engine area
 

it is more of a rattling noise than anything. not really a cluncking sounds like someone dropped a marble or something in the engine. the sounds comes from right beside the timing belt area but sounds like it is coming from the block. this is the stock engine too so how would the clearance get messed up? if it were the valves wouldn't it be more of a clicking tapping sound?

Re: my 93 civic si hatch has noise coming from engine area
 

yeah I know its not easy to check.

what does the oil pressure look like? could be a broken oil pump.

Re: my 93 civic si hatch has noise coming from engine area
 

man this would be a perfect post in the "tech" forum :y

Re: my 93 civic si hatch has noise coming from engine area
 

sounds like it could be the main bearings, hard to tell. best thing would be to remove the valve cover and check all the clearences, if its all good then you have your answer

Re: my 93 civic si hatch has noise coming from engine area
 

If it's coming from the timing side down low, I would take a couple sockets and tighten the tensioner, the crank pulley, and the cam gear. Other than that, put a long screwdriver against everything to see if you can make the noise go away. When you put the screwdriver on something and the noise goes away, there's your loose part.

Re: my 93 civic si hatch has noise coming from engine area
 

so how would the clearance get messed up? how do you check the clearance. take off the valve cover and then what?