http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1042822

Thoughts? I also posted over in Classifieds, I will buy someone food if he/she can fix (or at least diagnose) my car.

4/12/2006 3:37:31 PM

Quote :

"My 1992 Civic DX squeaks. It revs really low when idling (like REALLY REALLY low, definitely below 500RPM, maybe even below 250), and vibrates ("flutters" might be a better word) when below about 2500RPM. Even revved up high, it's NOT developing as much power as it should. Some people suggested spark plugs, some have suggested timing belt; it certainly sounds like something in there is slipping. Thoughts?"

4/12/2006 3:50:54 PM

some cars, especially those with smaller engines are made to idle at low rpms. my car idles at 500 without the ac and at about 800 with the ac ('99 subaru impreza), although subarus are able to idle at low rpms very smoothly due to the horizontally opposed boxter engines that balance out a lot of the harmonic vibrations you get from a V or inline engine


squeaks are pretty much a given in an old car such as a '92 honda. if there is a squeal, it could be an old or slipping accessory belt or bad bearings in any of your accessories (water pump, ac, alternator, power steering)

as for power, spark plugs, oil change, fuel filter, air filter, spark plug wires, coil, distributor. all those things could lead to power loss in an aging car if they have not been serviced recently. also, a failing accessory could be robbing power due to increased friction.

i can just about guarantee you that your timing belt is not the source of the squeaking or squeeling noise. a slipping timing belt would have catastrophic consequences to your engine, at the very least causing it to not start or run and at the worst ending up with bent valves or broken pistons.

4/12/2006 4:05:46 PM

Sounds like it could be the Idle Air Control Valve. It's a fairly common thing on Hondas.

4/12/2006 4:08:40 PM

timing belts cant slip or make noise.. they can only jump/hop/break/boom. (theyre cogged)

4/12/2006 4:37:15 PM

they can skip a tooth or stretch, tho..

4/12/2006 4:38:02 PM

See, when idling-not-in-Park, it usually revs around 500 or so. Fast enough the car vibrates a little, but I know what that's like.

It's CHUGGING. Like shaking. The car actually rocks forward and back a noticeable amount, and it's slow enough that I can count the pulses.

4/12/2006 4:46:40 PM

probably got a misfire somewhere, timing belt would be LAST thing i check

i had cyl #2 go out and stay that way for about a year...idled a bit rough and studdered at partial throttle but full throttle performance didnt' seem to be affected (i mean, it had 200k miles)...changed wires and plugs, no change...new cap, rotor, and coil, nothing...FINALLY (at least it seems like i shoulda checked this earlier), unplugged injector #2 at idle and there was no change in idle quality...put in some new injectors it was a champ

check fuel and spark first

edit: for reference it was a '93 civic ex

[Edited on April 12, 2006 at 5:30 PM. Reason : duh]

4/12/2006 5:29:35 PM

ill give you $10 for it

4/12/2006 6:21:38 PM

Quote :

"See, when idling-not-in-Park, it usually revs around 500 or so. Fast enough the car vibrates a little, but I know what that's like. It's CHUGGING. Like shaking. The car actually rocks forward and back a noticeable amount, and it's slow enough that I can count the pulses. "

possibly your torque converter is going? if the car is actually rolling forward and back while you are holding the brake, it sounds like something isn't slipping like it's supposed to in the transmission or torque converter. could also be a reason for decreased power in that the power isn't transfering from the engine to tranny properly.

4/13/2006 12:24:40 PM

my money is on misfire...

check spark, check fuel.

4/13/2006 2:43:01 PM

Also, the "squeaking" noise I was talking about seems to be coming from the back of the car, and it's kind of a squeaky puff. Perhaps something's worked loose back there as well?

4/13/2006 4:00:56 PM

when does it squeak? what does it sound like?

4/13/2006 4:33:48 PM

check yer suspension. pop the truck, and stand on the ledge above the bumper (do not stand on the bumper) and jump up and down and see if a friend can hear the squeaks

4/13/2006 7:10:52 PM

I isolated the squeaking. The exhaust...path (pipe to muffler, and tailpipe) needs to be tightened. It's literally squeaking against itself when the car's doing the pulsating thing.

An RL acquaintance of mine says it sounds exactly like a spark plug/injector problem. I'll take my car in to a garage sometime in the next couple of days for a proper once-over.

4/14/2006 2:56:39 AM

put some bleach in the crankcase

4/14/2006 3:04:34 AM