Lude Generation

This noise has occurred in my H22a7 before now, but probably first happened a good two months ago. It's since happened a few times recently and generally after short runs when the engine just gets up to temperature (Although I've not done many long distances recently), and it only sounds on idle (or only just above). I can certainly feel the vibration when I touch the valve cover. The car isn't experiencing any performance issues either. I'm suspecting the LMAs, but the H22a7 should have the coil/spring type ones right? Surely they shouldn't be sticking? ...

Apologies for whatever sounds like I'm tapping on the mic. My phone hasn't captured the noise amazingly. You can hear it at 10 seconds and 30, and then 38 seconds and 49 when I let off the revs...

[youtube]ysS2Psk2P5U[/youtube]

This guy has captured the noise better, which is really evident from 37 seconds onwards...

[youtube]CLfACGEWGWg[/youtube]

I'll have to remove the valve cover over the weekend if I get chance (Probably won't ) to see, but otherwise what a pain!

Any thoughts?...

I've had a listen but am no expert. I did have an ATR for 2 years though so I know that engine. A failing auto tensioner was known to make a noise like that, as were badly out valve clearances. Maybe post up on the accordr forum? In all my time on that forum I never heard of people having issues with LMA's.

Hope you get it sorted.

The reasons I'm not suspecting valve clearances or belt tensioner is that it's so intermittant. I can obviously check both of those as well as and when I remove the valve cover though

could be same as what i had when i put the A8 cams in my H22A recently - was intermittent and i only noticed it at idle and when in town traffic - had no effect on performance - just sounded bad
hondatech guy looked at it and said it was sticking lma's and it should free off - he took it apart and couldnt find any fault - i picked the car up and noise was gone and hasnt returned. There were a couple of other issues which might not be related but worth mentioning - the plug to the alternator worked loose a couple of days later. Also it was a year between oil changes so some gunk might have formed on the head. So first thing i would do is an oil change and go for a burn. If that doesnt do it then check disit and alternator.

id be checking auto tensioner as well, they stick on and off sometimes before total failure.

I've had a word with Rich of PAW as well, and although understandably not wanting to commit to what it may or may not sound like on a video, he also says it could be an autotensioner before complete failure

So I've asked for a price of replacing it along with a new belt, as I'm unsure of when it was changed last, and only really going on it's condition. So regardless of whether it's the tensioner or not I think I'd be wiser to get it replaced.

I'll still attempt to check it out at the weekend though.

newkid wrote:id be checking auto tensioner as well, they stick on and off sometimes before total failure.

This.

In addition, thinking back, I did notice this on my ATR when I had it, but it happened like twice in the two years I owned it and I could never recreate it so I forgot about it

Yeah, it first happened to me right at the start of May and then I only heard it again about a week ago, and then again the other day when I recorded that video. Not heard it again since.

Better to be safe than sorry Nath, from memory you've had an h22 fail on you before all be it in a different way, one of my first preludes went due to autotensioner in 2003 (didnt know till honda informed me when I asked them to have a look) was handed most of the engine back in boxes

I once had a similar issue on my 5th gen. I have no idea what it was but the noise disappeared after I did a timing belt change inc move to manual tensioner, water pump replacement, and an oil change.