Squeeky Honda!

Dale DeSteno · 10-23-03, 07:07

Hi!

I dont know whats going on with my 1992 Civic LX, but there seems to be a wierd, plastic-y squeak coming from the passenger side of the engine. (all the belts are on the drivers side of the engine) When the engine is reved, it speeds up and seems to go away, but when it is sitting in the garage idling, it is quiet, gets louder, gets softer, REALLY loud, soft....you get the picture. It doesn't seem to be something that will leave a brother stranded, but I want it FIXED! I can feel the vibration of whatever is squeaking on the rotor cap, but I can't absolutely tell where its coming from!

Any thoughts?!

Thanks in advance!

uconn1150 · 10-23-03, 07:13

Yep, it will leave you stranded...2 things to check...
1) Take off the cap and see if the rotor has come loose
2) If the rotor is on good and tight, then the distributor bearings have gone bad!:scared

Dale DeSteno · 10-23-03, 07:18

Quote:

Originally posted by uconn1150
Yep, it will leave you stranded...2 things to check...
1) Take off the cap and see if the rotor has come loose
2) If the rotor is on good and tight, then the distributor bearings have gone bad!:scared

Ok, perhaps I spoke to soon!

What does a repair bill for bad distributor bearings look like!?

Anyone want to buy a 1992 Civic?! ha! jk....maybe....

Dale DeSteno · 10-23-03, 07:31

Found this on another site......
Crap!

Question: 1993 Honda Civic 4 cyl mileage: 130K. In Oct. 1999 my car began making a choppy sound when it was cold (it being the weather and the car). I live in Texas and so it was not cold very often. However, when I started it this morning and the weather was less than 40 degrees, it sounded as if I had a propeller for an engine. However, it seemed to go away after I added a fuel system cleaner (Techron concentrate) to the gas tank. Last night I began driving it home and I heard a squeaking sound periodically (especially when I was driving very slowly). The sound was accompanied by another more screechy sound that seemed to occur randomly. I decided it was a belt of some sort so I thought I'd put it in the next day. However, on the way home it slowed (it was if I'd driven off the road and was driving in tar). The engine was still running, but barely. Half a mile later, the engine died. Fast-forward to the part where my mechanic informs me that my distributor assembly, coils, etc are entirely burnt-up and they need to be replaced. My questions are: 1) He said that this happens on occasions with Hondas. Is this true? Why? 2) I'm not sure why the distributor assembly would cause, a prop sound along with screeching etc. My mechanic says it’s all related. I guess I'm not convinced.

Answer: As we have said several times, Honda has a real problem with their distributors. You have done a fine job explaining what happens when the distributor starts to fail. The noises you heard were most likely caused by the bearing in the distributor and a misfire caused by the faulty distributor. Your mechanic is right they are all related.

Jake11375 · 10-23-03, 09:40

I used to have a 92' four dr civic and a similar thing happened to mine. If you look inside your distibutor cap you will more than likely see carbon deposits from the rotor grinding the small contact posts on the sides. It will be a silvery sandy substance. Once this starts happening it's time for another distirbutor. I made mine last a little longer by spraying wd40 in the cap. Don't know what it did but it made it act right for a little while.

Another cap cost me $125 if I remember correctly.

Dale DeSteno · 10-24-03, 05:18

Quote:

Originally posted by Jake11375
I used to have a 92' four dr civic and a similar thing happened to mine. If you look inside your distibutor cap you will more than likely see carbon deposits from the rotor grinding the small contact posts on the sides. It will be a silvery sandy substance. Once this starts happening it's time for another distirbutor. I made mine last a little longer by spraying wd40 in the cap. Don't know what it did but it made it act right for a little while. Another cap cost me $125 if I remember correctly.

So you are saying it was actually just the cap?

Jake11375 · 10-24-03, 06:39

No that would be the entire distributor assembly. Sorry for seeming misleading there. The rotor is the part that is causing the contact points to be worn in the cap, so yes, the whole assembly.

**EDIT** Just to clarify, $125 is the price of the whole distributor, not just the cap.

Lowejackson · 10-24-03, 06:46

$125 for a distributer cap

what on earth is it made from?

From what people are saying, it sounds like the bearings are failing. Is the sound definitely coming from the distributer. Try putting a long piece of wood or similar against the distributer and put the over end against your ear. This should help identify the exact cause of the problem, make SURE nothing loose can get caught in the engine before starting.

Dale DeSteno · 10-24-03, 06:57

Thanks yall!

I just called a shop that is very familiar with Hondas and Imports...I told the guy what was going on and I thought it was the distributor bearings....he said "OH YEAH, very familiar with that problem!"

Its going in within the hour, so we will see! I will post with the results!

Jake11375 · 10-24-03, 07:04

Best of luck to you, hopefully the price has gone down since 95.

Dale DeSteno · 10-24-03, 01:01

Quote:

Originally posted by uconn1150

2) If the rotor is on good and tight, then the distributor bearings have gone bad!:scared

Well sure enough.....

Thing was shot to $h_t! Metal scraps and schards in the distributor. Car is MUCH happier now with a new one! The wallet, however, is less happy.
$400 for the complete assembly....ICM, Cap, Rotor....everything
$125 for labor.

Such as life!

Thanks SO MUCH for all your thoughts and tidbits!

(if anyone is wondering, I receive donations thru paypal at desteno@wh-link.net)

Jake11375 · 10-24-03, 01:06

Sorry to hear it hit your pocket so hard.

When mine went out, I got a used distributor from a salvage yard and put it on myself. Much cheaper that way. NEway, glad you got it fixed!