Ok I am new to Honda's. First off I have an '02 EX with 26k miles. I just bought it a few weeks ago. I noticed that when I accelerate, especially when the engine is under a load (in lower RPM range) I hear a metallic rattle coming from the engine area. Its fairly subtle, not loud and troublesome, but it is audible. However, I don't hear it when I downshift, the engine revs normally. But, as soon as I hit the gas again, I can hear it. Is this just a normal sound for a honda? Could it be valve springs? The only way I could describe it is---like two washers vibrating against eachother. Very weird, and only heard when I step on the gas. And only when the engine is under a load, as I can not hear it when I rev-up in neutral or downshift. Any ideas????

 

By the way, it is a manual transmission

 

May be motor mounts. But then that would be real odd for an almost new EX. My '95 Civic has the same kind of thing, at 139K mi. Motor vibrates like it's loose a little when you accelerate mid-throttle. If you get on it hard it stops, but light acceleration makes it do this. Shop dude said change the mounts and people think it feels like a new motor

 

You might wanna check out this post......is it same as your sound?

https://www.hondacivicforum.com/m_85..._/tm.htm#85341