Hey guys, I have searched and searched on this issue and although I can find many instances where someone hears rattling from the engine bay, it isn't the same as mine.

Let me just start of by saying I have a 2001 Honda Civc LX 4-door standard transmission. One day last week I noticed an extreme rattle whenever the car was in reverse. Upon further inspection the car now does it not only in reverse, but when I first start the car up, in between each gear shift, and when I am in gear at exremely low RPMS. but never when I am in gear driving normally.

I thought this could be the heat shield issue but there is one other annoyance. Whenever I put the car in first and slowly take off from a standstill there is a thud, or thunk coming from the passenger side of the engine compartment.

I'm worried this may get worse so I wanted to try and figure out what it could be ASAP.

Thanks a ton in advance!

 

Check the motor mounts. The rubber may be torn or the bolts loose/missing. The sound is probably the engine moving around further than it should. You can test that by watching from the side with the hood up while someone tries to drive forward and backward (with the brake on so the car doesn't actually move, they would just let the clutch out until the noise occurs).

 

but certainly also secure the heat shield as well. if you have never done anything on the heat sheild, then you need to reduce the noise level by fixing that.

 

Thank you both for the quick reply. I ended up taking the car into pep boys last night and of course we could not replicate the sound. The only time the tech heard it was when I was shifting gears (this is the quitest of all the sounds). The kept it for a few hours cause i told them the noise was louded when the car was cold. Called me back later and said it was a bad engine mount as expected. I had them replace it.

I picked up my car and it sounded great, but I didn't really have a chance to check it out much, not to mention it only really does it when it's cold.

Fired up the car the next morning to find IT WAS STILL THERE. Awful, just awful.

On a side note, the car seemes to do it also when I am in fifth, going about 50, and I let off the gas while still in gear.

I still have yet to try the heat shields, does this sound like a heat shield problem? If so should I start with the front shield or the one under neath? The sound seemingly comes from the engine bay passenger side.

When the car is cold and in idle the sound sounds much like a bolt in a tin can. Whe i shift gears the sound is quieter and a bit faster, it sounds like a loose bolt. And when I am in gear and let off the gas is sounds almost if there is something in my airbox.

Thanks again for all your help!

 

So the noise is more of a vibration now, mostly in reverse and idle. Also when I let of the gas while still in gear. I know they replaced my from motor mount, but could it be another mount? Where are the other mounts? or should I check something else?

Thanks again!

 

Yeah definitely sounds like a mount. Check sub frame bushings too, which causes cab vibration. I would check that too.

 

I would also check things like tie rods, ball joints and cv's. I come from having a PT Cruiser which are notorious for suspension clunks. You can quickly see if its the motor mount. Open your hood, rev the engine, if the engine shakes substantially then it is a mount. Does it happen on turns? (not necesarily when idling, but when there is actual pressure on the suspension) If so, then it is more likely a tie rod, ball joint or cv

 

So I took it back a third time and the guys at the shop checked all my mounts and said that they were all in great condition. They drove the car around for a solid 15 minutes and came back and told me it could "possibly" be a strut. But they were not sure. I'd hate to replace the struts only to find out it wasn't the issue. He also mentioned it could be my sway bar?

Just as a percation I lifted the entire front of the car on jacks and started her up. I still felt the vibration and heard the rattling. This means it wouldn't be a strut issue, but could still be the sway bar bumping up against the underside of my car right?

Thanks again!