First of all, I'd like to say HI everybody, I'm new on this site.
The problem is that in my Civic 98, I hear a strange noise, like a tapping/knocking noise(cold or warm engine).At idle, everything in great, but in light acceleration or when just change in D or R, that sound comes and driving me crazy.The engine sounds like a diesel.The car has 125.000 km(not miles), changed oil at every 6.000 km.Is somebody who has the same problem and solved it?Please give me some advices.
GP

 

Do you ever drive your car really hard before it's warmed up?

 

well, when you say sounding like a diesel, i tend to think that you have an exhaust leak - or a bad muffler.

 

If its like a racking clinking noise then its your heat shield on your exhaust. My car does it too every once in a while but im getting on that problem soon.

 

Hi again, and thanks for your answers.
I just bought the car, don't know how the first owner used it.Exhaust system is all new.For me sounds like a tappind noise, coming from inside the engine,first I thought that I need a valve adjustement, but it-s strange because that sound come just when the engine is in D or R, from idle to 1500 rpm.Thank you guys, and still wait oppinions.

 

maybe hard to figure out (but others here may have more insight than i);

but for troubleshooting - i would put the front up on blocks (wheels off the ground) and start it and run the engine up to 1500 in drive and then reverse.
that experiment will tell a lot.

 

i have the same problem with the heat shield on my cat - awful noise at 2750rpm, welded it before, but weld must have come apart

check also your valve clearence, could be causing the tapping noise

 

Quick fix for a noisy heat shield is a long 'worm gear' type clamp. Buy one long enough to go around the cat, and tighten it down. Have seen this problem on many cars, both domestic and import, and this is a cheap, easy fix.

Good luck.

Steve

 

Thanks guys, I'm gonna check the valve adjustements next week, and I'll let you know what happend
G