On my '92 w 56k miles, I just noticed a muffled knocking-type sound in the approximate vacinity of the front valve cover. It's only noticeable at idle and only after the engine has warmed up thoroughly. It is not like the usual clicking-type sounds associated w injectors or valves, but is a rythmic, sort-of- chugging , subtle knock. It began 2 nights ago when I took the car out for ride in our coldest temperature yet in my area. There is no effect upon performance at all--ie, the idle is smooth / even and acceleration is linear and strong. Oil pressure reads normally, coolant level if fine and the water pump was replaced about 5k miles ago. It doesn't appear to be an exhaust leak issue. In holding a screwdriver to various valve cover locations ( as a stethescope) I can't hear it.
A friend of mine, who is mechanically savvy but not an expert w Japanese cars, indicated that he thought that it might have something to do w the V-tec system or subtle cam movement.
I had a Ferrari before this car and a number of engine noises used to sound decidedly different in very cold weather, like what we're experiencing now. The belts used to be very noisy in the cold on that car, for instance-- sometimes actually sounding like bearing noise. Could this be true in this case--ie could this be coming from the belts/pulleys? Anyone else notice any engine sound changes like this in the cold? Any other ideas/suggestions? I may take it to my local dealer this week if I can't figure it out myself, but I hate to do so for the obvious reasons. Any help would be much appreciated .
A friend of mine, who is mechanically savvy but not an expert w Japanese cars, indicated that he thought that it might have something to do w the V-tec system or subtle cam movement.
I had a Ferrari before this car and a number of engine noises used to sound decidedly different in very cold weather, like what we're experiencing now. The belts used to be very noisy in the cold on that car, for instance-- sometimes actually sounding like bearing noise. Could this be true in this case--ie could this be coming from the belts/pulleys? Anyone else notice any engine sound changes like this in the cold? Any other ideas/suggestions? I may take it to my local dealer this week if I can't figure it out myself, but I hate to do so for the obvious reasons. Any help would be much appreciated .
