head knock

[berlinas2k]

I was driving my S home today when I noticed a very loud head knock,:yikes: I nursued her home and havent taken valve cover off yet...doin that tomorrow. Since noticing the knock I havent taken her past 3500rpm, I was just wondering if anyone would have any ideas on what this maybe. specs on car are this 03 with 45,XXX completely stock. I know this is vague but I was trying to get some ideas on what I should look for: possible floating valve, loose rocker...These are the only ideas I have any help would be great appreicated!!!!!

Thanks again for any info

Mike

[My_yella_s2k]

Im sure others will chime in, in a second. but im guessing its the TCT (timing chain tensioner)
thats my guess....
how to designate what is heard.....
take a long screw driver and put it over by the front of the engine see if it clicks... then go on top by the valve cover... etc etc

[bimdub]

and hope you do not have to deal with the stuff I am going through.....

[repiv]

Can you be sure it was from the head? If anything in the valve train went "boom", it wouldn't just be a single sound. You would still be able to hear it under the hood. How does the engine run otherwise? Have you made a good inspection in the engine bay to see if anything is visibly amiss? Belt? Oil cap? Dipstick? Anything come loose or not where it should be?
If it was running OK since this "knock" and everything else checks out OK (oil level, all fluid levels, etc.) fire it up when it cools down and listen to it carefully. No CELs?

[bimdub]

oh... yeah and that stupid injector cover can rattle like crazy too.....mine did....

[berlinas2k]

I checked all fluids when I got home (all were good)... There was no CELs(which I thought was weird) cause it is I pretty loud knock. I let her cool down when I got home at it still knocked when you gave it some gas... and it doesnt knock at idle just when you give her some gas...but I havent rev past 3500 since I noticed(been to scared to) so I dont know if it will clean up in higher RPM's. I'm gonna pull the cover off this morning and take a good look and see if anything is wrong. From what I can tell engine still runs fine but I havent rev'ed past 3500 soo I can give is an educated guess.

[repiv]

I checked all fluids when I got home (all were good)... There was no CELs(which I thought was weird) cause it is I pretty loud knock. I let her cool down when I got home at it still knocked when you gave it some gas... and it doesnt knock at idle just when you give her some gas...but I havent rev past 3500 since I noticed(been to scared to) so I dont know if it will clean up in higher RPM's. I'm gonna pull the cover off this morning and take a good look and see if anything is wrong. From what I can tell engine still runs fine but I havent rev'ed past 3500 soo I can give is an educated guess.
Before you yank the valve cover off, you might want to do a bit more testing. Valvetrain problems don't generally only come under load. They will be there all the time and would usually throw a CEL. You should check out a few more things before you go tearing into it. Try to accelerate very gently into VTEC and slightly beyond. Pull back if anything starts to sound bad.
Something that knocks like that only under load can't be determined listening to it with the hood open and your head in the engine compartment. You'll need to listen more carefully while under load to see if you can narrow it down to another location. Things like engine mounts, tranny mounts, propshaft bolts can all make a sound under load if they are bad, not mention suspension loading and unloading. Even a noise from the rear diff or CV joints can sometimes seem like coming from the engine bay.

[bimdub]

are we talking a single knock? or is this a continuing knock? single knock is probably motor mount or something like that, even exhaust hitting something, trans or rear? continuing is bit more interesting to pinpoint, is it s knock or a rattle? typically knocking hard under load and continually would indicate to me the possibility of engine trouble like mains or rods? but a single knock under load is way different.

[berlinas2k]

I woke up today and went out to the garage and did another look in the engine compartment to see if anything might be broken etc etc... I didnt see anything so I went a head and started her up, I let it come to temp and started to give her some gas and the knock is still there...It doesnt clean up in higher RPM's but it also doesnt get any worse....I did a screw driver test and it sounds like its coming from the front of the motor(TCT area)...I went a head and pulled the valve cover and did a check of everything(no metal shaving, camshafts appear fine, valves and springs look ok) I tried to check the timing chain but I couldnt fined any good way of doin that...I'm taking a little break to hear back....

I almost forgot if it was a rod bearing or a main wouldnt that throw a CEL???? And best I can tell it is coming from the top end.

[repiv]

I woke up today and went out to the garage and did another look in the engine compartment to see if anything might be broken etc etc... I didnt see anything so I went a head and started her up, I let it come to temp and started to give her some gas and the knock is still there...It doesnt clean up in higher RPM's but it also doesnt get any worse....I did a screw driver test and it sounds like its coming from the front of the motor(TCT area)...I went a head and pulled the valve cover and did a check of everything(no metal shaving, camshafts appear fine, valves and springs look ok) I tried to check the timing chain but I couldnt fined any good way of doin that...I'm taking a little break to hear back....

I almost forgot if it was a rod bearing or a main wouldnt that throw a CEL???? And best I can tell it is coming from the top end.
You must answer the question already posed to you ............... Is this a single "knock" or is it more of a series of continuous noises like a rattle or ticking? It's important! I see a few wild geese being chased.
Did you listen at the TCT? It's not easy to disassemble the front of the engine to inspect the timing chain, not that you would really see anything anyway as a TCT going bad won't have any visible indications. The investigative process at this time doesn't require dismantling much of anything, but if that's what you like to do, then it's your choice.

[berlinas2k]

Im sry it is a continuous knock almost like a rattle but only when you give her some gas either driving or parked and givin it some gas.... When I did the screw driver test I placed the screw driver right on front of the motor Timing chain cover...It was a faint sound but it did appear to come from that area, I really couldnt hear it coming from anywhere else.

Just put the cover back on and started it up... I did the screw driver test once again... Looking from the front of the car to the back cylinder #3 intake side is knocking and its def. in the head...It is clear and noticable even from an idle now but only when car is up to temp is it somewhat noticable at idle, its not very loud and it doesnt get very loud even when you hit the gas but it is very noticable.....but when I had the valve cover off I didnt notice anything wrong with any of the valvetrain.

Could I have over rev and not noticed it and wouldnt that throw a CEL or at least put it in limp mode????

[repiv]

Im sry it is a continuous knock almost like a rattle but only when you give her some gas either driving or parked and givin it some gas.... When I did the screw driver test I placed the screw driver right on front of the motor Timing chain cover...It was a faint sound but it did appear to come from that area, I really couldnt hear it coming from anywhere else.

Just put the cover back on and started it up... I did the screw driver test once again... Looking from the front of the car to the back cylinder #3 intake side is knocking and its def. in the head...It is clear and noticable even from an idle now but only when car is up to temp is it somewhat noticable at idle, its not very loud and it doesnt get very loud even when you hit the gas but it is very noticable.....but when I had the valve cover off I didnt notice anything wrong with any of the valvetrain.

Could I have over rev and not noticed it and wouldnt that throw a CEL or at least put it in limp mode????

But did you do the listen test right on the TCT? The front of the engine is pretty vague. The TCT is on the side of the engine under the VTEC solenoid.
Did you mechanically over-rev? If you did, you would have known about it. An over-rev would not always throw a CEL.

[rp4life]

I had the same issue with my 01. As soon as you put any load on the engine it would start to tick. I went through the valves and took measurements. I found that a few of them werent quite up to spec. So I went to the local Snap-on dealer and walmart and bought the valve adjustment wrench/screwdriver combo and some new mobile one and filter. There is a good post on here that will explain step by step how to adjust the valves and it takes about an hour and 1/2. It seemed to clear up the problem for me and havent had any issues with it thus far, but my S also has 126k miles on it.

If you conclude that it is the timing chain or the guides, and you do buy a new chain, make sure to get the guides (2 of them). Wear parts marry to each other and bad things can happen if ya dont :yikes: .

Ryan

[berlinas2k]

I just got done testing the TCT... I believe that is where it is coming from!!!!! Next Question is this something I can do myself or should I have a shop do it??? About how much am I lookin at for parts/labor?

[repiv]

I just got done testing the TCT... I believe that is where it is coming from!!!!! Next Question is this something I can do myself or should I have a shop do it??? About how much am I lookin at for parts/labor?

A TCT is about 100 bucks and it can be a DIY job if you have the instructions at hand. That's where a service manual would be an asset.

To help you diagnose this, here is a sound clip of the TCT noise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwFVZADoyx0
Hope it works for you.

Here's to help you ID the part:
http://ganleyhonda.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=GHAS&Product_Code=CCT&Category_Code=S7g6

Here's a DIY:
http://www.superhonda.com/forum/f32/diy-timing-chain-auto-tensioner-install-307198/

[berlinas2k]

I listened to that video and I guess I was wrong because my problem sounds nothing like that....Mine sounds almost like a diesel truck but only on acc and dec not at idle. Its not a ticking sound like the TCT, its more of a knock...

[repiv]

I listened to that video and I guess I was wrong because my problem sounds nothing like that....Mine sounds almost like a diesel truck but only on acc and dec not at idle. Its not a ticking sound like the TCT, its more of a knock...

Well, back to the drawing board.