Squeaks Please Any Ideas? Knock/Creak/Tap from Front!

[jude1177]

Hi Everyone. I'm a Newbie so please be gentle!

I'm desperate for some help on a fault with my Civic. I've searched everywhere on here and there's some similar sounding posts but no definate answers - yet!

It's a creak / 'tap-tick' / metallic flexing sound from the OS Front whenever there is a change/increase in force. i.e. last few feet of braking to a stop and then again in the first few seconds when pulling away. It also occurrs occasionally when turning at low speed. I don't feel it through the floor or the steering wheel but its loud enough to be heard several yards away - it's embarrassing as well as irritating!

It's a very similar sound to when metal is expanding as it heats or contracting as it cools yet it's happening all the time regardless of the weather or the car's temperature!

My local dealer (Brighton) has tried the following:

1) Lubricate OSF strut - no difference
2) Loosen then re-torque subframe - no difference
3) Replace OSF strut 'top mount' - no difference

I'm picking the car up again tomorrow while they scratch their heads and talk some more to Honda who apparently 'haven't heard of this one'!

Please help! has anyone got any ideas???

[pcr]

Can only suggest rolling very slowly downhill in neutral whilst repeatedly braking on and off. The idea is to eliminate any noise caused by the engine nodding, such as flexing of the exhaust which runs down the o/s side of car. If the noise is still there then maybe it's the damper and you need a complete new front strut.

[ALoureiro]

I have a similar problem . My car clicks or ticks in the front suspension when i accelerate and brake hard or corner hard and when i back up from my driveway. Seems to me something is loose. Any ideas ???????????????

[pietka]

My friend have similar thing but dont know yet whats a problem.

[jude1177]

Originally Posted by pcr

Can only suggest rolling very slowly downhill in neutral whilst repeatedly braking on and off. The idea is to eliminate any noise caused by the engine nodding, such as flexing of the exhaust which runs down the o/s side of car. If the noise is still there then maybe it's the damper and you need a complete new front strut.

I'll certainly give this a go later and report back

Glad to hear I'm not alone in this, so hopefully we can find the cause and the cure (and let let Honda know )

[Bog]

Originally Posted by jude1177

I'll certainly give this a go later and report back

Glad to hear I'm not alone in this, so hopefully we can find the cause and the cure (and let let Honda know )

I have this knock/tap when I start moving and stop. The car is going in to the Dealers next week to have it fixed, apparently it's the sub-frame bushes and is a known issue.

There are other threads that mention the same issue and a couple of dealers have identified the sub-frame issue. They have put a warranty claim into Honda and are planning to replace the entire subframe

It might be woth going into the dealers and quoting the cases on this forum, this may point them in the right dirrection (assuming this is what's wrong with your car)

[jude1177]

Originally Posted by Bog

It might be woth going into the dealers and quoting the cases on this forum, this may point them in the right dirrection (assuming this is what's wrong with your car)

I will do this.

I tried speaking to Swindon today and all the guy who answered the phone could do was type it into a computer and the computer said no. "Sorry, that's not a fault we are aware of, take it to your dealer."

Got the impression they don't like talking to their customers directly. Shame really as they could learn a thing or two!

It's going back in on tuesday. Who's your dealer? maybe mine could get in contact with them.

Jude

[Bog]

Originally Posted by jude1177

I will do this.

I tried speaking to Swindon today and all the guy who answered the phone could do was type it into a computer and the computer said no. "Sorry, that's not a fault we are aware of, take it to your dealer."

Got the impression they don't like talking to their customers directly. Shame really as they could learn a thing or two!

It's going back in on tuesday. Who's your dealer? maybe mine could get in contact with them.

Jude

Chiswick Honda, but I really can't recommend them , Mines only being done by them because the car is having work they f**ked up before rectified!

I'm sure someone on here could recommend a good dealer in the Brighton area for you.

[richierich]

Mine has this sound too, but not all the time, especially not when at the dealers.

[czechplastik]

This sounds a lot like the problem I had, but the dealer (unsurprisingly) couldn't recreate it despite it happening every time i corner sharply at low speed.

[Munro]

Originally Posted by Bog

I have this knock/tap when I start moving and stop. The car is going in to the Dealers next week to have it fixed, apparently it's the sub-frame bushes and is a known issue.

There are other threads that mention the same issue and a couple of dealers have identified the sub-frame issue. They have put a warranty claim into Honda and are planning to replace the entire subframe

It might be woth going into the dealers and quoting the cases on this forum, this may point them in the right dirrection (assuming this is what's wrong with your car)

Replacing the subframe is a significant piece of work to solve a knock/tap on such a new car. Worth putting on the wiki under common faults if it solves the problem, as it can be very difficult to identify the source of such noises..

[jude1177]

Originally Posted by pcr

Can only suggest rolling very slowly downhill in neutral whilst repeatedly braking on and off. The idea is to eliminate any noise caused by the engine nodding, such as flexing of the exhaust which runs down the o/s side of car. If the noise is still there then maybe it's the damper and you need a complete new front strut.

Finally got round to trying your suggestion out. Rolling dowm a hill, braking on then off causes the noise every time but it gets less pronounced each time and by the 4th or 5th time goes quiet. Almost like something is moving further and further til it can move no more because after doing this test the next time i accelerated the noise was very loud indeed.

The sub-frame bushes explaination sounds the most plausable so far albeit a very drastic measure (and no doubt extremely expensive). But then that's Honda's worry.

They're taking it in Tuesday and once it's confirmed I'll let everyone know and put it in the wiki (if I can work out how)

Jude

[PTR]

jude1177,

what engine do you have, wich modelyear is your car?

[Topcat]

Hmmmm mine is at the dealers now and although they have heard the knock sound when you turn the car at a certain angle the service manager seems to think it is something to do with the rear seat !!! They are changing a clip or some part to do with it tomorrow but I am sure it is nothing to do with the seat, it is a definate noise from under the car and usually only does it first thing in the morning as I pull off my drive or when the car has sat stationary for a long period of time and it only does it when I bear right.

Could that be the sub frame?

[jude1177]

Originally Posted by PTR

jude1177,

what engine do you have, wich modelyear is your car?

It's a 56 EX CDTi (2.2 Diesel). Noise started around 7000 miles and has got steadily worse, now on 12,200.

Jude

[Bog]

Mines going in on the 10th, so I'll report back then. If it's cured, it could be that we have identifed a common fault.

[Topcat]

I just emailed my dealer a copy of the post so he has it first thing tomorrow before they start messing around with my rear seats. I have no internal rattles and do not want them messing around with things that dont need fixing!!

[Parker]

I’ve just had something fixed which might be similar to your problem…

2.2ES, 6500 miles. I was hearing a loud rattle/knock from somewhere in the engine near the front wheels when pulling away sharply, mainly to the right, but also to the left (worrying!). Replicated it by finding an empty car park and turned tight circles – noise was clearer when pressing on the gas (probably looked like some learner doing circular bunny hops?!!)

Anyway, the technician thought it could be the CV joint but in the end they ‘reduced the thickness’ of the drive shaft slightly after they took a day finding a printout from Honda, telling them what to do.

Repaired under warranty at Lookers in Liverpool and so far, so good.

Hope this helps you.

[Nick7]

Well, noticed same issue few days ago.
First I thought it was inside a car, where I could hear like a tap when accelerating or decelerating (like something flexes).
But, with open windows I heard noise is actually coming from *outside* cabin, where it has sound like some metal flexes (like bad bushings?).
Anyway, booked a visit to dealer.. although they are quite busy, so almost 2 weeks wait...

[jude1177]

Got the car back today from Brighton Honda.

They replaced the front subframe.

No noise at all and the car feels new again. Only time will tell if this is a permanent fix of course.

Now to try and put it in the wiki