Help! Where do I go for ideas?? I'm a gal and won't be doing my own work, but I need answers. I've had the car looked at by 2 mechanics and worked on. Their ideas range from "We don't know," to "It is your torque converter." The car brings up no codes; no sensor issues found and no warning lights go on.
I recently bought a 97 Honda civic HX automatic[4 cyl. 1.6L VTEC-E] automatic with 109970 miles on it.


In the last 3 months the following work has been done:
timing belt /tensioner, water pump, front upper control arms, adjust the valves, alt belt, power steering and AC belt, cap and rotor for distributor [minor tuneup], spark plugs, New oil pan gasket, oil change & Lucas fluid put in, front brake pads, cleaned out rear brakes, and transmission fluid changed with Honda fluid.

Symptoms: [started occuring after repairs
RPM's vacillate between 1900 - 2200 while the car is driven at 35-42 MPH. It use to slightly fluctuate only while stopped at a stop sign. After changing the transmission fluid, then it started at the 1900-2200 rpm's. Since all the repairs, the car's rpms haven't fluctuated while waiting a stop lights. Instad, I get the problem while driving [not accellerating]. When the rpm dial arrives at the 1900-2000 rpm mark, the fluction starts. It happens when I've driving at a constant speed of 40 or 38 or 42mph. I'm applying steady pedal pressure and the enginbe/motor hum rises/falls in sound. At the same time th rpm dial goes up/down in relation to the rising/falling hum of the engine. I can feel this rpm surge/decline, also. The rpm dial and engine hum should be steady. ?? IDEAS??

When started after sitting over night or sitting for 2-3 hours, I hear a distinctive rapid tick, tick, tick, tick... sound from under the hood. AFter a minute or less it goes away. The noise seems metalic in quality. It is similar to the sound you hear when your gas stove top burner pilot light is trying to ignite. It is a similar noise. ?IDEAS?

When stopped at a light, I periodically get a bang, bang, bang type clanking under the hood. Whatever is doing it seems to be of such force to be making the hood rattle. When I let up on the brake it goes away fully or partially. It never occurs while driving nor letting it roll while in drive. --only when the brake is holding back the car. ?IDEAS?

Unrelated: a couple times a week the car won't turn over- totally dead- or so it seems. Moving the key back and worth, attempting to start it, makes it start usually after the 3rd or 4th attempt. I had the steering column taken apart to see if it was electrical or an ignition switch. I was told it isn't electrical. Rather they were guessing it may be the tumbler needing replacing [and new keys]. Any ideas??

The mechanic didn't know where the ticking is coming from and the car wasn't banging while he had it overnight.

IDEAS, IDEAS to explore, please. He is guessing the torque converter needs replacing and it isn't that unusual for a Honda- so he says. He says if I don't fix it I'll destroy the transmission. And, it could go any time. Does this sound possible?

It seems the more I fix, the more stuff goes wrong.
-----......An unhappy, slowly going broke gal. :shakehead

Sounds like who ever installed the timing belt didn't set the engine timing correctly. Or it could very well be a large vacuum leak. Have a different mechanic check the timing with a timing light, it would be a good idea to take your car to a Honda dealer and let them look at it. I really only trust my car to a dealer service department (or myself) after having experience with independent shops.

I just bought a '97 HX also and have been researching the fluctuations that you mention. The transmission in these cars is called a CVT and is not like a typical automatic transmission. The RPM changes that you see and feel are probably caused by the CVT trans - best to have it checked by a Honda dealer - there have been a lot of different problems with these transmissions - or so I've been told! Just had my fluid changed (it takes a special fluid) and that seems to have helped - don't know how long it will stay improved but you definetly need to put the right fluid in it! Costs about $65.00 at the Honda dealer. As for your other stuff, have a dealer check it out and then decide what you want to have done. The one noise coming from under your hood could be a cracked or broken exhaust header bracket - found that one myself - not a big deal . Gotta love these used cars !!! quote=minmn]Help! Where do I go for ideas?? I'm a gal and won't be doing my own work, but I need answers. I've had the car looked at by 2 mechanics and worked on. Their ideas range from "We don't know," to "It is your torque converter." The car brings up no codes; no sensor issues found and no warning lights go on.
I recently bought a 97 Honda civic HX automatic[4 cyl. 1.6L VTEC-E] automatic with 109970 miles on it.


In the last 3 months the following work has been done:
timing belt /tensioner, water pump, front upper control arms, adjust the valves, alt belt, power steering and AC belt, cap and rotor for distributor [minor tuneup], spark plugs, New oil pan gasket, oil change & Lucas fluid put in, front brake pads, cleaned out rear brakes, and transmission fluid changed with Honda fluid.

Symptoms: [started occuring after repairs
RPM's vacillate between 1900 - 2200 while the car is driven at 35-42 MPH. It use to slightly fluctuate only while stopped at a stop sign. After changing the transmission fluid, then it started at the 1900-2200 rpm's. Since all the repairs, the car's rpms haven't fluctuated while waiting a stop lights. Instad, I get the problem while driving [not accellerating]. When the rpm dial arrives at the 1900-2000 rpm mark, the fluction starts. It happens when I've driving at a constant speed of 40 or 38 or 42mph. I'm applying steady pedal pressure and the enginbe/motor hum rises/falls in sound. At the same time th rpm dial goes up/down in relation to the rising/falling hum of the engine. I can feel this rpm surge/decline, also. The rpm dial and engine hum should be steady. ?? IDEAS??

When started after sitting over night or sitting for 2-3 hours, I hear a distinctive rapid tick, tick, tick, tick... sound from under the hood. AFter a minute or less it goes away. The noise seems metalic in quality. It is similar to the sound you hear when your gas stove top burner pilot light is trying to ignite. It is a similar noise. ?IDEAS?

When stopped at a light, I periodically get a bang, bang, bang type clanking under the hood. Whatever is doing it seems to be of such force to be making the hood rattle. When I let up on the brake it goes away fully or partially. It never occurs while driving nor letting it roll while in drive. --only when the brake is holding back the car. ?IDEAS?

Unrelated: a couple times a week the car won't turn over- totally dead- or so it seems. Moving the key back and worth, attempting to start it, makes it start usually after the 3rd or 4th attempt. I had the steering column taken apart to see if it was electrical or an ignition switch. I was told it isn't electrical. Rather they were guessing it may be the tumbler needing replacing [and new keys]. Any ideas??

The mechanic didn't know where the ticking is coming from and the car wasn't banging while he had it overnight.

IDEAS, IDEAS to explore, please. He is guessing the torque converter needs replacing and it isn't that unusual for a Honda- so he says. He says if I don't fix it I'll destroy the transmission. And, it could go any time. Does this sound possible?

It seems the more I fix, the more stuff goes wrong.
-----......An unhappy, slowly going broke gal. :shakehead [/quote]

wow, my 96 civic lx is going on 280,000 miles and its running alot better than your car :grinyes: anyways........richard hastings basically covered the vacuum issue and the cvt comparison well. the ticks and noises from under the hood can probably be loose nuts, bolts, brackets, shields, etc. as far as taking it to another shop to look at..................i think at this point you are just worried. i would just drive the car. sounds fine to me.