Sounds like a Lawn Mower...

[megalarouge]

Ok so i am one of those independent chicks that refuses to get screwed over by some dealership shop to get her car looked at. About 3,000 miles ago i purchaised a 98' civic with about 124,000 miles on it. MINT condition. Runs greeeat no accidents blah blah blah. This week was i planning on getting the oil changed anyway from a buddy of mine, but TODAY it decided that it was gonna start sounding like a lawn mower. It handles find, doesnt skip or slip when it transitions, but when i give it some gas it sounds like i am driving a go-cart lol . It makes a slight humming noise when idle but nothing like when i give it some gas. Something lose with the intake perhaps? I am just trying to prepare myself for what is possibly wrong and also am inquisitive about how quickly i should get this looked at. I am it in the process of moving and not to mention have some sort of a job i "have" to get to. So if it will probably go kaput tomorrow i will take to somewhere else rather than wait to see the buddy of mine for that oil change later in the week. (and what ever else is now wrong with it *sigh* lol) thx!

[nitebeest]

Check that the intake didn't come off of the intake manifold. While I really doubt that is the problem it's worth a shot. Also you might want to take a look at the exhaust system. Check the piping and the muffler and everything and make sure that there are no holes in it or that it's not rusted through anywhere. One of my friends used to have a 93 Accord and part of his exhaust was rusted through and it sounded something similar to what I imagine yours sounds like. That's probably my best guess of what it is. Especially for a 124k miles... depending on the weather where you live and how the previous owner drove it... just might be the case.

[bluevp00]

It might be your exhaust center pipe, or something with the exhaust system. Exhaust pipes sometimes get little rust holes in them, espically after 124K miles.

[TNRabbit]

You won't believe this but I was trying to figure out why my Check Engine light had come on after I adjusted the idle on my '00 Civic EX VTEC. I checked the spark plugs & was astounded to find that THREE of the FOUR plugs were backed out a FULL TURN!

I'd noticed the engine was a little noisy but could never figure out WHY! Now it runs perferctly and is quiet as a mouse. Don't forget to check your plugs!

[iCivic]

i'd guess your muffler, rust hole, as someone said...most likely the prob, they can just happen and makes sense the more you gas the louder the noise is gonna be