[IXLR8]

The last few times i started my 98 I've heard a slight rattle. It might be my imagination, but today I think i can hear it when I lightly touch the throttle so I'm thinking I may have been bitten by the Tensioner bug! Is this consistent with when any of you guys first noticed it?

It may also be my valve clearance - but it seems to have come on too suddenly. They do need to be adjusted - I just turned 36k.

Any thoughts or input before I head over to the dealer for a look-see?

 

[IXLR8]

Also - if it is the tensioner, can i drive on it for awhile? I have a meeting tomorrow in Tucson so I'm gonna go a couple of hundred miles before I can get it into the shop...

 

[bud1]

Depends on your dealer. You'll get everything from a 'covered under warranty' to 'that's just a typical sound of the H22a engine'. That's exactly what my dealer in San Diego said. Even after 3 visits and telling him that this was not an exclusive problem. PACIFIC HONDA in San Diego sucks.

As for the sound, it'll start off as a little rattle. Then it'll be extremely noticible (even at idle). I'm getting my belt, water pump, and tensioner done next week cuz the rattle is driving me up the wall.

 

[HRC]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by bud1:


I'm getting my belt, water pump, and tensioner done next week cuz the rattle is driving me up the wall.</font>

how many miles do you have on your car?

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Resist, and you'll be overcome

 

[desmat]

I have that rattle too. It started at about 60000 km. I have about 75000 km now. I'm going to the dealer next week.

 

[bud1]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by HRC:
how many miles do you have on your car?

</font>

Right now 56K. Rattle started around 32k.

 

[iLUVmySH]

Mine rattled too! But I got it fixed under warranty. It was the timing belt auto tensioner. Without warranty it was 500+, with (depending on warranty) 0. I drove about 1-2 hundred miles with the rattle before I got it fixed.

 

[iLUVmySH]

I think that problem should be a recall, it's happened numerous times to other people already.

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98 Lude Type SH
White Diamond Pearl
Dark Tint all around
Mud guards
Clear conrners all around with hyper white bulbs all around inside the clear corners
Eibach pro-kit
Greddy Power Extreme Exhaust
DC Sports Short Ram Intake
Honda Carbon Fiber Interior Trim
Razo Carbon Fiber Pedals
Broadway Mirror
Can AirFreshener
Fields SFC Hyper R (not installed ~ for sale)

 

[coil222]

I had the tensioner go bad too.
Dealer blamed it on my cam gears.

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Not your Grandmother's Prelude
http://www.hondaprelude.com/setups/setupsdsply.asp?id=10306

AIM: coil222222
Yahoo: coil222

 

[smoothludey]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by iLUVmySH:
I think that problem should be a recall, it's happened numerous times to other people already.

</font>

I only think a recall is done when the defect contributes to driving safety, i.e. something that they can be sued for...otherwise i think they try to keep the other defects as private as they can only dealing with them as they appear. The auto tensioner problem does seem to be widespread and the only thing we can do as prelude owners is to keep our ears open about these problems.