My 92 Honda Civic DX is displaying the "check engine light". There is noise and vibrations coming from where the converter meets the exhaust under the car-no sign of cracks or holes. Also there is a high pitched sound in the engine like a bad belt. The only performance problem so far is an occasional kind of skip or sputter in engine while I'm driving. I tried jumping the ecu for codes but the "check engine light" just goes out and nothing else happens. I have had a bad main relay for several years now, could that eventually cause more problems? Thanks

TxGreaseMonkey

Get a stethoscope and listen to the engine. Try to isolate exactly where the noise is coming from. I wouldn't use the car, until you determine what is wrong and fix it.

How many miles are on your Civic? Have you ever replaced your timing belt and water pump? Do you think you are hearing signs of distributor bearing failure, which is common in Hondas? Could the high pitched sound involve your alternator (bearing failure) and belt assembly?

Do you think your converter is shot?

orgunn

Thank you for your info.! It's definitely inside the distributor. When I listened with the handle side of a screwdriver it's sounds as if there is a lose or broken part. I removed the cap but wasn't real sure what to look for. I appreciate your input. Unfortunately I need to drive thru this weekend. Do I risk further damage? Any info. is appreciated.

TxGreaseMonkey

Likely distributor bearing failure. Buy a replacement distributor housing from Honda and use your existing igniter, coil, and rotor. If you drive your car you really run the risk of getting stranded. Once you start hearing the bearing noise, it goes fast! It will start sounding like a thrashing machine. Get the car fixed today or tomorrow.

Your TDC, CYL, and CYK sensors will probably get destroyed, if you keep driving it. The new housing will come with new ones, but you will likely have to be towed home.

You can buy a mechanic's stethoscope for $2.49 on sale from Harbor Freight. Regular price is $5.00. Really allows you to pinpoint problems, especially with injectors. Worth buying.

You can't see the bearing--it is behind the rotor, coil, and ICM. They are a sealed bearing and the grease finally wears out. Very common failure on Hondas.

CroCivic91

If you hear a high pitched noise inside the distributor, i'd bet it's your distributor bearing. Search the thezcr.com forum, i wrote a how-to to replace your bearing there. Or you could get another distributor.

You risk some damage driving with such bearing. Your distributor sensors might go bad. That would make your distributor worthless.

bhayne

It sounds as though the ECU is giving a code zero that indicates a faulty ECU.