Before you take it in to Honda, I'd suggest you make sure its full of oil. No need to give them any "ammo"

 

I believe that I am experiencing the same thing, except it is more of a tick-tick-tick-tick sound. If it is anything major, then I believe that the car would have died a loooooong time ago if it had been too major. The vehicle was also making the noise when I had taken it in to get the rear differential oil changed, mentioned the noise to both the technicion, and my father. The two of them listened and looked, and said that they couldn't find anything wrong. They said that the noise was the valves. (Like stated above)

-Chase

 

sounds like all of you need to have your valves adjusted.

 

hopefully it's just the valve lash is out of spec, the spark plug tsb is for all 00-01 and some 02 and #4 cylinder engine failure is for the early models (#1025385 and lower), a 2004 shouldn't have those problems
make sure your oil is topped off before you let them touch it!

please keep us posted, i'd like to see what comes of this

 

Oil is topped off. I wouldn't think the valves would be this loud, thats the only thing. Normally I don't get worried over anything like this and rarely go to Honda, but this just doesn't seem "right."

Just seems a little too loud to be a normal sound. Waiting for the pouring rain to clear before I call up the tow guy, as I have nothing to do right now, so its no rush.

 

You said you have no 'engine mods' - do you have an aftermarket header pipe? Sounds like a problem I had with a cracked L bracket on a prelude a couple years ago.

 

The S2000 engine is noise from the factory (noise valves). It could be your car is just slightly our of tune, therefore making the valve noise a bit louder. The S2K always is also chain driven...adding to the "noise" factor.

 

My only mods are RSR springs and rims, so couldn't be a header bracket. Also, noise is not coming from the suspension, checked it already. Its pouring here so there is no point to bring the car in right now because it won't be looked at by Monday anyhow. Bringing it then.

I will see if I can get a soundclip of the sound before then.

 

Mine sounded like that (cards in the bicycle spokes) when the lobes on my cams sheared off. Those were aftermarket cams, though, and not the stock ones. I haven't heard of anyone having the same problem with the stock cams.
Mine was less noticeable at high RPMs, because only the low cam lobes sheared off and the VTEC lobes were fine.

I would try narrowing down exactly where the sound is coming from, if you want to self-diagnose it a bit. You may be able to use the "screwdriver test" to find the source of the sound.

 

Screwdriver test? What is that?