Sorry if im bieng paranoid, but i would like to know what others feel is the normal amount of engine noise for this car to make at cold start idle, and at warm idle.

At cold and when warm i can definately hear some of what appears to be valve type noise. This noise can be heard with the hood open, or from under the car when kneeling to listen for it. However it can also be heard when stopped next to other cars in traffic with the windows open.

I know a certain amount is normal, i topped off the oil last week which reduced most of it. My older cars consistently do it and are a little quieter with new oil, but they have 180k (boosting 11psi, daily till s2k) ,and 220k miles on them and I feel that at that point they deserve to make some noise if they want to. The s2k is 2nd hand with 60k on odometer and 30k on dealer replaced engine. Ive had it for about 3k miles.

I made a recording of a cold start to just about when the last bar before 1krpm is about to drop. However i feel that this recording is not an appropriate representation since it was done with a cell phone which is sensitive to high frequency noise. For example you can hear a consistent high pitched squeel in the recording which i suspect is my belt tensioner pulley, However this noise cannot be heard in person since i sprayed it with some lube. So keep that in mind if you listen to the recordings.

Im going to post the recording in a bit along with a warm idle recording.

For the 1st recording it was done with the phone in the engine bay near the dirver side wiper sitting on some padding with the mic facing outside over the left fender.
http://wam.umd.edu/~tdatta/Cold.amr
http://wam.umd.edu/~tdatta/Cold.mp3 <-larger more compatible

 

Similar format for the cold start:
http://wam.umd.edu/~tdatta/Cold.wav <-shortened
http://wam.umd.edu/~tdatta/Coldr.wav <--full length 3 min cold idle

This next one is in the same location with the hood open but this time ive driven a few miles.
http://wam.umd.edu/~tdatta/Inhoodwarm.wav

For comparison the next one is with the hood shut but the phone in approximately same location but on the hood this time.
http://wam.umd.edu/~tdatta/onhood.wav

And the next is with me standing about 6 feet to the left of the car with the mic facing the car, in this one you can hear slightly more of a rattle, which i would hear from under the car or from when standing next to other cars.
http://wam.umd.edu/~tdatta/6feetaway.wav

finally since i did so many just for the heck of it, me turning the car off with the phone on the hood while it is closed.
http://wam.umd.edu/~tdatta/hoodoff.wav

 

lol i think you have to relax. nothing sounds abnormal at all. seriously relax.

 

I also have valve-like noise.

When I took it to the dealer for a 15k checkup they did not notice anything wrong with the noise. Seemed normal to them.

I'm still under 15k miles.

 

And also I get a lot of hissing or what sounds like an exhaust leak when im on the throttle and passing a median or somthing which reflects the sound.

I know some of it must be normal but is the hissing really normal?

 

Even with the recordings, it's hard to tell if you have a real problem, or if something like the valves, or whatever, that needs to be looked at.

If you don't work on cars and have a real concern, take it someplace, or a couple of places, and have someone check it out.
If you do work on cars, pop the valve cover off and check the valves/retainers. Do a compression/leak-down test. Jack it up and take a good look at everything underneath for leaks ect

 

im actually pretty mechanically adept and do most of my own work. However I dont believe i have the knowledge to diagnose, so generally i take it to a mech and pay like an hour to have him tell me whats wrong, and usually do the work myself.

I was actually gonna do compression check and i have the guage, but am a bit confused by these honda coils, the type of gague i have is the kind with a hose and a threaded end, im not sure i can get the thing to thread in properly if its all the way down there, but im gonna try it in a bit.

 

The only engine idle noise I've experienced is the screams of the sad owner of his SS as I smoked his ass off the line. It only occurs when he passes me after about a 5 car length. jk bro

Seriously don't worry about it. Honda's are NOTORIOUS for this kind of tapping noise.

 

yeah im about to let the tapping noise slide,

but this hissing type noise is a bit too much, it really sounds like an exhaust leak or somthing, as soon as my exams finish im gonna spend a good amount of time under the car

does eveyone have hissing noises when on throttle (partial or full) when there is like a median or somthing to let the noise reflect back?

 

The "ticking" noise you hear is completely normal. It's just like a tapping, sounds like someone bouncing quarters off your engine. It's just normal valvetrain noise.

The "hissing" is also normal. Between our intakes, and the secondary air injection, you will get a natural hissing or even whistling noise from the intake. I hear it all the time when I'm near a wall or some sound reflecting surface. It's louder at certain rpms and throttle positions. But again, this is normal.


Could something else be going on with these noises? Sure, anything is possible. However, in my opinion, it's completely normal S2k noises. This car is quite unique in many ways, it's noises included.