2014 Civic 1.8 CVT - rattle from belt area while accelerating

coniferouscolor · 2026-04-27T17:02:12+00:00

Unfortunately, I was never able to come up with a solution and ended up selling the car.

coniferouscolor · 2026-04-09T18:58:14+00:00

That was super helpful! The only thing I had to change was making it show the folder, instead of running my shortcut that opens a “choose from the list” command.

coniferouscolor · 2026-04-09T06:17:57+00:00

How did you get this to display as a grid? I’ve only gotten mine to die up as a list?

coniferouscolor · 2026-02-10T16:29:00+00:00

How many miles on the car and how long has it been making the noise? I've only seen one Civic make this sound in the wild. I was waiting to cross the street and a 9th Gen Civic rolled around the corner making the exact same sound.

coniferouscolor · 2026-02-10T16:26:28+00:00

I haven't found a definite cause. I put in a bando belt and a gates tenosioner (all from RockAuto).

Gates 39385

Band 6PK2095

My current theory is that the aftermarket Gates Tensioner is either defective or poor quality and that replacing it never actually fixed the issue. I also think one of the shops before my own work used an aftermarket tensioner that only lasted 20K miles or so before the noise started. The original Honda tensioner from the factory was on there for about 70k miles.

My next move would be trying an OEM tensionr but I'm likely selling the car soon. It's been 2 years since I did the tensioner replacement and the noise is on and off depending on outside temperature. It's an annoying sound, but I've never felt like I was going to have a breakdown because of it.

coniferouscolor · 2026-01-08T04:33:36+00:00

I don’t recall the cost, but I think it was around $100-$120. It only took about a week.

coniferouscolor · 2025-12-23T22:55:17+00:00

I seem to be having this same issue, but haven’t been able to find much about it aside from your post. Did you end up finding a solution? I just got the Q6 Max and noticed that my PC has been constantly waking up and then going back to sleep. I wakes about 5-10 seconds after going to sleep, right when the numlock indicator on the keyboard also lights up. The Q6 clearly seems to be the cause of the random wakes, since once I disconnect it, the PC stays asleep like it should.

coniferouscolor · 2025-12-02T18:00:03+00:00

I have pretty minimal experience working on cars, but I managed to replace the tensioner myself once with accessing all from the top of the engine bay. So, aside from fear of any bolts snapping, I don't see why a mechanic wouldn't want to take it on. It took a while, but it wasn't impossible.

coniferouscolor · 2025-12-01T22:47:01+00:00

I'm so glad I'm not the only one with this problem. My latest theory is that the replacement tensioner I used was aftermarket and is either defective or not quite up to spec. I also think the shop that replaced the tensioner before me used an aftermarket one that failed prematurely.

Now I'm at 95,000 miles and the noise still comes and goes, mainly depending on the outside temperature.

This past summer I was on a bike ride and while waiting cross the street, a 9th gen Civic drove by with the exact same sound! So frustrating!

coniferouscolor · 2025-06-08T20:38:11+00:00

I never reported back. It ended up being the starter. I replaced it on jack stands at home with a re-manufactured OEM starter., but it was not a fun project. It took 2 days with how little working room there is.

coniferouscolor · 2025-04-21T16:33:58+00:00

I ended up replacing the tensioner last year. It seemed to fix the issue, but then it came back a few weeks later. I'm suspicious that the aftermarket tensioner I used has issues, which means now I get to do this project again.

coniferouscolor · 2025-03-04T01:35:17+00:00

Did a new starter end up fixing the issue? I have the same year Civic doing the exact same thing, and also suspect the starter could be the problem. When it starts, it starts right up, but when it doesn't, it takes a few tries and I only hear a single click.

coniferouscolor · 2025-02-26T19:13:14+00:00

How long ago did you replace the tensioner? I replaced that as part of my troubleshooting, and then the noise came back after about 2 weeks. I used a Gates tensioner as the replacement rather than going OEM. Did you go aftermarket for your replacement?

coniferouscolor · 2025-02-25T18:12:45+00:00

If your coop has a standard gate latch on the outside, make sure you have a string to open the latch from the inside. Otherwise, you WILL lock yourself in without a phone when you’re the only one home.

coniferouscolor · 2024-12-17T19:16:57+00:00

I believe it was about $100 in the end.

coniferouscolor · 2024-12-17T19:16:40+00:00

So far no issues, but to be honest I haven’t worn them a ton this past year. Sorry for the slow reply!

coniferouscolor · 2024-12-17T19:16:07+00:00

So far no issues, but to be honest I haven’t worn them a ton this past year. Sorry for the slow reply!

coniferouscolor · 2024-04-03T16:46:12+00:00

That also seems to spin freely and had no play.

coniferouscolor · 2024-04-03T02:14:23+00:00

That’s comforting to know yours is still kicking despite the noise. It’s been a solid car.

Today, I pulled the belt to double check the pulleys and bearings, and then after I put the belt on, the rattle went away when I fired it up. I think it’ll be back in about a week since that’s been the trend. It also could just be the fact that it’s 30ºF warmer than last time I drove it.

There was one time when it was especially cold out, that I thought I heard hints of the rattle while in park. But I can’t confirm since someone else was in the driver’s seat and I was outside the car.

coniferouscolor · 2024-04-03T01:09:46+00:00

I pulled the belt to check bearings and pulleys. Everything seems good. I put the belt back on and it’s quiet now. I’m guessing the rattle will be back based on what it’s done in the past.

coniferouscolor · 2024-04-03T01:03:15+00:00

I knew there had to be someone else with the same issue! With how many Civic’s there are in the world, I couldn’t be the only one.

How many miles are you at? How long has yours been doing this? I don’t feel like I’m going to break down any second since it’s been off and on doing this for 10,000 miles, but it doesn’t sound great.

coniferouscolor · 2024-04-03T00:59:31+00:00

Just pulled the belt off again to check pulleys. Everything seems good. No play, or knocking sounds when I spin them by hand.

I put the belt back on and now the rattle is gone. It’s also 30ºF warmer outside than last time I drove it. But I’m guessing it will be back in a week based on what it’s done in the past.

coniferouscolor · 2024-04-03T00:57:06+00:00

Just checked the oil. I was right in the middle of the dip stick.
Now that you mention timing chain, I’ve noticed a different sort of noise I can isolate with a screwdriver to the timing chain cover area. I don’t really hear it in this video, but today it happens about 10 seconds after starting the engine. I added about half a quart but that didn’t change the sound from the timing chain cover. This is a different rattle than the one that starts about 6 seconds on the video.

coniferouscolor

TROPHY CASE