Rattling Noise

HONDA CIVIC
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ACHIRAVURI
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Hi, I have a 1998 Honda Civic HX, 109000 miles, manual transmission. I just bought the car a month back. When I bought it at a Toyota dealership, they agreed to replace the timing belt and the CV boots before giving it to me. Ever since I got the car, I keep hearing rattling noises when I accelerate, it get louder when I go up a hill. Also the gas mileage of the car was not good, I was expecting somewhere between 30-36 mpg, but I am getting 29 mpg. Also the check engine light came on shortly, the code was P0420, "Catalytic Converter below threshold" So I took it to a mechanic, he said the timing belt is off by two teeth marks.He also said that the check engine light and the low gas mileage are caused by the wrong timing. Then, I took it back to the Toyota dealership, telling them the situation, after looking at the car, they said that the timing belt is installed correct. They also said that the timing belt on the civic can be installed only one way, if installed incorrectly, it wouldn't work. I thought that it could be pinging noises, so I put better gas, 93 octane gas, didn't help. Can you tell me what's going on? Do I need to fix the timing belt, or replace the Catalytic converter? Thank you.
Aug 6, 2007 at 10:28 AM
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What does the dealership think the problem is?
Aug 6, 2007 at 12:07 PM
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ACHIRAVURI
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Well, the dealership was only supposed to check if the timing belt was installed correctly. When they said that it was fine, I ask them what the problem could be. The sales manager told me that he would have to charge $90 per hour to see what the problem could be.
Aug 6, 2007 at 3:20 PM
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Hmmmm..Kinda caught between a rock and a hard place. The code doesn't mean you need a converter.

If you have a pinging situation and a timing problem it would be logical. May not be the answer as there are other sources than just timing.

I would want to know from the dealer that if Garage X repostions the timing belt and solves it, will they cover it? They are right that if it was installed incorrectly it wouldn't work....and isn't that happening?
It isn't working right....is it?
I have seen timing belts off a tooth or two and have your symptoms. I have to agree with the Independent mechanic on this.
Aug 6, 2007 at 7:46 PM
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