2003 Honda CRV Ticking sound inside the engine

SI_JUNIOR

MEMBER
2003 HONDA CRV
4 CYL
AWD
AUTOMATIC
65,550 MILES

A week ago, the engine started to have a ticking sound in the engine. Took it to the honda dealer to be diagnose, they can't find were the ticking sound is coming from. They said its somewhere inside the engine, they also said that the crankshaft bearing is good, no problem down there. They said somewhere inside the middle of the engine. They want to replace the engine and was charging an arm and a leg, $4,500 est. They said that the car is driveable until the engine breaks down, is like a ticking time bomb. I have the CR-V since I bought it brand new, 40 miles from the lot, 5 1/2 years later with 65K miles, after the warranty is over, now the problem begins. I only have honda dealer do the daily maintenance, including the oil change. This is the worse problem I encounter with this car. Is there any other solution other than replacing the engine?

1 Reply

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,815 POSTS

Hi si_junior,

Noises are difficult to understand online as the exact source and type cannot be ascertained.

Some engine noise do not cause the engine to breakdown immediately and might even last another 100 k miles or more.

I would continue to drive if the noise level does not increase.

If the noise is from middle of engine, the most likely cause would be a bad piston. For the mileage, it is surprising that the engine is deemed faulty. Honda engines are very reliable and seldom fails at this early mileage.

You can rebuild the engine instead of replacing one. However if the cause is not ascertained, you might not be able to verify the cause if the engine is disassembled.