Exhaust Shakes

Tiny
EDWEEZY21
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 HONDA CIVIC
  • 160,000 MILES
Ok so I've been hunting for this shaking/rattling noise for over a year now. I've replaced a bunch of stuff on it and have done some tests on it. Did a compression test and tested fine. Replaced a front engine mount. Replaced engine filter and PCV valve. Ripped off the rotted heat shield that was covering the catalytic converter (that was the first thing I checked). Today after I replaced an outer tie rod end, I decided to try again to figure out and try to narrow down what's causing the exhaust to shake violently especially when the A/C is on. Keep in mind, the A/C has to be engaged and the shaking/rattling only starts when the cooling fan kicks on and then stops when the fan shuts off in an endless cycle until you shut the A/C off. While I had the car on the lift, I took a pry bar and was trying different angles and such to hold the exhaust with the pry bar. I only had the small spurts of time the fan would kick on to try this. I noticed right away that if I pushed the entire exhaust forward towards the front of the vehicle, the shaking/rattling stopped. When I let go, it starts back up. Even if I push the exhaust forward with my hands (while holding rags) and not the pry bar, I get the same result. Can anyone help me from this point on? Its a factory exhaust and has never been taken off.
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Saturday, May 25th, 2013 AT 1:58 PM

5 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Were other engine mounts checked?
Front engine mount is not actuaklly an engine mount. It is for preventing excessive jerks when shifting to reverse.
The rear engine mount and both the sides are the ones to pay attention to.

Noise problems are something we can't assist much as we do not know the source of it.
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Saturday, May 25th, 2013 AT 10:07 PM
Tiny
EDWEEZY21
  • MEMBER
  • 92 POSTS
Well really my question isn't where the noise is coming from, its more like how would the positioning of the entire exhaust change? Like I said, if I move it forward the noise goes away but when I let it relax at its current positioning, it starts back up. Something seems not positioned correctly. Is there a way to tell if the hydraulic mount on the front, left (driver side) is bad or collapsed? It doesn't seem to be leaking but then again, this noise has been happening way before I was in my girlfriends life so it couldve leaked all out and then dried where I can't tell. Any tips or tricks?
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Monday, May 27th, 2013 AT 7:16 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Use a jck to gently lift the engine and note if the mount bracket moves away from the mount. A little movement is ok but ensure the rubber is intact.

Bad engine mounts would tilt the engine forward or backwards and the flexble joint of the exhaust would rattle if the springs are compressed excessively by the force pulling on them.
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Monday, May 27th, 2013 AT 7:30 AM
Tiny
EDWEEZY21
  • MEMBER
  • 92 POSTS
Ok thanks for the tip. I'll let you know what I find once I get a chance to do that.
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Monday, May 27th, 2013 AT 1:40 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
You're welcome.
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Thursday, June 13th, 2013 AT 11:28 AM

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