# Strange sound from Honda Civic

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/strange-sound-from-honda-civic/48760>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** noises, civic, honda\
**Created:** [May 12, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/strange-sound-from-honda-civic/48760 "2010-05-12T19:47:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lauramet](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/lauramet/32/5664_2.png) [@lauramet](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lauramet)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/strange-sound-from-honda-civic/48760/1 "2010-05-12T19:47:44Z")

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So, sometimes when I’m stopped in traffic, my Honda makes a funny noise. It sounds like it’s coming from under the hood - in front of me somewhere. Maybe a wheel? Anyway, it’s like a short whistle that finishes on a higher note. I’ve had mechanics check it out, but of course it doesn’t do it when they listen! It’s very random.

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**Author:** ![waterboy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/waterboy/32/764_2.png) [@waterboy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/waterboy)\
**Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/strange-sound-from-honda-civic/48760/2 "2010-05-12T22:59:52Z")

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When it becomes constant it will be easy to find, EGR valve is my guess.

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**Author:** ![Bladecutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@Bladecutter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bladecutter)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/strange-sound-from-honda-civic/48760/3 "2010-05-13T14:57:15Z")

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Tape recorder under the hood is your best friend.  
Record the car while you drive, and if you hear the noice, save the tape, and play it for the mechanic.

BC.

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**Author:** ![ignoramus9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/d07c76/32.png) [@ignoramus9](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ignoramus9)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/strange-sound-from-honda-civic/48760/4 "2010-05-13T23:12:10Z")

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sounds like a vacume leak noise of some kind. Vacume is high when the engine is in idle which is is when stopped in traffic. If it was a constant whistle we would suggest a loose or cracked vacume hose. but since it is intermittent the EGR valve is a good guess.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [May 13, 2010, 11:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/strange-sound-from-honda-civic/48760/5 "2010-05-13T23:47:32Z")

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If it happens when you’re stopped you can safely eliminate the wheels as possible candidates.

Perhaps it’s the cooling fan coming on.