Some Maintenence Issues

[Kboers]

Ok so my car is at a little over 152,000 miles, starting to show her age a bit. I've gone all winter without maintaining anything really and stuff is starting to sound really bad.
I have some belt noise, possibly sway bar issues, a squealing wheel bearing, bad exhaust gasket (my mistake, forgot to tighten some bolts when I did exhaust and messed up gasket) and a little over an oil change (I change every 2500 miles).
The reason I'm posting is because I have a start up clunk, mosly when it is cold out but always after the car has sat for a few hours. It comes from the right rear corner and I have absolutely no clue what the problem is.
Anyone have a similar problem and can anyone give me any tips on the manual belt tensioner I know I'm gonna have to tinker with when I look at the belt?

[tru2037]

well I can help with the belts but the clunk??? rear right of the engine bay or whole car?

If you are working on the power steering - there is a 12mm bolt that faces the drivers side tire under the pump (it holds it in place), just slightly loosen it, and it makes things a little easier if you loosen the upper bolt too (14mm) Then in front of the pump is 2 10mm bolts (one attaches the bracket to the pump and the other is the adjuster bolt) tighten the 10mm adjuster bolt till the belt is tight - not too tight just enough where you can just twist the belt 90 degrees, then retighten the mounting bolts.

It's the same for the alternator - A/C - just a little tougher to reach

just did it I used:
1/4" rachet w/ deep 12mm socket to get to the lower mounting bolts
1/4" rachet w/ shallow 10mm for adjuster

3/8" rachet w/ 14mm to slightly loosen the upper mounting bolts

[Kboers]

well I can help with the belts but the clunk??? rear right of the engine bay or whole car?

If you are working on the power steering - there is a 12mm bolt that faces the drivers side tire under the pump (it holds it in place), just slightly loosen it, and it makes things a little easier if you loosen the upper bolt too (14mm) Then in front of the pump is 2 10mm bolts (one attaches the bracket to the pump and the other is the adjuster bolt) tighten the 10mm adjuster bolt till the belt is tight - not too tight just enough where you can just twist the belt 90 degrees, then retighten the mounting bolts.

It's the same for the alternator - A/C - just a little tougher to reach

just did it I used:
1/4" rachet w/ deep 12mm socket to get to the lower mounting bolts
1/4" rachet w/ shallow 10mm for adjuster

3/8" rachet w/ 14mm to slightly loosen the upper mounting bolts

Thanks, the clunk is in the whole car, its coming from the right rear wheel well it sounds like, absolutely perplexing, and no one else has heard it except me, the car fixes itself when I bring it to the shop so nothing seems wrong, but something doesn't seem right. The noise only happens when I start the car, before it moves or anything, just cranks and fires then *clunk* idk what it is yet, but hopefully ripping that whole section off when I get it on a lift next will show something

[tru2037]

Shit that sounds crazy, I hate messing w/ car drums - I would double check and have someone else start the car and try to listen for it by the rear...

[I<3MyHonda]

Is the car auto or manual?

[Kboers]

Is the car auto or manual?

1993 Accord Ex Coupe 5-Speed, it has all new disk brakes except for the rear calipers. I'm beginning to think it might have something to do with setting the handbrake every time I park car instead of leaving it in gear.

[DJ metadelic]

Hmm. A clunk you say? From the rear...odd.

At first I thought maybe the exhaust is moving around. But nope, you've pretty much discredited that already.

Then I thought something with the fuel pump? but I can't think of how a physical noise like that may be related, especially since you specified the right rear.

Looks like you'll have to ask a helper for some assistance and see if you can pinpoint it at any given time. Does it do it every time on a cold start?

Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you! maintain these cars well as if they were your own car-children; and they'll never let you down.

[Kboers]

Hmm. A clunk you say? From the rear...odd.

At first I thought maybe the exhaust is moving around. But nope, you've pretty much discredited that already.

Then I thought something with the fuel pump? but I can't think of how a physical noise like that may be related, especially since you specified the right rear.

Looks like you'll have to ask a helper for some assistance and see if you can pinpoint it at any given time. Does it do it every time on a cold start?

Sounds like you've got your work cut out for you! maintain these cars well as if they were your own car-children; and they'll never let you down.

you said exhaust and now that I think about it, that might be the problem. My exhaust comes out on right side, and it hangs down a little longer than I like. It was a cheap, eBay stainless steel cat-back that probably doesn't fit quite as well as the stock one. I'll look into that too, but I'm still taking off entire suspension/brakes hub in that corner.