Expert: Sean Halliday - 7/18/2006

Question
I have a 99 Honda Civic EX 5-speed and when I'm driving, my car becomes very loud making a "wah-wah-wah" sound that gradually increases as my car accelerates.  I can also hear the "wah-wah" sound increasing in volume while my car is slightly turning on the road.  What is causing this and what type of cost range would I be looking at? Also, when my AC is on, there is a "high-pitched-coming from a pulley" type sound. How can I fix this problem?

Thank you

Answer
The 5 speed transmission on these hardly ever give problems if they have been serviced regularly.What is the oil like?.has it been changed on a regular basis?It is posssible the differential is going out which means the transmission, as the transmission/differential is all one on these cars.I would get an opinion from a reliable tranny shop,,it could be a wheel bearing,you didnt say if the clutch makes noise or slips  or it could be a CV joint/driveshaft.As for cost it depends on what the problem is.I would be guessing .The other noise could be a pulley /idler or the a/c compressor itself as it has a clutch.I would get it looked at before it fails .Try and localise the squeek by removing the belts and spinning each pulley individually .Water pump.power steering,a/c....alternator.