I took this video. Sometimes it makes this noise at idle. Honda accord. 190k miles

I also notice sometimes it makes this same noise while I'm driving when I push the accelerator and then immediately stops when I take my foot off the pedal. It does NOT make a screeching sound when starting. Power steering pump was recently replaced. The noise isn't super loud when I'm sitting in the car. Obviously I put the phone right near the hood. I am able to hear it while sitting inside the car though.

Any ideas what this noise could be?

 

what year and engine?

 

4 cylinder. 99

 

hard to say, maybe the timing belt tensioner.

 

I don't know when the timing belt was last done. Have had the car for 40k miles. Can the mechanic inspect the tensioner/timing belt and tell if it's off without doing a lot of labor?

 

Not really, have to pull the upper and lower covers and if you are going in that far, might as well replace the timing belts, waterpump and tensioner.

 

Sounds like it might be a drive belt that's slipping.

 

Check belt tension on all belts (I say all just to double check them) and checked belt tensioners. Had a friend let this sound go on for a few weeks. His tensioner bearings literally exploded and shredded the belt.

 

I would say remove the power steering belt and the alternator belt. See if the noise persists. If it does you will know it will be in the timing belt area.

 

^ Yup. That is exactly what should be done. First remove power steering belt and see if it goes away. If not then the alt and a/c belt should be removed. If noise is still there it is related to the timing belt or balancer shaft components.