Howdy folks,
For a little while now I've been having a scratchy noise near the actual engine, and can't figure out what exactly it might be. It comes on at around 2k RPM and as the RPMs climb, it sometimes goes away and comes back or just sticks around. If I take my foot off the accelerator, it'll do it until I shift up ( I use paddle shifters a lot ).

My Fit is a 2011 GE8 1.5L w/ 130,000 miles. No power loss as far as I can tell, and all the fluids have been changed somewhat recently. I can't smell anything that would be strange, and I live in New England, so yeah there's a good bit of rust but nothing out of the ordinary.

I asked on /r/hondafit a little while ago but didn't get many answers, so here's the link which includes a short video of the sound: Here's the video. It's quiet but at 2K you can hear it pretty well.
Any ideas as to what it might be?

 

check your heatshield behind the engine and also the one covering the cat

 

Try to narrow it down... if it comes from around your belt, it could be your belt auto-tensioner.

Mine originally started making intermittent noise, then it was nonstop.

 

I don't have a heatshield on my cat anymore, since that rusted off, but I haven't been able to check the one behind the engine.

It's definitely not that. Doesn't sound quite the same. It's more of a metal on metal grinding / scratching noise.

 

Uh, yeah, that's the kind of noise I am talking about. Its like the grease inside the bearings ran out.

 

is what I was referring to. It could be the bearing but I don't know. I'll check it out when it's not raining outside.

 

have the same noise in mine, only at 1800-2000 rpm tho, and in 4th and 5th, have tried all sorts of things to get rid of it, none result as of yet :/

 

I have had success with WD40 on the idler pulley on a truck and a VW Jetta. Seems that the bearing dries out and/or grease gets spun out of its position where it would work. Seems that the little bit of WD40 that makes it past the seals into the bearing, loosens up the grease just enough to wet the bearing again. One application on both sides of the idler pulley has worked for 20K-40K miles.

I doubt that the WD40 application will do much if your noise is coming from the alternator, A/C compressor, etc but it can't hurt to try a little.

BTW, I don't deliberately apply WD40 to the belt but don't be concerned if any does get on the belt. It'll quickly dissipate.