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How to perform a valve adjustmentSaturday, January 21, 2006 10:16 PM EST by James
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This "How To" was written for a 1998 Honda Prelude on how to adjust your valves. Currently there are no pictures, but we will try to get somebody to fill in that void. These are general instructions for a Prelude, but could be useful if you're attempting to do this on a different vehicle. Enjoy.
Tools Needed:
8, 10, 17, 19 mm socket
17 mm wrench
Torque Wrench
Tappet Adjuster - Part# 07MAA-PR70110 ($20.81)
Tappet Locknut - Part# 07MAA-PR70120 ($32.88)
Honda Bond - Part#08718-0001 ($10.57)
Valve Cover Gasket - Part#12341-P13-000 ($7.93)
Feeler Gauges - Got mine from Sears ... made by Craftsman ($5.99 I think)
Step 1: Loosen the drivers side wheel, jack up the front end of the car and put it on jackstands. Take the drivers side wheel off. I left my car in 4th gear, but I think any gear will work.
Step 2: In order to do this, you need to take off the valve cover. In order to do this, you have to take off all the connecting parts first. First step is to take off the spark plug cover then remove the spark plug wires by just pulling them out. Set these wires aside.
Step 3: Take off the ignition coil by first disconnecting it from the alternator (one plug you just pull, the other you need an 8mm socket). Then undo the plastic gray zip tie thingy by pulling up on the tab. Next, unscrew the bolt holding it to the valve cover (10mm). you should now be able to pull it diagonally out enough to swing it to the back of the car.
Step 4: Remove the grounding wire connected to the valve cover near the cam gears (10mm).
Step 5: Take off the air hose that leads to the intake by pushing the clamp off the valve cover. I have an aem and when I replaced this tube, the stock one was really hard to get off. It took a lot of prying and I eventually got it off with one of those hook like tools.
Step 6: Take off the PCV hose which you can just pull out .. it's on the right side towards the back near the cam gears. Just pull up.
Step 7: Unscrew all 8 bolts holding the valve cover in place (10mm). Notice there are 2 that are located underneath the ignition coil (or where it was).
Step 8: I loosened my oil cap, but I dunno if I really needed to ... next use a flathead screwdriver to pry the valve cover off. Wrap the screwdriver with something so you don't scratch things up. If you're valve cover has never been taken off, concentrate on the ends of the valve cover where the cam gears/cams are. This is where Honda puts a lot of Honda Bond. The rest should come off easily. Voila ... valve cover removed.
Valve Adjustment:
Step 9: Get your 19mm socket and look in your drivers side wheel well ... there should be a star like hole in the wheel well towards the engine. This is your access to the crank pulley. Stick your socket in there and make sure you're on the bolt.
Step 10: Take a look at your cam gears ... if you don't know what they are, they're the gears on the far right side (when standing in front of the car) that were once covered, but are now naked. Look on the side and you should be able to see either an arrow or a dash mark on the gears. If you don't see the arrows on the gears, turn the 19mm socket on the crank pulley counter clockwise (ie direction of the rotation of the tires when moving forward). It may take a lot to do this, but if it's giving you some hastle, get a pipe and put it on the end of the wrench. Turning the crank will turn the engine and do so until the arrows are pointing straight up and one of the dashes is lined up along the plastic.
Step 11: Use your feeler gauges and see if the intake and exhaust valves at the #1 piston are ok. Here are the correct ranges ...
Intake 0.15 - 0.19 mm (0.006 - 0.007 in)
Exhaust 0.17 - 0.21 (0.007 - 0.008 in)
Intake ---------------------------------- ||
Piston ---4--------3--------2-------1-----
Exhaust ---------------------------------- ||
Front of car
Some people say you don't need to use the tappet screw adjuster, but I think it's just nice to buy it to make life easier. A flashlight is really useful if you don't know what you're doing, but bacisally use feeler gauages on one side and the tappet screw adjuster on the other. If you need to adjust the valves, loosen the nut, then adjust the screw, then retorque the bolt with a 17 mm wrench/socket (20 Nm / 14 ftlb). Double check clearance cause when you tighten down the bolt, sometimes the screw will turn also. Play around with things before you adjust ... I did.
Step 12: Turn the crank pulley bolt counter clockwise until the cam gears turn 90 degrees and the arrows are aligned on the left side of the plastic belt cover. Adjust valves at piston #3.
Step 13: Repeat 12. and adjust valves at piston #4.
Step 14: Repeat 12. and adjust valves at piston #2.
Step 15: Double check all your valves ... then you're done.
Reinstallation
16. Take a look at the gasket that lines the valve cover .. you'll notice some gray stuff around the semicircles where the cams are located. you can either use a whole new gasket, but I just reused mine. apply some Honda Bond in the same places and pop that sucka back on. Screw the valve cover back on just like you would a wheel ... take 2 or 3 steps to tighten them down and go in this order ... (I hope this makes sense):
-------------------------------
6 ------------2--------------4
8-----------1----------------7
--------5-------------3-------
-------------------------------
If you have a helm's this is all in there.
17. Reattached everything you took off and you're all set. Start her up and see if you have any leaks around the valve cover.
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That was really helpful. I think I am going to give it a shot. Hope for the best, thanks for the excellent step-by-step!!
BTW I have read other places it is recommended to use a valve cover. I am unfamiliar with that. Any help?
Posted by Ryan on 4/5/2006 12:32 AM
| "BTW I have read other places it is recommended to use a valve cover."
I'm not sure what you mean. The valve cover is what covers the top of your engine. You remove this to gain access to the valves and other internals.
Posted by James on 4/5/2006 12:48 AM
| I am going to give this a go thanks for the info.. my h22a tappets are a little noisy, done 150,000 km is this common
Posted by Danny in Australia on 8/8/2006 9:27 AM
| isnt counter clockwise turning the engine backwards?
Posted by Anonymous on 7/2/2007 5:44 PM
| i did this and my was more noiser
Posted by mike on 7/18/2008 11:08 PM
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