Noob to the forum and the "H" Series...

[97SHady]

How's it go PO? Just this past weekend I drove up from the Twin Cities to Wisconsin and bought a Eucalyptus Green 1997 SH w/ 108K. The car still seems in pretty good shape overall... in and outside. I've always owned Civic's and Integra's so the whole "H" series is new to me. At the initial meet and inspection of the car I knew nothing but to look for the obvious. Turns out after the drive home and onto jack stands and furthermore inspections I realized my "Too Good of a Deal" was too good to be true. While driving back I punched it for V-Tec and seconds from 5200 to 6000 rpm's it smokes. Though I haven't pushed it all the way to 7000 rpm's there's a light cloud of smokes that I can see in my rear view mirror if when I punch it full throttle. Right off the back I already know that wasn't a good start, especially all the thousands of doallars I just handed the ower. Anyhow, like said earlier.... while on jacks I see that there's a oil leak probably coming from the inside of the timing cover. At least that's what I believe. I did an oil change immediately and noticed no oils dripping from the filter. Is that normal? So it leads me to believe the oil stains could be coming from inside the cover or somewhere nearby. I like to hope it's just the oil pan gasket but even there I sprayed brake cleaner and the next day when I checked again, there it was, another stain and drip right where I originally saw it and had cleaned it with brake cleaner. The previous owner claims to have done timing belt, water pump, oil pump and milled the head 2000 cm (something like that down) prior to selling me the car when he owned it due to the car having a blown head gasket, which was why he had picked it up to begin with then fixed that. And while he did the head gasket he said he must of accidently damaged the knock sensor and that's why there's a check engine light on. Which at the time didn't matter to me because I know a knock sensor can easily be replaced. However, he bought a new knock sersor but misplaced it. Although it does have a lifetime warranty and the receipt... what good is that since I'm going to have to purchase a new one. Or could I take mines off and bring it as a core?So in the last couple of days, lots of reading and research I found that taking the knock sensor out would mean taking off the ATTS unitor the manifold off. No wonder that's why the previous owner never took the initiative to put the new knock sensor on then ended up losing it.

Now, onto another problem.... I did noticed also that the ATTS light was on at the time of the initial meet. The owner said it's just a sensor and low on ATF. I quickly googled it on my phone and it read that the light would come if ATF oil was low or that a sensor on one of the wheels needed cleaning but did not affect the engine at all. Like a ABS light sensor. So I totally ignored that thinking I would be able to fix it like any other Civic's or Integra's. Little did I know have I only gotten myself in a deep hole. Let alone it looks like a deep one where it might just burn through my pocket of change as well.

So guy's I'm no guru and need help. If any of you are nearby or in the Twin Cities and willing to give a hand I don't mind paying $$$$. I will defintely need help on trying to get to the knock sensor without taking the ATTS or manifold off, but if one or the other is a must then the easiest one it will have to be. And in hopes that I can do the ATTS drain and filler myself but someone of knowledge would be appreciated. And lastly, someone who might be able to help with what might be causing the drip from the timing cover or of that area that might be kown for leaks any info is helpful towards a problem being solved. And I will be sure to take another look this weekend just to clarify things if I missed any and reassure myself.


Thanks in advanced to those of help. So all you Prelude guys please chim in.

[S-LudeDan]

welcome to the forums!!

[Kronn 98SH]

First:

Another DIY ATTS, ABS, & CEL (Check Engine Light) DTC

Second:

It's VTEC. No other spelling, capitalization, or punctuation is acceptable. VTEC and VTEC only.

[minilogoguy18]

There's 5 oil seals behind the timing cover, might as well just do a full t-belt service, both belts, water pump and all seals. More than likely the front crank seal, it will steadily drip when it's in real bad shape. Probably not the only one leaking since the rear balance gear case o-ring usually leaks first, oil soaked t-belt=soon to snap.

[97SHady]

Thanks!