valve adjustment question... mechanic BSing? - Honda Prelude Forum

yield · 10-30-2003, 03:48 PM

hmmm, I've done some reading on valve adjustments on here and I got the impression that it was pretty easy on an H23 - you didn't even need that special tool, just some feeler gauges and some screw drivers. Well I thought about doing it but ended up chickening out because I've never cracked open the head for one and wouldn't want to mess up the adjustment. Maybe next year.

So today I take it in for inspection and tell them to do an adjustment while they are at it. He calls me and says on the DOHC you have to remove the caps and cams and it would cost me lots of labor and they weren't even very noisy in the first place. So I said don't worry about it.

So what's the dillio?? The impression I got from some of the write ups was that you just popped off the head, slid some feeler gauges in there and adjusted...sorta.

go pre · 10-30-2003, 04:01 PM

call him back and tell him he's an idiot..

Zimmlude · 10-30-2003, 04:01 PM

The adjustment is very simple. As you said, all you need it a straight blade screwdriver, 12 mm box wrench, 10 mm socket and wrench, and feeler gages. It sounds like either the mechanic misunderstood what you wanted or is trying to scam you. Judging from the fact that he didn't do it and charge you I would say he didn't understand what you wanted.

And you don't "pop off the head" as you say, you only remove the valve cover.

HTH,

yield · 10-30-2003, 04:23 PM

err, yeah i meant the cover haha.

Ok, so I can read then... good. I hate knowing more than mechanics do about certain things and I've been working on my car for all of one year with a helms

Maybe I'll give her a shot after all.
Anks

marshdoggg · 10-30-2003, 04:41 PM

for sure give it a shot... i have done about 4 of them, and its very easy on h23s. like jason said, minimal tools needed, and it only takes a while. the hardest part is to get the engine at just the right postition so that you can adjust the valves..
marsh

yohan420 · 10-30-2003, 04:47 PM

Is it "rude" to take your helms to a shop with you and say I want it done this way ? ... with the right torque etc. and if i check over the work and find its not, i am not paying / stopping payment on visa etc?

Zimmlude · 10-30-2003, 05:21 PM

When it comes to my car, I will be as "rude" as I have to be. I think that most mechanics would be willing to use the Helm's and follow the proper steps but some "billy-bob" ones will probably just laugh at you.

yield · 10-30-2003, 05:29 PM

it scares me though. This is the second time (different mechanics) that I've asked them to do something and they had no clue or tried to tell me otherwise about something... It's like - if you don't know how to do something simple like that, how can I trust you with a big job??

red92si · 10-30-2003, 06:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by yield
it scares me though. This is the second time (different mechanics) that I've asked them to do something and they had no clue or tried to tell me otherwise about something... It's like - if you don't know how to do something simple like that, how can I trust you with a big job??

You need to find a mechanic that only works on Honda's. I would never take any car to a "general" mechanic, or one that says they can do multiple makes. If they only do one make of car, then they are specialized and know way more detail.

yield · 10-30-2003, 09:46 PM

well, the nice thing is they are literally next door. LIke I look down on them from my living room. So that's a big plus, and they were recommended by someone I know. But ya, if something serious comes up for me, I don't think I'll be taking it there. I just moved recently so I'm still looking around.

marshdoggg · 10-30-2003, 11:04 PM

i dont know if this is an option for you, but do it yourself. none of this stuff is really hard, its just metal and wires and stuff. you wont regret it and you will save so much money it aint funny

symba · 10-31-2003, 08:11 AM

I've been anxious to start doing some of my own work on the car but Helminc. has been sold out of the 95 prelude manual for 2 months!!!

PatrickC1026 · 10-31-2003, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by red92si

You need to find a mechanic that only works on Honda's. I would never take any car to a "general" mechanic, or one that says they can do multiple makes. If they only do one make of car, then they are specialized and know way more detail.

I totally agree. My mechanic fixes only Honda's and I can trust him. He can pinpoint the problem 95% of the time when I tell him what the symptom is. He won't replace anything unless it really needs to.