Valve Lash Check - 99 Honda Civic

1. I'm thinking about doing the valve lash check on my Civic. I do valve
clearance checks on the V-4 engine that is in my motorcycle (Honda ST1100)
and it is pretty easy and straight forward except for the PITA of removing
all the plastic. Is it much a hassle to do this on the Civic?

2. Does anyone know of a site that documents the procedure (with good pics)
to check the valve clearances in the 1.6 liter engine that is in the '99
Honda Civics?

3. Does the valve cover gasket usually stay on the valve cover when it is
removed and can the gasket be reused?
___________________________________
Mick McHam Houston, Tx
http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham

 

no, it's a good deal easier.

it's got all the info you need on the sticker under the hood.

often, yes, but it depends on your mileage, change frequency and oil
brand history. if in doubt, replace. they're not expensive. go to
tegger.com for a list of online oem honda part retailers

 

Civic?

From online parts drawings at www.slhonda.com I think it's
probably very similar to my 91 Civic, except for the
clearance specs.

Unfortunately, the two sites I usually use don't have online
manuals for Hondas this young.

Public libraries often have the Chilton's manuals for Civics
this age. Or Ebay likely will sell a Chilton's manual for
your car. (Ebay is where I bought my Chilton's.) Or Autozone
may have a Chilton's manual for it. Or spring for a
super-duper factory service manual at www.helminc.com .

Yes, but it peels out easily. In addition, if you don't put
a new one in, one must be careful not to let it get twisted
while re-installing the valve cover.

It can be, but whether it's a good idea to so so depends on
age. If this is the original, I'd replace the valve cover
gasket, the spark plug tube seals that also fit in the valve
cover, and any grommets going around the cover's hold down
screws.

One needs to go slowly when tightening the hold down bolts,
or the gasket will not seat evenly. They don't require much
torque, probably less than 10 ft-lbs. Buy a torque wrench of
low range and use it.

See the drawings at www.slhonda.com 's parts web site for
these parts.

This job is difficult only in that it requires a bit of
finess and patience, both when setting the valve lash and
when getting off and installing the valve cover.

Elle
original and sole owner, 1991 Civic, 173k miles

 

You can access a manual for a '95-97 Civic at
http://www.honda.co.uk/car/owner/workshop.html. I would imagine that the
process is very similar for a '99 Civic.

I adjust the valves on my '88 Civic and most other Hondas that I've worked
on differently from what's in the factory service manual. Set the engine up
on TDC #1 and adjust the intake valves for cylinders 1 and 2 and the exhaust
valves for cylinders 1 and 3. Turn the crankshaft over 360° so that the
engine is now at TDC #4 (you can check the position of the distributor
rotor). Now adjust the intake valves for cylinders 3 and 4 and the exhaust
valves for cylinders 2 and 4. It's a lot easier than the procedure that's
in the manual and it works just as well. If your new at adjusting valves,
you can check your adjustment, e.g., IF your intakes are supposed to be set
at 0.008" then a 0.009" feeler gauge won't fit and a 0.007" gauge will slide
in easily. Also make sure that all of the adjuster nuts are tight when
you're done. I've seen a few techs leave one loose and the engine starts
making not so funny noises afterwards.

Eric

 

For the uninitiated, be sure to turn the engine counterclockwise and don't
use the starter to bump the engine around with the ignition live and no load
on the coil. Doing either of those wrong may initiate you too well :-(

Mike

 

For the uninitiated, be sure to turn the engine counterclockwise anduse the starter to bump the engine around with the ignition live and no
load
on the coil. Doing either of those wrong may initiate you too well :-( <<


Is there a way of turning the engine manually?

By counter clockwise do you mean as if you were facing the engine from the
front or from the back?
___________________________________
Mick McHam Houston, Tx
http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham

 

Yes. Chock the back wheels. Jack up the left front of the
car. Support with a jackstand. Remove the left front wheel.
Put the car in neutral. There should be a hole in the wheel
well's rubber splash shield assembly through which you
should be able to see the crankshaft pulley bolt. Put a
socket and extension, etc. on it to turn.

Kneeling at the left front wheelwell, and looking towards
the engine, turn counterclockwise.

In theory, one is supposed to retorque the pulley bolt after
this procedure.

I do all the intake valves first, then the exhaust valves.
That minimizes switching back and forth between feeler gages
and "feel."

I am not sure your 99 Civic has the same valve lash specs as
those given in the 95-97 Civic manual to which Eric provided
the link. The following indicates the manual should cover
your engine:
http://www.superhonda.com/tech/honda_engine_codes.html .

I agree the procedure is very likely the same, otherwise.