friggin hondas

[Paul_E_D]

Well, My Element is finally back together. One burnt/cracked valve and a faulty Vtec oiling switch. Two MAJOR problems at just 115K miles. I found a guy to fix it cheap, but we are still talkin real money. Now I'll have to check the valve (all 16 of em) on that thing once in a while.

[ɹǝʍoןandɹǝʍoן]

doesn't sound like you hit vtec enough

[typeone]

good to hear it's back together but what a hassle

[Paul_E_D]

Ha! The dude who fixed it said the cam set-up is pretty complex.

[ɹǝʍoןandɹǝʍoן]

yep vtec is an interesting topic, especially DOCH vtec

[Paul_E_D]

The offending part...

[Kurlon]

Your valve has a camel toe?

[CBR929RE]

too small, put in bigger Ti ones while its apart

[Paul_E_D]

Your valve has a camel toe?

It's very strange. It only burned on one side and the seat was perfect. dunno what could case that. The valve next to it was perfect.

[gregp]

Wow, Paul. I am shocked, and disappointed. Our '08 Civic has been great, but since you told me that it has the same motor as yours (R-18), I am nervous.
I bought the Civic to get away from all of this kind of crap.
Do these motors have screw type valve adjustment?
Our Civic only has 18k on it, but I think it calls for a valve "inspection" at 60k. I will have to check the manual to verify that.
It doesn't appear that a valve adjustment would have saved you from that problem anyway.

[stoinkythepig]

Does the Element engine have a valve lash check/adjustment interval? IIRC, some of the V-TEC engines do. Can't help but think that valve was overheated due to inadequate lash or lugging the engine. Looks an awful lot like an exhaust valve on a boat that is over-propped (constant lugging).

[benVFR]

Yes did you skip the valve check? It seems a little ridiculous that it would have this problem at 115k miles but most of the VTEC engines have a valve lash check/adjustment at 100k mile intervals.

My RSX Type S has 97,000 miles on it. I'm not looking forward to paying for that check, although it really shouldn't be that bad compared to bikes.. the "K" DOHC VTEC engines are Hondas most complex and they are still screw & locknut adjustments from what I've seen so it's not like anyone has to hunt down shims or crazy VTEC buckets like a VFR or crap like that.

I had someone really try to talk me into doing it myself as it's pretty much an oil change + just removing the cover which is right there on the top of the engine.. but I pretty much never touch the car.. it doesn't seem worth it at all and that 100k tuneup has a pile of other things that need to be done.

BTW is that really true they sold elements with a 1.8L four? I would have thought it would have been 2.4L. 1.8L seems really small for an "SUV".

[ɹǝʍoןandɹǝʍoן]

yah but you gotta remember this is 1.8L of VTEC we're talking :p

[Paul_E_D]

What, no, it's a 2.4L that is is the CRV and Element. And after some research, I found that this is not uncommon. Sometimes the valves are out of spec from the factory (gasp!). Also, I paid for the big 60K service, but had not done the 100K. I don't actually know which one gets the valves checked, but still, it's not like I went far beyond 100K. I actually think the valve had been burnt for quite a while anyway.

[ɹǝʍoןandɹǝʍoן]

oh, a k24 I see, nice well that has dual vtec so that is sweet

[Paul_E_D]

It's back together, and runs great, but it's louder than before with a distinct mechanical noise that goes up and down with rpms coming from the drivers side. Sounds a bit like a diesel from the outside. Grr... somehting's amiss. We did a new timing chain, and I suspect the tensioner...

[ɹǝʍoןandɹǝʍoן]

tensioners are common on any car, and bike heck. the designs aren't fool proof, my friend's k24 has the same problem but it's his second engine.

[Karaya One]

It's back together, and runs great, but it's louder than before with a distinct mechanical noise that goes up and down with rpms coming from the drivers side. Sounds a bit like a diesel from the outside. Grr... somehting's amiss. We did a new timing chain, and I suspect the tensioner...

80 wt motor oil, and just turn up the radio!

[Paul_E_D]

I tried that. Too loud!

[butcher bergs]

Guess you're not going to sell it completely broken, eh?


How about semi-broken?

[seth399]

swap in a hemi! haha

[BSR6]

I have driven Hondas all my life and seen unbelievable reliability. I hope this isn't the beginning of a decline in quality for them. I have a friend who is a Honda tech and mentioned this post to him. He said Honda does have problems, as done every manufacturer, and told me a few interesting stories. In the end, he says they are still top quality though.

Maybe this valve problem is due to a bad batch of motors? At least it's not blowing spark plugs out of the heads like the late 90's Ford V8's had a tendancy to do.

[mojobreakfast]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9630/5.0.0.975 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

I tried that. Too loud!

What year? I have an 03 Accord w/K24, 106k miles. Runs great, and I have never done any major service interval, although I am probably pushing my luck.

[Paul_E_D]

Get the valves adjusted at least. Mine's an 06.

[tonyd]

Honda's are not what they used to be...
Had a 2003 civic my wife babied around that blew head gasket with under 100k on it.
Dealer wanted $3500 to rebuild/seal motor or some shit. Had gasket replaced at little garage for less than $500 and traded it in 6 months later. This was in 2009 after several (4) smaller issues(each $300-600) within the previous year.