Compared to older JDM motors maybe.. I think the K24a2 is better... just in the wrong car. The K20a is just a K20a2 with more aggressive cams and gearing. Nothing too special about it.. reason why no one is really going out trying to get one of those motors but instead just interested in the K20a cams. No real difference. And alil higher compression

 

http://gulfport.craigslist.org/pts/940164681.html

K24, $2400, 40k miles

 

nice find! axles and all!

 

its funny because my i know someone who's 04 tsx engine just blew and they don't know why.

 

sorry to see your luck man. I actually had something simlar happen to my tsx, although my engine didnt blow. When i got my 5,000 mile oil change, the mechanic at my dealer here in VA didnt put tighten the oil plug enough and all the oil leaked out of my engine while i was visiting family over christmas. Good thing there was a honda dealer close by when my engine started smoking or i would be in the same boat. Best of luck on getting your ride fixed.

 

Here is what probably happened.... your timing chain skipped and thats the reason the car doesn't want to run. Problem with TSXs is if you STICK to the 10K mile oil change interval Acura has for these cars, your car will be a oil burning machine by 60-70K miles due to all the oil sludge.

Lets say the drain plug fell out, and while driving the car died.... its a safety feature of all newer Hondas. They shut down if the car has no oil pressure. I know this for a fact because our oil change guy did a oil change on a TL not too long ago and shipped it w/o oil in the engine. He got as far as the car wash and was standin there looking like an idiot with his jaw to the ground as to WTF just happened- why did the car just die ?

Try clearing the ECU by removing the battery cables for like 2 minutes, and then with the engine oil filled up start it up... it should fire.

If not, it could have skipped time like I mentioned in the top of this post. The K series engines have timin chains, which have hydraulic timing chain tensioners. When there is no oil pressure there is no pressure on the chain, it can skip and if the cams are not timed right it does NOT want to run. There are TDC sensors and cam sensors on the driver's side of the cylinder head that check if the cams are timed right. If they are off even as much as 5 deg, the check engine light will come on.

I did a timing chain on a TSX which had stretched its timing chain over 140K miles...it cause the CEL to come on for camshaft timing out of synch.

Oh and your engine doesn't need a new ECU, find a new dealer. They are trying to fork you over for THOUSANDS of dollars. I work for a dealer and shake my head in shame over their stupid diagnosis.

Why we- the good mechanics get bad name out there......

 

I think DasTekno is right. Mine had the exact same problem. Either way, it wouldn't take long to stretch the chain with a lack of lube... my understanding from my dealership here is that most of the stretch that occurs from lack of oil is due to the teflon guides wearing out.

right above the crank there is a panel with 3 10mm bolts. pull it off and inspect the tensioner, if it is out about 2.5" and there is play on the arm it's pushing out, your chain is f'd. you will need hondabond to put the panel back on(oil seal)

Costs for OEM from an online place will run you about $400 give or take. it will take about 8 hours to do if you have a mechanical inclination, and it's not too bad...

Here's what I would replace:
VTC cam - $120
Chain - $80
Tensioner guide - $70
Guide (other one) -$50
Hondabond - $15
Tensioner - $50
Valve cover gasket $40

Rough estimates on costs from what I remember when I changed my chain. oh yeah... don't try to turn the engine over. that's when i tapped my valves against the cylinders. I got lucky(kinda) though and still pull 150ish compression out of my 2 and 1 but pull 190 out of 3 and 4...

 

ok my car did the same thing last night. drove it to work..fine...went to start my car up after work and it started but like it was out of gas...or misfiring....wouldnt go past 2500rpms....so it got towed and there going to replace the timing chain and tensioner...

but how do i know it didnt bend any valves?!?!? it was running i moved it a few parking spots sway...barely...

but then it was just flooded i was giveing it so much gas to keep it going. does the car go into safe mode...thats what i heard...if it bent valves or messed up the motor wouldnt it not run?

you think just replace the chain tensioner...oil change..etc i will be fine...im freaking out that its blown?!?! help!!!!

 

^what year is your TSX, man? Do u have any modifications on it? Have u done something... recklace or mad just before it happened which could lead to a problem?

 

just a spoon filter....the light was on for a few weeks had it checked and was told it was a cam sensor and had to order from a dealer...i need to replace the chain and tensioner anyway just want to make sure my motors ok....sauceman said in another post when it happened to him that

"Apparently though, variable cam also makes it that the valves didn't touch the pistons when on low cam profile, and the engine just wouldn't rev past low cam profile."

 

You'll know when they replace the chain. An engine with broken parts inside will awful. Not just kind of rough or maybe lacking power here or there. If it's broken, you'll know it. Keep your fingers crossed and let us know what you here.

 

yea they said they got it running...and i heard like how i described...just puttering. not broken metal or smoke...

EVERYONE CHECK YOU CHAINS AND TENSIONERS!!!

 

That could have been just the cam timing being off. Not necessarily enough to cause any interference but enough not to run right. Sounds like you might have gotten lucky here. I will definitely be checking mine when the weather gets warm again.

Now that you're here, you might as well stick around.

 

sorry i really messed up that other one i wrote.

yea they shop said they changed the plugs and changed the oil because it was so flooded from me trying to start it.
and they got it to run. but run how i did horribly. so im hoping this safe mode thing is true and its running low rpms and on 2 cylinders to save the motor.

the part that really sucks is they wont get to changing the chain until monday or sometime next week.

and as you may be able to tell already im not a very patient person haha....but im just really nervous and just want to fix the chain and tentioner and have it be over.

im not selling my s2000 over this!!!!!........

 

NHTSA* TSB Technical Service Bulletin Number: 10018108 Bulletin Date: 20-Sep-2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
A LOOSE TIMING CHAIN, A DEFECTIVE AUTO TENSIONER, A LOOSE TIMING CHAIN SPROCKET, LOW ENGINE OIL PRESSURE OR A MOMENTARILY SEIZED CAMSHAFT CAN CAUSE AN INTERMITTENT DTC. *JB

will this help me at all!!!!!!

 

Dunno. Where did you find it?

 

its on a bunch of sites..i just typed in tsx recalls and tsb...

 

i want DasTeknoViking to help me!!!!! say my engines in safe/limp mode and its ok!!!!

 

He doesn't have ESP. He can't feel the condition of your engine from how ever many miles away he is. You're going to have to wait and see.

I feel your pain though. Being patient blows.

 

2200.00 to fix chain/tensioner and 4 bent valves....does that sound reasonable?!?

 

Ouch, that sucks. That price is around where I would expect it to be.