Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

Be sure to let us know know what is wrong. I hear you about the anal thing my AC is loud its just I dont have that kind of money to fix it. Maybe I need to make a video of it.

DANMAN421

I have an '03 TL-S with the same problem and mine only had 60k on it... I posted awhile ago to no avail. Mine does this tick tick tick etc noise after its warm but if I stab the gas to 3-4k then it stops for a bit. Let us know when you get this resolved and if anyone finds how to adjust the valves, I am game to try it out (would be an excuse to put thermo block spacers on )

Trackruner228 nice avatar, I am an NC State alum, '06.

rob-2

Well I'm heading over to the Acura dealer who has questionable service to get an opinion.

rob-2

So here is what they think-

My engine is old and has 118k on it. This will make the injectors a little louder. If I've been using chevron gas it will reduce the build up on them and make the usual noise seem louder as there is less build up on them.

I imagine if I told them my 2 seafoams and handful of injector cleaners I've run through that would only add to it.

On Monday I will have a second option from my regular mechanic.

I am wondering now if my valve adjustment could be off since the motor is likely alot cleaner after the 2 seafoams and move from cheap gas to chevron 87. Thoughts?

01tl4tl

not likely unless the camshaft to valve area was filled with crud from never changing the oil- then the adjustment could off.
But you have owned it a few years, so thats not as likely as an unknown car from the auction.
The engine is too clean- I never heard that one before!
Go ahead and do the weekend oil/foam and see if that helps-

ChampionFiyah

lol, damn dude, your car sounds like a freakin' truck I hope u can get it fixed soon

rob-2

Yeah, it sucks man. Otherwise the car is in great shape.

SRAcuraTL

Yea I went to a shop to see about getting my service 105k service done and the mechanic said that on our V6's the valves don't have to be adjusted. This wasn't a dealership but he was a honda certified mech. I'm not quit sure what to believe cuz Acura quoted my service at $1250 and the other guy quoted me at right around $500. I just wonder if this "valve adjustment" is the dealerships way of jacking the prices on us.

NighthawkBlack

I did it myself, it was a pain, they definately dont self adjust. Most of mine were out of spec.

rob-2

According to my service manual, they are bolt adjusted, I believe this means they are hydraulic and do not require shims. This might be what your mechanic was talk about.

So while I'm running seafoam in my oil, I decided to unscrew the oil cap while the motor was running (something I've never done) and well the noise got louder. I'm rather confident then it's lifter/valve related.

I'm going to do a 50-60 mile loop on one of my weekly adventures with the car. After which I intend to have the oil changed. I don't think it's oil related.

RACINGHART03

iTrader: (2)

If your mechanic looked at your 99 and up TL and told you it had self adjusting valves of any type, he should no longer be your mechanic.

rob-2

So after driving about 80-90 miles with seafoam in the engine oil, I changed my oil to full synthetic mobile1 this morning. There appears to be little to no change in my motors sound, it still sounds like a diesel truck at idle and up to 2k.

This video was shot after 5-10 minutes of idling with the new oil, motor was up to temp about 1 hour prior (oil change and clean up). I mentioned in the video a second video would be shot, and I did not shoot it because the sound was the same after our freeway driving.

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiWNh0JrhXE


So we've done the follow:
-full seafoam, vac & engine oil
-switched to full synthetic mobile1 oil

Still this sound, and I'm gathering from all of you higher milage guys, particularly kris that this is NOT what the motor is to sound like. I'm a little flustered as to what is actually is - after the oil it seems SLIGHTLY softer but nothing major.

Do you guys have additional thoughts before I pay someone to look into it?

ChrisQ1980

On Honda motors, valves, fuel injectors are slightly noiser than others. Yours seems to be a little louder than normal, so the valve clearences should be inspected, or you may have a bad/failing injector.

If it's the injector(s) after replacement I would suggest running ONLY 91 octane.

ChampionFiyah

I always run 93 octane shell

rob-2

Canada, Eh?

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

I notice in your video you said your RPMs were at 500, but they look to be at 750 to me. Arent the bold lines the 500 lines and than the skinny ones the 250/750 ones?

rob-2

Bold line is 1K,2K, 3K etc

small dashes .5k

It's idling at 500rpm.

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

Right but there are also bold lines in between 1,2,3 that all mean 1500,2500 etc. I could be reading wrong to me but thats where my car always idles and its fine. It even passed inspection and it says on the passing sheet 750.

Oh and I like your age

Trackruner228

iTrader: (1)

Nice what was your major? I am currently FYC and switching into engineering for my sophmore year.

ChampionFiyah

no, I'm in the us

rob-2

My mistake, the only place I saw Shell was in Canada.

Tommy99TL

x2

rob-2

So all who are following this, my trusted mechanic says the sound is the valves. He believes that when I had the car services the motor wasn't bone cold. I can litterially confirm this because when I dropped the car off in the AM of the 105 service the car was ready in the afternoon.

My mechanic says, he'll have to have the car sit until 2PM today before it's cold enough to work on.

I'll keep you posted on the valve work.

01tl4tl

thats what I said-!! engine temp when adjusting valves!!
- every car has its own way- some warm-some dead cold
Let this be a lesson to those needing the big 105!, drop it off the night before so its fully cold in the morning for the tech.

rob-2

An Acura dealer should know better then to rush a valve job. I will be docking them on Yelp.com for this, once I get the car back and the valve job was the issue; of course.

Waiting for a call back on the car.

I'm so excited...

01tl4tl

the techs have x amount of work to get finished by 3 pm. Thats life inside the dealer- they dont want cars staying overnight after repairs, or to complete repairs unless really have too.
I have not checked the book- but there is likely a setting for engine warm and one for cold- and a few valves are off a little.
You can take the receipt for the readjustment to acura for reimburesment - worth a try

Ask your tech to show you the feeler guage used for valve adjustment- and understand that humans work on these things.
If you get work done on your car it has a 90 warranty on it ( most states) parts and labor.
You do have to go back and complain within that time~

01tl4tl

as a note- just moving the car inside to do the rest of the service would make it hot enough to change things

Ask your tech if he uses a ~pressure~ feeler guage- or a Go- No Go feeler guage

rob-2

So I got a call back, upon inspection it appears that it is indeed the valves and nothing else. Based on that, he was $600 to do the valve adjustment.

That sounds like too much money for an adjustment.

I'm picking up the car and debating doing it myself.

NighthawkBlack

search my posts and youll find some good pics of what the valves look like without the covers on. The rears are a pain. I brought a special tool looks like a screwdriver but it lets you hold the screw with a flat head screwdriver while using the tool to lossen or tighten the nut.

rob-2

How hard was it to adjust the valves?

I'm thinking my friend, who has rebuilt motors either needs to come over and help or I'm going to have to invite someone from the acurazine who's done this before to help.

fsttyms1

We only have 93 here in good ol Wisconsin (for premium)

You are correct. The first big line is 500 not 0 on the TL. the line between that and 1k is 750. His car is idling right where it should be



Have your valves adjusted.

phee

iTrader: (5)

600 for a valve adjustment is WAY too much. i have been hearing the sound as well and i just got my timing belt done about a month ago..

01tl4tl

4 hours labor is plenty to adjust the valves!!! sounds like your guy wants 6!
look in the phone book in `auto repairing` for a small place with pic of honda/acura featured in the ad
Will check with my local place for a price compare and let you know
We need to do a big ziner `service party` one day- bring your parts- I got ramps and compressor!

rob-2

He's quoting me book value, I looked at my old invoice from the acura dealer and they charged $580. I'm a little disappointed, everything else he's quoted me is about 1/2 the regular rate.

I got ramps in my trunk right now.

Give me the where and when.

01tl4tl

how many hours are they using for the quote? just to adjust the valves...
when probably 2 of them are just a touch off?? Understanding that getting to them is the major part of the labor...
I have to find that DIY by southern on the 105 --remember it looked like a hassle to adjust the valves- but thats insane!
How long ago was your 105 performed? more than 90 days?
do you even trust going back to the dealer and asking for it to be done correctly?

rob-2

5.4 hours plus parts.

I pulled up the invoice for the 105 service it was actually 12/20/07. For some reason I thought I got it done in Jan/Feb.

I wouldn't trust them to do it correctly. My last two experiences with them have been horrible.

I've got a friend who's rebuilt many acura/honda motors who says he's down for helping me adjust them.

Does this sound doable?

Is there a parts/tools list available for me?

01tl4tl

in the gen3 section- thread by southern- 105k service completed it the definative guide to DIY valve adjust

I wonder what the labor is `with timing belt`- or if they looked them up seperate. ..as some places are prone to do in the confusion~
like the front motor mount with warranty trans- 3 hours normally- only 3/10th of an hour with trans removed- have to specify it to the computer...stupid computers

rob-2

Link?

phee

iTrader: (5)

x2

rob-2

anyone?