So I suspect I have a bad valve and I was wondering how difficult it is to change on our cars as I am new to them. Is this something I should attempt myself or should I have a shop do it? Any advice or DIY directions are greatly appreciated.

 

Bad valve? Like as in what? EGR valve? Intake Valve, Exhaust Valve Idle Air Control Valve?

Who told you what you suspect to be bad

 

Sorry should have been more specific. I suspect it to be an exhaust valve. I have misfire and I have narrowed it down to one cylinder. I then tried all of the normal misfire fixes; seafoam new coil plugs etc... and that did not work. I then checked the compression and discovered that all cylinders measured 175 except one and it was at 135. I then did a leakdown test and the rings were fine. I dont know what else it could be that would cause the compression to drop.

 

have you tried adjusting the valves?

to fix you have to take the head of. Its not hard, just labor intensive to do the work.

 

Why would you take the head off?

 

To repair or replace or to see whats wrong the head has to come off to take the valve out. its the only way. I wasnt saying to take the head off to adjust the valves. I just asked if he had tried that.

 

Maybe one just has too little clearance and he can adjust it.

 

That is why i asked if he had tried to adjust it. (though its unlikely that would be the problem)

 

I have not tried to adjust the valves yet. I will do that tonight and see if it works. Crossing my fingers.

 

check that I just looked in the chilton manual and it says that it is not possible to do any adjuments on the valves. Is this true?

 

They are very wrong, they are adjustable. Its very easy.

 

K can you guide me. I am new to the TL its a 99 3.2TL

 

Go here and down load the factory service manual

http://home.comcast.net/~amberlani01/site/

 

Just a thought. If the low cylinder is on the front, try adjusting just that one or the front three cyls and try it. It'd be a shame to do them all if something else is wrong and you have to pull the heads anyway. It's fairly common for the exhaust valves to get tight at high mileage and cause a misfire, but I've never checked the compression on one first.

 

Awesome, thanks a lot.

 

So the valves seem good. I was just reading that the minimum psi for the 99 tl is 135 which this one is at and the rest are at 175. I know the variance is over 28 but if the cylinder compression is still within the normal psi why would the cylinder missfire? Could it be something else?

 

either valve related, or piston ring are the usual suspect

 

rings are good. did a leakdown test and nothing changed. I guess I will just have to change the exhaust valve. Man I didnt want to have to do that lol.

 

Just noticed- Your vehicle is an Integra- Try Integra forums for other's experiences.

 

I have an integra and I know all about them but unfortunately this is on my 99 TL. I am an acura/honda guy. I own five vehicles and they are all acura or honda lol.

 

Have you tried adjusting the valves yet?

 

Not yet been really busy lately. I will get to them some time this week. I just got the manual downloaded. I am really hoping that this will work because I dont have the money to spend fixing this thing.

 

Well the valve lashing was good all around. I am pretty sure that I just have a bad valve. However, the compression is still at 135 so that should not cause my missfire. I am wondering what else it could be. It is only occurring at low idle so I am wondering if it is the injectors. I am not sure what else it could be.