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Hi everyone. I have a 2009 that my son drives more than I do at this point with about 225k miles. Car has been idling rough and VSA and check engine lights come on intermittently (and the cruise control often stops working when they do). It was throwing several codes when I scanned it, so I wasn't sure where to begin. He (my son) has mostly been putting up with it for several months, but I finally took it to a local mechanic. He told me that most of the codes and the rough idle were due to an intake leak, (both the gasket and some vacuum lines). I had that fixed and it runs better now. He also told me to change the oil as that was responsible for the last code (P0341), so I did and cleared the code. It ran great for a day or so, but the P0341 code came back.
Some further research indicates it's either the VVT actuator and/or solenoids and/or a stretched timing chain and/or the tensioner. I'm tempted to just replace them all (unless when I pull the valve cover I see that the chain is nice and tight and all the timing marks line up, which I'm anticipating won't be the case).
My question for the forum is, what parts are recommended? Rockauto has timing chain kits from Ina, Cloyes, SA Gear, and Melling, some with new cam/crank/etc sprockets and some without. It looks like I can also get OEM parts from various sources and a few sellers on ebay are selling all the OEM parts as a kit as well. Anyone have a recommendation? Also, for the VVT solenoid, Rockauto has Beck/Arnley, Hitachi, and several others. I'm sure I can find OEM online or at the dealer as well. Thoughts? (Although I probably won't replace that unless the timing chain/tensioner/VVT actuator turn out to not be the issue).
It looks like if I can get the crankshaft pulley loose, it's not a terrible job, but certainly not trivial either. I'm a decent shade-tree mechanic, but I'm pretty slow and busy, so I suspect the car will be off the road a while I find time to work on it. Thanks for any advice.
Just in case anyone comes across something similar: I pulled the valve cover. Timing chain was loose and timing was off. I ended up purchasing the chain, VVT actuator (intake cam sproket), tensioner, 3 guides, crankshaft seal, VVT solenoid o-ring, small gasket for the timing cover, and a new valve cover gasket from a Honda dealer (online with better prices than my local one). Still ended up being ~$450 shipped.
Getting the crankshaft pulley/harmonic balancer off was the biggest issue. I ended up purchasing the giant 19mm socket that weighs several pounds and cranking the pressure on my air compressor to over 120 psi. Finally came loose on the 4th or 5th try. Getting the timing cover back on with all the hondabond sealant is also a little tedious, but otherwise, no surprises. I've only driven it twice so far, but is runs much better and so far no check engine light. I'll feel better after a few more trips with no light, but so far, so good.
