Nvious R

I just did a valve adjustment. I did everything right but they say " a slight drag" on the feeler gauge is good. For me it was a light drag. It was ticking but now its weird. Its ticking really fast, its not loud though. When i took the car for a test drive, VTEC hit really hard. During the crossover it pulled really hard. I actually felt a jerk.

The ticking is pretty loud though, really fast. Sounds almost like a drum roll.
I recently advanced my timing without a timing but i tilted the distributor just a little bit. The top end opened up a bit and the VTEC X-over felt awesome but i want to make sure that its ok. Any opinions or advice? TIA

11.5:1 compression
Stock cams. Cold Air.

cheezthis

Ticking from the valve or the injectors? The injectors have quite a tick to them on the b18c engines...and that's normal.

Nvious R

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cheezthis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Ticking from the valve or the injectors? The injectors have quite a tick to them on the b18c engines...and that's normal.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i think its from the valve. Didn't sound like the injectors. Do the " Ticks" sound the same?

Eva01

Ticking from the injectors is very audible from the engine bay but to verify if it's your valves ticking...try sticking your ear to the valve cover. When it's cool to the touch of course!

ScottEK

Take a screwdriver, stick the handle end up against your ear, take the bit side and stick it against the valve cover then the fuel rail or injectors, you'll find your sound on one of those.

.RJ

Did you wait till the motor was cold (i mean really cold) before you started?

Eluder200K

The loudest part on those b18c's is the injectors. use the screwdriver or pipe technique.

Nvious R

you guys are awesome. This is the weird thing. Im thinking its the valves. I say this because before it ticked but it wasn't too loud. Now, the ticking is " faster" and ticks faster as the revs rise. I advanced my timing and i read a post about " Mugen Marbles" and i was thinking it had something to do with that. I wish i could post a sound clip. VTEC really engages HARD, i actually feel a kick when it engages. WHen i checked the valve lash, most of them were tight. Its messed up cause when you do a valve adjustment, its not really all that accurate cause a Slight drag is different on a person to person basis. Im pretty sure i did things right. THis is my second valve adjustment but what are some possible consequences to the worst case scenario with my symptoms?

The feeler gauges i used -
0.176mm Intake
0.209mm Exhaust.
GIve or take .2mm on the slack.
Those were the only 2 feeler gauges availible. If i missed TDC I wouldn't be able to stick the feeler gauge in there but it can question my accuracy.

If my injectors are ticking then i should get them replaced huh? This is the thing,
I have 52k on my 01'. i do'nt think my injectors would go bad or start ticking because i had some head work done or modified my valvetrain. i do'nt know.

Right now, here's the break down in a simple version

B4 the valve adjustment - Ticking at low RPMs but it gets so fast as the revs climb and it just sounds funny.

After the valve adjustment-
Ticking speeds up, sounds more quiet, ticking is obvious but faster so it doesn't sound as obvious. VTEC kicks hard. Advanced timing without a gun ( didn't have access to it). Even if 4th gear when i bring it into VTEC, it gives a kick ( i like i like).
I don't think im knocking though i've never really heard a car knock. I used an injector cleaner before and it sounds fine.

Whatever info you guys can give would be helpful. You guys kick ***.

PS - The engine was cold, it sat with the hood popped at my friends shop with the hood popped for 5 hours.

Cosworth

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nvious R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
The feeler gauges i used -
0.176mm Intake
0.209mm Exhaust.
GIve or take .2mm on the slack.
Those were the only 2 feeler gauges availible. If i missed TDC I wouldn't be able to stick the feeler gauge in there but it can question my accuracy.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ken - what kind of gauges did you use? (brand?) I've never seen si unit gauges. Anyway, when I do valve adj., I use 0.006" for intake & 0.007" for exhaust valves. I check my work by trying to fit 0.007" for intake & 0.008" for exhaust valves and these do <u>not</u> fit. I go for the tigher spec.

Also, unless you had a fan blowing on the car for 5 hours, cooling the engine by atmospheric temp wouldn't cool the car down to "bone cole" temperature from my experience. (Unless it's in the 40's in IL again.)

Nvious R

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Cosworth &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Ken - what kind of gauges did you use? (brand?) I've never seen si unit gauges. Anyway, when I do valve adj., I use 0.006" for intake & 0.007" for exhaust valves. I check my work by trying to fit 0.007" for intake & 0.008" for exhaust valves and these do <u>not</u> fit. I go for the tigher spec.

Also, unless you had a fan blowing on the car for 5 hours, cooling the engine by atmospheric temp wouldn't cool the car down to "bone cole" temperature from my experience. (Unless it's in the 40's in IL again.)</TD></TR></TABLE>

I picked it up at a Local Auto shop called " Murrays". I think im going to give it another check again to make sure its not too far off. Im going to take your advice and try to re-adjust the valves again. it was about 65 out that day. i pulled up and left the car sitting for a good 5-6 hours. I let her cool down, the valve cover didn't seem too warm and the distributor was cold so i assume that it should be cold enough. Ill let her sit a little longer next time. Do you think its the injectors? I might swap those out with some newer prelude ones to see if they still tick. They're the same size right? I haven't gotten a chance to check out where the ticking was from but i can find out sometime tonight. I wonder if the valves being a little loose affects my VTEC cause it does kick a lit harder now but that could be due to the timing advance. hmm....

b18c-rDC2

I believe the prelude injectors are 290cc....

Nvious R

I guess i can swap em in and see how they run. A little rich yes, but those are the only ones i have lying around to see if my injectors are the ones thats ticking. \

Targa250R

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Nvious R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">IWhen i took the car for a test drive, VTEC hit really hard. During the crossover it pulled really hard. I actually felt a jerk.</TD></TR></TABLE>
That means you're losing power.

B2FiNiTY

iTrader: (2)

The more "kick" in vtec isn't exactly better. Smoother the better

Tweakmeister

mine sounds like a diesel

Nvious R

I thought the VTEC kicking harder was due to the timing advance. That opens up my Top end a little bit. If im losing power, you think my valves are a little loose? The tapping sounds like a drum roll more than anything and they said that teh injectors ticking is very " audible" from inside the car. Mine sounds like a deisel engine too which is a bad thing ( Diesel engines ignite the air fuel mixture with compression, no sparks ). Could that be a sign of detonation??

Nvious R

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by B2FiNiTY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The more "kick" in vtec isn't exactly better. Smoother the better </TD></TR></TABLE>

It is smoother though. I saw a little loss in low end power ( based off WOT in 4th gear ) but the top end opened up just a tad including the VTEC kick. I can say its smoother but i don't wanna let the *** dyno tell it all.

??????????????????????

Chris N

Yo Kenny.
Did you check your timing?
I just did a valve adjustment too, and no tapping, drum rolling, or anything like that.

Did you do the screwdriver trick to see if you could pinpoint the tapping as valves or injectors?

Nvious R

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Chris N &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yo Kenny.
Did you check your timing?
I just did a valve adjustment too, and no tapping, drum rolling, or anything like that.

Did you do the screwdriver trick to see if you could pinpoint the tapping as valves or injectors?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Whaddup Chris! I didn't have a gun to check my timing but i think that might be a problem as well. Im going to do the screw driver trick right now to see whatsup with it. Be back in about 15 minutes, I ate some mexican food,

Nvious R

Alright guys! Screwdrivers tell it all!
I checked on the valve cover itself. I put the tip on the top on each quarter of the valve cover to try and " hear" individual cylinders and they sounded fine, I heard knocking when i used the tip and put it against the injectors. I guess they are the injectors. What does this mean? New injectors? Possible scenarios from running with injectors " ticking". Valve adjustment seems fine so i guess the VTEC kicking was from doing the injectors right then huh?

Thanks to those who put up the time to read and respond this this thread.
You guys kick ***.

Nvious R

Well, the tickings from the injectors.
Another question -
I sprung CEL 45 twice. I cleaned the injectors and the light was still on so i reset the ECU. THe code went away. CEL 45 - System running RICH/LEAN. I guess this should have something to do with the injectors huh? I can use D-B Series injectors to replace my existing injectors right? Prelude injectors ok in my C5? I know its a lil bigger in size but would be worth running or should i keep the stock injector size?

cheezthis

Are you running rich or lean?

Are you running any kind of tuning devices...like an fpr, ecu piggyback or standalone? Swapping injectors on stock cams isn't necessary.

Eva01

Ticking from Injectors is totally normal. Honda injectors are a bit "chatty" so it should not be necc. to replace them.

Nvious R

I do'nt know if im running too rich or lean, i dont' have one of those gauges laying around. I don' thave any fuel tuning as of right now. Its really annoying though. The ticking sucks *** cause when im driving you just hear this " tick tick tick tick" like a drum roll. Its pretty loud so i do'nt know if its normal. Anyone here in Chicago? I can pull up and you guys can hear for yourself. Its annoying. I just thought that might have something to do with the CEL so im not sure if its ok but if im throwing CEL's, that can lead to a problem. I'd like to do what i can to solve the problem before anything major comes along. I don't have any fuel tuning devices right now but i might have a AF gauge laying around that i can install. Its just another dancing light but if it serves some purpose, it might be worth putting in huh? Its the AutoMeter one. Im kinda concerned about what Targa250 said about VTEC kicking being bad. In response to what B2Finity says, it is smoother though, i think the Kick in VTEC has something to do with the Timing being advanced. YOu know its advanced too much so the ticking is louder?

Nvious R

updated pics, i got my digicam here so i took some pics to give you an idea of my timing advance. I don't have a gun so this is as close as i can get to show you my distributor for some relative figures on the timing.

Distributor -



My engine bay ( simple green works wonders )


Totally OT - HID beam patter was fixed, i finally got em back in. ( D2R retrofit )