Dragomir

The check engine light on my wife's Accord has been coming intermittently lately, and we dropped it off last night at a mechanic who we have never had any issues with in the past. This morning we received the following diagnostic:

MY NAME IS DYLAN I AM THE SERVICE MANAGER HERE AT GASTONS GARAGE AND I AM EMAILING YOU WITH WHAT WE HAVE FOUND OUT WITH YOUR HONDA.....WITH FOLLOWING OUR DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES WE NEED TO DO A VALVE ADJUSTMENT. ACCORDING TO HONDA THE EXHAUST VALVES TEND TO TIGHTEN UP AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME AND DO NOT ALLOW ALL OF THE EXHAUST TO BE RELEASED FROM THE ENGINE CAUSING A RICH CODE AND CONDITION IN YOU VEHICLE.ALSO WE NEED TO PUT MORE FUEL IN THE VEHICLE TO DO AN ADEQUATE TEST DRIVE.. TO START WITH ALL OF THIS YOU WILL BE LOOKING AT A COST OF $685 TO START. FEEL FREE TO EITHER CALL OR EMAIL ME BACK AS SOON AS YOU CAN PLEASE

Looking online, this doesn't look like something particularly easy to do ourselves, but it also seems overpriced. Does anyone else have experience with this issue and how much it should cost?

Thanks.

jimlaw3

what code did you have?

Dragomir

Codes were 172 and 175, fuel banks 1 and 2 too rich.

jimlaw3

how long has the light been on

jimlaw3

Would need to check MAP sensor reading ,should be under .95v if it is not most likely have a leak at the egr valve or even purge control valve, I find it hard to believe that all valves are tight at the same time on both banks,also could check short term fuel trims on both banks to see how rich its running.

Dragomir

It first came on about a week and a half ago. She put in some fuel injector cleaner based on online suggestions and it went away for a day or so, then came back off and on, mostly on, for the next couple of days. We are borrowing another vehicle for the time being and she is not driving hers. At that cost, we would be better off trading her car in towards a new one.

When I asked about things they had checked, they responded:

WE HAVE CHECKED FUEL PRESSURE AND MASS AIR FLOW RESPONSE AND READINGS.. WE HAVE ALSO CHECKED THE READINGS COMING FROM THE OXYGEN SENSORS WHICH ALL SEEM TO BE RESPONDING PROPERLY BUT READING RICH AS WE EXPECT WITH THE CODES THAT ARE IN THE SYSTEM UNFORTUNATELY IN OUR DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES THIS [valves] IS THE ONLY THING LEFT TO CHECK AND DO FOR US TO EVEN BE ABLE TO MOVE ANY FURTHER.

jimlaw3

how many miles is on your car?

jimlaw3

make sure air intake tube is not cracked also.

DCFIVER

The price is about right for that job,and tight valves ARE a common problem,however the diagnosis is at fault, find anther shop. Tight valves will not cause a rich condition,but in fact will cause the opposite, a lean condition.
Dont work on a lot of Hondas,do you?

jimlaw3

I work on Hondas everyday

jimlaw3

Tight valves can cause rich condition because the incomplete combustion sending raw unburnt fuel to the AF sensors ,therefore throwing a rich code.

DCFIVER

Apparently not.
LoL, thats not how it works son. Time to take a class or two.....

jimlaw3

douchbag

jimlaw3

peace out all !!!! leaving this unfriendly forum.Good luck !!!!