This is just a simple question i've been wondering about, but can i was wash my car engine, cause it's just dirty and now with the pollen, it's a mess. I know that need to be careful due to the computer and such, but i need to clean it up.

also, my friend told me that my car's making a loud ticking noise when i accelerate, could this be my timing belt, any of the other belts, or some different thing?

one more thing, i own a 97 dx, and my car doesn't have a tachometer but a temperature gauge instead, would i be able to get a cheap, external or internal one?

 

Just don't wash your motor when it's really hot, and don't spray the distibutor directly. use engine degreaser and let it sit for 15 min or so.
probably need to check your valve clearences, easily done with a manual and feeler gauge, or fairly cheap at a mechanic. also belts don't tick.
yes you can add an aftermarket tach, or you can replace your gauge cluster with an EX cluster from a 96-00, or 99-00 civic Si, by just unplugging yours and plugging the new one in. yours is already wired for tach

 

thanks for your help

you know of any places where i can buy an ex gauge cluster, and maybe help me with removing the plastic?

 

The ticking might mean you need a valve adjustment.

As for the cleaning thing, most car washes have a steam cleaning thing in the self-service section, I'd just put a plastic bag over your distributor and do that.

 

junkyard, HT marketplace, ebay there are a ton of places that sell them. taking the cluster out is cake. 2 phillips above the cluster(in the black plastic) then there are two metal clips holding the bottom corners from the back, very carefully (preferably with a panel tool or similar tool) pop the bottom corners straight out at you, then just 4 brass colored phillips screws one on each corner, and the cluster comes out.

seriously though, if you want to do anything to your car at all, buy a helms
http://www.helminc.com/helm/pr...82EMA
I also got a haynes at autozone for lamens(dumbass)terms,

 

so if i got a tune up, would that help?

 

They usually don't adjust the valve clearances on a tune-up - tune-up usually means replace plugs, wires, distributor cap, & distributor rotor. You need to specifically ask for them to perform a Valve Adjustment.

 

is valve adjustment expensive?


Modified by nbcivic at 3:01 PM 4/10/2006

 

Last time I had one done at a dealership it ran me ~$100. I think. If you have a local shop that you trust to do engine work they should be able to do it for less than a dealership. If you know of someone with a Helms & the necessary tools you could do it yourself for free.

There's no parts being replaced (you can replace the valve cover's rubber gasket if you're ****, but that's only $20 or so), it's just an hour or two of labor.

 

id find someone on the side to do it for 40$ or a case of beer. your motor has to be cold for 4 hours before you can adjust them. id drive the car to mechanic you know, let him listen to it. he would know if it was valves or not. if it is, get him to do it in some sparetime!

 

if i were to buy another cluster, would it keep the other cars milage and such?

 

yes, the odometer stays the same from the donor car

 

for the valve adjustment i would just take it to a trusted mechanic... its better to get it done right the first time... good luck

 

it's worth getting done, because if u let them keep ticking, and it gets worse and worse and worse, eventually it'll cost u a lot more for a new head (or a rebuilt head) in the long run..