I took my car to the dealer to find out what the engine noise was about and they claim that I have a bent valve. How much would a normal valve replacement run me? I just want to make sure the dealer doesn't rip me off.

 

the dealer will screw you over hardcore!!! Don't let them do it...A mechanic should charge you almost 1/2 of the price they will!

honda>your butthole

 

Take your head to a good machine shop and they will do it for much cheaper than the dealer.

 

how much would it normally cost if I don't go to the dealer?

 

way to much. not to mention they will lie to you. I took my car there when i damaged my subframe and they went over my whole car listing parts that they said were damaged, never told me about it and repaired other **** i didnt need fixed, replaced stuff and never told me then billed me for it. They would not release my car until after i paid. i ended up going to small claims court and getting a little bit of my money back but it was such a hassle. I will never go to a honda dealership ever again for anything besides some oem parts like gaskets. thats about it. They charged me 5000 when at any other shop it should have only cost about 2000

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by yzprelude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">how much would it normally cost if I don't go to the dealer?</TD></TR></TABLE>

A while back I had bent all of my valves and a local machine shop replaced all the valves with new ones, rebuilt the head, decked the head, cleaned it, and got me an entire gasket set and assembly lube for about $600. I did remove & replace the head myself though.

 

if it's a slight ticking noise, might wanna try doing a valve adjustment first and see if that helps

 

i would recommend doing a leak down and pressure test, and that should tell you if it is bent and seating wrong

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mathew_prelude93 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> i would recommend doing a leak down and pressure test, and that should tell you if it is bent and seating wrong</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

if the cam is aftermarket, can it damage the hydrolic vtec valve?

 

I donno but it can wear down your rocker arms if you dont have the proper valvetrain to match the clearances you need with more agressive cams.


Do a leakdown test x 3

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by yzprelude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if the cam is aftermarket, can it damage the hydrolic vtec valve?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The lost motion assembly??????

 

i don't know what it's called but they replaced the hydraulic valve that makes the VTEC. The reason why I brought it in was that the engine was making a knocking sound and after Honda dealer replaced all the belts, and readjusted the valves, and replaced the hydraulic valves, the engine noise still continues and they don't know where it's coming from. they think it may be the bottom end. The car drives great and the VTEC works awasome. I don't know if I should leave it alone or if I should have a mechanic take it apart again...

 

listen man.. if the car runs fine, then its not a bent valve.. a bent valve def would make the car run like you pulled a plug wire out of it.. try a valve adjustment and if it dont go away check your lower bearings if its a knock,, top end is a tick
bottom end is a knock.run a compresson test, then leak down test.. and if it was after the service you got then the dealership should take it and look at it again for free

 

the vtec solenoid would not make it tick or tap or whatever. if you had a bent valve, your car would feel terrible, not just make noise. maybe its an oil problem. doing a compression test is really easy. and will determine if your valves are ok.

 

the dealership said that it's probably a loose connecting rob bearing or something like that. I don't know if that's true, but I never heard of a defective VTEC hydraulic valve going bad.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by yzprelude &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the dealership said that it's probably a loose connecting rob bearing or something like that. I don't know if that's true, but I never heard of a defective VTEC hydraulic valve going bad.</TD></TR></TABLE>

dude look at your first post...they claim bent valves..now they are saying bearings..that sound be enough to keep you away from them...let me speak for all GET A COMPRESSION TEST then report back to us...good luck

 

hoenstly it all depends on how they word things....if you go in and htey have a listen and start saying what all it could be, then yeah it could be any of the things listed. but if they had the car in the shop for a day and you paid for their time to diagnose it they better be right and not waste your time.
have they actually given you a written estimate based on diagnosis? or have they jsut offered suggestions?

 

The dealership is expensive, but I still pay it. I guess I just don't trust any other mechanic. Here in the midwest most shops say they will do imports, but then treat them like small block chevy's.

As far as the dealer lieing to you, thats too bad. Every time I've been to the dealer in Lawrence(jack ellena) they tell me whats what and thats exactly what they do.

I've actually had more bad experience with local mechanics then the dealership.

You best bet is to do as much of it yourself. So do a compression test, then do a leakdown test. Check the valve lash, ect.

Then decide what to do.

 

try another honda dealership..some suck and some are the best. trust me ive worked in a few..