Just replaced the timing/balance shaft belts, water pump and new tensioners on my '96 Accord (2.2 liter 4cyl non-vtech). Put it all together and it started right up and runs and idles perfectly, no mis-fires or rough idle. There is however, a metallic clicking noise coming from under the valve cover (not the normal Honda valve train sounds which Honda's are notorious for). It seems to be coming right from the middle (#2 or #3). Anyone know what this might be? I am afraid to leave it running so I haven't driven it to see how it runs under a load. But it seems to be running great. Could the timing need re-adjusted by advancing or retarding the distributor?


Modified by everest29 at 10:43 AM 6/4/2007

 

did u line up all the markers right?

 

Yes, the timing is right and the car runs great. I read that having the timing belt too tight can cause this so I dismantled the front of the engine again and loosened them. Didn't fix the clicking sound (I also adjusted the valves). Any ideas?

 

If it idles smooth, and clicking not too loud, one or more valves may be out of adjustment. Did you adjust the valves, or how long has it been? I have a 94 SOHC-if the valves get loose, they "click".- Wrenchy

Sorry, just read you DID adjust valves- BUT- some of the SOHC valves are HARD to get dialed in perfectly. I have this problem with mine.

Try adjusting per "rotations" in manual, then crank the cam through several revolutions. Recheck all valves again at each "rotation"- I'll bet you find some slightly "loose" compared to others at the same adjustment point in rotation! Pay close attention to the valves buried at the exhaust side-some are a BITCH to get to, even with an angled gauge. Patience is the key-adjust, rotate, recheck, readjust, rerotate and recheck.

I once was jammed for time, and had a "tech" adjust the valves. It sounded like a piece of ****, and ran lousy. I went back in and found 3 or 4 valves just SLIGHTLY loose, but this is all it takes! I readjusted them, fired it up, and it ran perfect.

The SOHC cam is not easy to adjust-it takes time, patience, and a perfect feel for the "drag" on the gauge. And what the guides say is a "slight" drag is crap- I would describe the perfect setting as more of a medium-hard drag, but still "smooth". Wrenchy


Modified by wrenchy at 10:00 PM 6/6/2007

 

Did the timing belt break if so this could the sound of bent valves? just asking does not say.

 

Actually, this is about the best advice that I have gotten anywhere so far. The guides also say .009 - .0011 on the intake valves and .0011 - .0013 on the exhaust valves. Based on your comments I would presume that you would use .009 intake and .0011 exhaust?
Thanks!

 

Certainly doesn't hurt to check the valve lash, but my guess is you are hearing the injectors clicking and just never noticed it before (valve lash is pretty loud and would have been there before the TB change). They're pretty loud on this car. Pinpoint the sound by sticking a long screwdriver/prybar up the source of the sound and putting your ear too it as a stethescope.

Either way more than likely you're hearing something that was already there and you just never noticed it before because you were hovering over the engine with the hood up.

as far as your lash adjustment...specs should be on the sticker on the hood

 

Sorry I didn't get back. Yeah, I adjust the valves at the TIGHT end of the specs-the car runs better. Just as important, when you do this make sure the "drag" is the same for all valves at each rotation, and for all valves.

And, the clicking COULD be injectors, I agree. Mine only have 107K, but, as the other guy noted, they ARE loud on this engine, period. Try running some very high-quality fuel-system cleaner through the system, this sometimes helps, especially if you have never used it (if not, run two bottles through with two tanks of gas).

Also remember a SOHC system is VERY hard on cams- the valves work harder, and tend to flatten the cam-lobes faster than on the DOHC or VTECS. I have a 24V DOHC in my Avalon, and it is as quiet as the day I bought it 60K miles ago.

Also remember (a sad truth) that Honda heads tend to have one bad area-not just my opinion, but also that of numerous techs I have talked to. The valve-seals and guides tend to SUCK in many of the engines. This is why my SOHC has nearly new bottom-compression, but burns a tiny bit of oil between changes through the upper-end.

This has been true of most SOHC designs forever- the valvetrain takes an unbelievable beating. But, despite the weakness, the SOHC and other Honda engines are still the best small engines built on the planet- Wrenchy

 

im having the same **** on my car(dohc)gsr). The tick commin from the intake side of cyl number 2. Its not injectors cause i used a screwdrive as a stethoscope. My valves all pretty much adjusted to spec. it has after market valves so maybie it could be a stuck valve. Im not sure yet