2001 Honda Accord LX 4 cylinder

I have an oil leak at the spool valve assembly. It doesn't seem to be coming from between the solenoid and the valve assembly casing (top of unit). Even if it were, Honda doesn't not seem to list a replacement o-ring for the solenoid-to-casing. Is there an acceptable substitute from another model?

I know I need to remove the three bolts holding the valve casing assembly to the head. But it seems the working clearances are very tight. On the one bolt that is easist to access - the bolt is very tight in its hole - I rounded-off one 10 mm socket already.

What other parts on the engine do I need to remove to make the job easier? Is there a special tool I can buy or fabricate for the tight clearance? What's the "trick" to get the assembly off?

 

"Trick" - take your time and have good tools.....6 point sockets, ect.

Some remove the t-stat housing. I have had luck in just removing the lower hose from the housing and then with the correct wrench - has the proper "bend" and length - remove the bolts.

 

never had this particular car but sometimes offset wrenches come in handy in situations like these

the only oring i see is part 13

http://www.hondapartscheap.com/parts.../cylinder-head

 

Thanks guys.

Patience, double-jointed fingers, a boxend wrench specially bent for one bolt, and a ground-down 1/4 inch drive 10 mm socket. I did remove the duct from the air cleaner housing to the intake. Removing the EGR valve might have given me more room.

Prior to the job, I took a 650 mile trip with the car and lost 4 quarts of oil!

After the job, I no longer saw the drip, drip, drip near the spool valve area, as the car was idling in the driveway.

The gaskets I used were:
36172-p0a-005
91319-paa-a01
15825-p0a-015