2004 Honda Accord 2.4L 5-Speed with 171k miles. I've had it since 104k miles and while I beat the hell out of it I always change the oil every 4k miles.

In the last year it has developed this odd habit of running rough every 2k miles after an oil change. The timing seems off, and the revs tend to surge. I add 2 quarts of oil and I'm good until my oil change at 4k miles. I assumed this was just the car running low on oil and causing problems for the vtec system which I had read was dependent on oil pressure. However, it doesn't leak oil and the exhaust doesn't appear to have any oil burning tint to it.

The other day code P0341 came on for Camshaft position sensor. I had read that this could be a bad timing chain, but my mechanic is very stern that this isn't possible. I also read that it could be a vtec oil solenoid, which might make sense given the problems at my oil change interval. It's also worth noting that my city mileage seems to be decreased substantially. I used to average about 26 and now I get about 21-22. It does still run good though, maybe a tiny bit slower.

I have a bizarre title problem with the car, and I can never actually get a title. I just drive it with a dealer tag and rack up miles. So once it has a major problem, I'll sell it for parts, but if it's something that I can reasonably fix I will do it and keep it going. I'm not a great mechanic but I can do simple tasks with some cheap parts I bought on ebay, so I'd love to get some feedback about what to try first, or what the most likely culprit is. Thanks!

 

The P0341 is a "phase issue". Nine out of ten times you find the chain has stretched.

You can test the vtec oil control solenoid just to be sure.

You can also try the re-learn of the idle.

Last and don't take this the wrong way but you really should check the oil more often.

 

If your mechanic says timing chain stretch can't happen it's time u find a new mechanic. Yes it does happen and happens frequently to those that run the engine low on oil or do not change the oil enough.

 

So if I assume it is the chain stretch issue, and I keep driving it (seems fine now) how long might it last before catastrophic destruction?

 

That is going to be hard to say.....it could be days/weeks/months. When is does go or jump time the head is going to have to come off.

Why not figure out the issue and fix it now?

 

I don't have a title for the car only a bill of sale, and I have to drive it with a dealer tag that I'm technically not supposed to have. The plan was to drive it until it explodes or needs a major repair since any money I put into it will never come back to me unless I get an equivalent amount of use out of it. I think I'd rather sell the car to someone for like $2000 to use as a parts car...

 

In case anyone is curious… For $20 I bought a new camshaft position sensor, reset the code, and… original code came back.

Then, For $30 I bought a used VTC oil control solenoid from a 50k mile car, reset the code, and… code came back.

So.. I assume everyone was right that it was the timing chain. Hopefully I can get another 20k-30k out of it with the chain being stretched. It still runs pretty smooth!

 

I can't seen it going 20 - 30k with a stretched chain, it may, but I wouldn't expect it to.

If you leave it till it jumps time it's going to get a whole lot more expensive to fix. As it is a timing chain, sprockets and tensioner isn't cheap. Btw, the timing chains on these really only stretch when someone neglects to keep the oil topped up between changes.

As far as your titling issue goes I would look into that, there should be some way to get one.

 

The title situation isn't a normal one, and I won't be able to ever get a title. I have a bill of sale from our county government only. It's weird, but you just have to believe me since I've been through it before. So… all I can do is drive it.. and it seems crazy to dump money into it.. soo… we'll see how long it lasts The starter motor was grinding yesterday so I think that will end up going first. Once the first major thing goes I'll sell the car as a parts car for like $1000.