Recently did a lot of work trying to get my wifes 2001 CRV to idle properly (it would die if you didn't let it reach operating temp before driving it). I had changed her timing belt without also performing a valve adjustment, oops, new Honda owner here. In my quest to sort out the idle issues I replaced her MAP sensor, air filter, plugs (they were horribly gapped), idle air control valve (gunked up) and fast idle valve (gunked up). It all just turned out to be a valve adjustment need. So her idle is good now, but I'm not confident it sounds right. It's a little noisy. Just looking for some opinions.

I could probably shoot a better video if it would help.

 

It's hard to tell from pc speakers, but that is pretty noisy, and I would definitely check my valve adjustment again. I have never heard them that loud. Maybe it's not the valves?

Having said that. All the work you did to fix the idle seems to have paid off. Looks like new plug wires as well, nice. I doubt the valve clearance is/was bad enough to affect idle.

 

All the other updates made a significant difference in the idle, but they did not sort it out. Prior to those updates I had to sit in the car with my foot on the gas for 3 minutes to get the engine up temp - otherwise it would just die. After those updates it would idle on it's own, but still die if you tried to go anywhere before it warmed up. It wasn't until I adjusted the valves that all these issues disappeared. To me it sounds great at idle, but gets clicky sounding when you put the engine under load.

I had to change my timing belt because it snapped while I was sitting at a stop sign. The car was exhibiting these idle issues before the belt broke, so I thought perhaps the belt wearing down was the cause. Looks like it was just in need of a valve adjustment, and the timing belt was a coincidental fault. We bought the car with 108k on it and it has 136k on it now. Who knows when the last valve adjustment was. Probably never. I heard these B series motors really require an adjustment every 30k, so it was certainly due.

 

Interesting. Could you have slightly bent a valve or two when the timing belt broke? That might make a ticking noise even when valves are in spec? I am just speculating, I don't have any experience with broken timing belts or bent valves to say.

I think Honda recommended 30k intervals on the first Bs, but based on experience, Honda relaxed the recommendation over time. For the 2001 CR-V the manual says at 105k or if noisy. On my 99, I adjusted them at 60k (overdue) and it did quiet things down. But they were fine after that.

 

Certainly hoping it's not valve damage, even slight

Either way, I'll be driving this hoopty until it explodes. I'll give the valves another adjustment this weekend.

 

I went back and re-adjusted the valve lash.

I don't know why I didn't think of it before, but I just tried slipping a gauge in there that was larger than specifications. Sure enough, my idea of "slight drag" was too generous. The gap was far too loose. Using a gauge which was too large worked like a charm, motor sounds great now. Not more rackety sounds.

Now I just have to sort out my "system to lean bank 1" engine code and I hopefully I can get a few more years out of this motor.

 

Yup, the GO, NO GO method. Spec fits, outside of spec doesn't fit.

Lean bank 1 could be a lazy o2 sensor, low fuel pressure, or dirty injectors.

 

Been patching her exhaust by the resonator for years. It's probably cracked up by the sensor as well and I haven't noticed it. Wasn't willing to invest in a new exhaust system until I sorted the car out.
Gave it a fat bottle of injector cleaner a few months back.