I was putting on my new valve cover. everything was fitting right, no problems. I began to screw down the four nuts that go on each of the inner four studs (the ones that hold the wire cover in place) and i broke the two on the left I tightened them too hard apparently, but they didnt even feel like they were that tight. anyways, i got the valve cover tightened enough so there isnt any leaking, but i want this fixed. should i do it myself - dont u have to take apart the hole head to do it? go to the dealer? cost?

 

One mine is broken too. Hasn't leaked yet... if it aint that broke.. don't fix it.

 

That happened to me in august and I thought I was fucked too. You can buy the studs at acura and do it yourself, they're like 3-4 bucks a piece. Took me 5 minutes to do. All you need is a deep socket, 10 or 12mm

 

i was told that you had to take apart the head to replace those studs? the other problem is that when i broke one of the studs, the washer and nut kinda stayed with the part of the stud still attached to the engine. i cant get the valve cover back off now. geez, what did i do

 

Hmm.. Shitty. You don't have to take off the head, just the valve cover. Unscrew the stud from where you see it going into the head, it has a hex head on it, its either 10 or 12mm I'm not sure. You will need a deep socket to tighten the new one though.. Those nuts are a bitch to torque right, mine still get loose and I have to tighten them every now and then. I tighten them pretty tight each time too, my torque wrench doesnt go low enough for the recommended torque so I just hand tighten with a socket.

 

People don't understand spec is like 12lbs of torque, Alot of people snap these because they aren't using torque wrenches.

 

A lot of people who actually do have a torque wrench own a 1/2" one, and it does not go that low.

And then there are those who do not know how tight to go on a bolt by feel. It comes with experience.

 

i didnt want to break it again, had the acura dealer fix it. was $106, but it was done right.

ya live and ya learn i guess


[Modified by 94Gizzer, 11:07 AM 3/26/2003]