okie guys .... i have a 2001 s2k .... some time back, i got the check engine light come on. i took to the dealer and they did the spark plug recall and replace the spark plugs. the clearred the check engine. bout 300 miles later, the check engine light came back on. took it to honda and they did their tests. computer says it's misfiring on all cylinders. they adjusted the valves. reset the check engine light. about 300 miles later... check light came back on.... needless to say i was in and out of the honda dealer about 5 times. they test drove it, reset the computer and dumped it back in my hands. they couldn't figure it out. it runs rough it seems while in idle and driving around in 1st and 2nd gears.... highway seems fine, though it seems like it's struggling with lose of pep. honda finally came to me and said this car has obviously been racing and that i 95% most like bent a valve. i hate those people ... no one races the thing, my girl friend usually drives it. we may drive fast but certainly no racing. any rate they told me that would have to tear down the engine and be 100% sure... but they're already 95% sure.... jerks.... took it too another honda and they told me right off the bat if it's a bent valvle, the car would have problems starting which it doesn't, and it would noticeably be driving really bad. took it to a friends garage shop and he did the test and paste... he doesn't believe it's a bent valve. but thinks it's more ignition or computer problems. so... anyone familiar with this? pleaseeeeeeeeeeeee help

 

While I started reading this, I thought it was a bent valve as well, and I'll probably stick to that as well. A few things about bent valves:
- your car will start just fine.
- rough idle, especially if you listen to the exhaust, it will be shaking.
- driving will sound "eh.. fine" but it is far from fine.
- it isn't caused by racing, it is caused by mis-shifting: i.e. - revving to the top of 3rd gear and shifting into 2nd instead of 4th, thus pushing the motor above 10K rpms.

 

could one bent valve cause all four cylinders to misfire?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Draven_Von &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">could one bent valve cause all four cylinders to misfire?</TD></TR></TABLE>
no.

however, you are reading a code. a code, like anything computer related, does not necessarily point directly to the problem, however it will provide a clue on where to look. in this case, it might very well be the valves. if you want to listen to the valves yourself, if you know where each one of them are - I suggest you get a wooden broom. now, turn on the car, prop the hood up. hold one end of the broom up to your ear & face and the other end by each valve at the lower part of the valve cover. you'll be able to hear things spinning and whirring, but one will be very abnormal - if it is just one and if this is the case.

note if you don't have a wooden broom, find something else wooden, a stick, for sale sign post, anything of the sort will work.

 

sounds familiar..
on my old '01 back in '02 I dynoed the car and when it came of the dyno it had all the same symptoms you mention...
after close inspection (takeing the head apart) there where 4 bent valves and 8 cracked retainers...
all in all.. it's not that bad, it gave me the excuse to put in the Spoon headgasket, Toda valve springs, REV valves and REV Ti retainers.

try to shed some good out of it and upgrade the head while it's apart... (it hurts less when u think of it as upgrading and not repairing)

 

Once the engine is torn down, it'll be easy to see if you over-rev'd or not. The valves would leave marks on all pistons if you over-rev'd. If not, it's possible a spark plug or two got loose (the spark plug TSB fixed that problem) and damaged something in there to cause your problems. It's hard to say from behind a computer but I wouldn't drive the car unless you have to. If you over-rev'd the engine, be honest and tell the dealer and pay to have it fixed. If you didn't the tear down will prove it.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vapor &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Once the engine is torn down, it'll be easy to see if you over-rev'd or not. The valves would leave marks on all pistons if you over-rev'd. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Do they go balistic?

 

thanks alot for all the suggestions guys...
i'll do my best to try each one of them...tho i havn't gotten around to it as of yet.
though my gf has adminitted now that she has mis shifted a few times... and judging by how fast she always drives..... i don't think it was pretty
so.... i'll check out these suggestions and get back to ya.
thanks again.

 

look for marks on the pistons after your heads ripped off. The piston might not be damage but you can tell if anything's up by looking at the carbon deposits on top of the pistons. My cousin did that to my R a few years back.

Good time to upgrade parts but careful with Honda, they can be wreckless too. If things can be worked out, send it out to Kingmotorsports. Ausmith on this board can help. Top Honda engine builders in my books on this side of the globe.