Honda Repair: 88 Honda Prelude SI, honda prelude, valve adjustment

Question
Hi Gene,

My car misfires during acceleration once it warms up and worse with the a/c on. There are currently no codes flashing from the ECU. Actually the ECU does flash once when I turn the key but isn't that just to let you know the ECU is working? I have listened to the fuel injectors and they are working properly. I have tested the battery voltage and it is at 12v with the car off. Also I checked the output of my Alternator and it is low ranging between 12.5 - 13v at idle so the dash lights etc. are dim until the RPM'S rise. Could this cause my car to misfire from the load on the engine? Also water had leaked into the main ECU relay and caused the computer to spit out an ignition code. I cleaned the relay and reinstalled it and now there is no code. However the relay apparently had been wet for a while because it was slightly coroded. Could the relay cause the car to run rough but not trigger a code?  Are any of these above problems a symptom of a burnt or sticking valve? I plan to perform a compression test this weekend. Thanks for any information you can give.

Chris

Answer
Chris,
To answer your questions:
1-yes, the ecu light will come on once when the ignition is turned on.
2- Your alternator is fine and will not cause this misfire.
3- Yes, a bad main relay or corroded relay can cause a misfire.
4- A burnt valve or sticking valve will not cause an intermintant misfire, it will cause a constant misfire. But a tight valve can cause a misfire. Check the valve adjustment.
Also check the ignition system. Are the plugs factory and in good shape? Is the ignition coil breaking down under load? are the wires in good shape? Spray water on them as the car is running and check for a spark jump. Is the cap and rotor in good shape?
These are all things you need to check.
Good luck and thanks for the question,
gene