QuestionHi, Ray!
I am asking you some follow-up questions. Let me remind you of what's going on by posting my original question and your answer.
"I have a 1997 Civic LX with only 68 K miles. I recently did a tuneup: changed the fuel filter, spark plugs and wires, rotor button, and distributor cap. The car is in excellent shape.
Recently (about a couple of weeks ago), I started hearing a noise, audible when driving uphill. It's like a rattling noise which increases as I press the gas pedal (but I'm by no means pressing it hard). The noise has become more pronounced recently.
My suspicion is that it might be the valves--they might need to be adjusted. What leads me to that is the fact that sometimes (after driving the car for a while) the idle speed drops to maybe 400-500 RPM--and that's after we adjusted (as part of the tuneup) the idle speed to manufacturer specs with one of those laser guns or whatever they're called. In case you're wondering who did all that, I have a good friend who is a mechanic.
I hope this info is sufficient. I would like to thank you for taking the time to answer all questions that me and other people have.
Chom
Ray Hall Answers -
Chom,A good tune up ALWAYS includes a valve adjustment,but thats not what I think your hearing,I think what your hearing is engine ping(a.k.a. pre-detonation)ask your friend if he jumped the short connector located under the dash by the glove box before he used his "laser gun"(timing light)on your car and was the engine fully warmed up befor he did it,and if your buddy decides to adjust the valves make sure he does it when the valves are cold(under 100 degrees)ALWAYS use honda parts and re-check that timing,let me know.....Ray
Ray, around the time my friend was doing the tuneup, the Honda was having some starting problems. My buddy was diagnosing it, so he looked at the relay switch located under the glove compartment. He did disconnect it to test it, I don't know whether this is what you're referring to. He, to the best of my memory, did the timing after all this was over (i.e. he connected back the relay switch, etc.). However, the tune-up parts I had described above were installed before testing the switch. Not to confuse you, I guess the order was as follows:
1)installation of tune-up parts; 2)relay switch testing; 3)adjustment of timing with timing light.
I also think he was testing the relay switch with the engine being hot--I mean the car was running, we were testing the alternator, starter, and so on.
I was reading about engine ping and lots of sources said that the timing might need to be adjusted, they used the term "retarded." Are they talking about retarding the timing with the timing light, or are they talking about the ignition timing, i.e. something having to do with the distributor cap?
I'll first start by putting a tank of higher-octane gas (89) and maybe use an injector cleaner (a Honda cleaner). But if that doesn't get rid of the problem, what steps do you recommend that I take?
I want to thank you for your help.
Best,
chom
Answer Chom,I'm really sorry about my tardines on getting back to you.There is'nt a relay switch to be tested down there especially in relation to engine timing. What I am reffering to is a blue two wire connector,one of the wires is brown and the other is black.It's plugged into whats called a dummy connector(does'nt go anywhere).After the engine is fully warmed up the two wires are to be jumped together and then is when you check your timing,take note that when these two wires are jumped together that your check engine light will also be illuminated(if the light is flashing then that means you have a D.T.C.stored in the computer).I hope this helps, Ray
