Compression issues
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Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Kissimmee Florida, Old wrinkled fart heaven!
Hi guys,
I need to ask you all for your expertise.
I just replaced my coils and plugs. (one of the coils was bad) and the engine has 100,000 miles on it. The care still ran rough and the check engine light came on. I put the analyzer on it and it said multiple cylinder misfires. I thought it might be timing as I had changed the tensioner pulley and serpentine belt last summer but never checked the timing. I got frustrated and took it to my mechanic and asked for him to run a diagnostic and check timing...just find out why I'm getting check engine lights, and the car runs so rough. (very rough on acceleration between 3,000 - 4,500 rpms in 3rd thru 6th gear.)
The mechanic tells me my compression in my car from 1-4 is 200lbs, 130lbs, 170lbs, 190lbs. He ran a diagnostic on it and it kept coming up heads, & coils. Since the coils are less than a week old, it must be the heads.
Does this sound strange to anyone? He also says S 2000 heads going out is somewhat common.
Last question.....anyone have any idea what a good head job cost. LOL I'm not trying to be funny with that last comment, but giggle if you need to.
Thank for you input all.
Wazio7
I need to ask you all for your expertise.
I just replaced my coils and plugs. (one of the coils was bad) and the engine has 100,000 miles on it. The care still ran rough and the check engine light came on. I put the analyzer on it and it said multiple cylinder misfires. I thought it might be timing as I had changed the tensioner pulley and serpentine belt last summer but never checked the timing. I got frustrated and took it to my mechanic and asked for him to run a diagnostic and check timing...just find out why I'm getting check engine lights, and the car runs so rough. (very rough on acceleration between 3,000 - 4,500 rpms in 3rd thru 6th gear.)
The mechanic tells me my compression in my car from 1-4 is 200lbs, 130lbs, 170lbs, 190lbs. He ran a diagnostic on it and it kept coming up heads, & coils. Since the coils are less than a week old, it must be the heads.
Does this sound strange to anyone? He also says S 2000 heads going out is somewhat common.
Last question.....anyone have any idea what a good head job cost. LOL I'm not trying to be funny with that last comment, but giggle if you need to.
Thank for you input all.
Wazio7
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Kissimmee Florida, Old wrinkled fart heaven!
Thanks guys....No. I purchased the car used in 2006 with 26,000 miles on it...but I have no history on the car prior to buying it so I don't know if it was raced or driven hard. I use it as my SUMMER ONLY daily driver. It's never seen snow or ice....ever. No rust on it at all, super clean.
I have used regular gas in it off and on...not sure if that caused my issues. I saw a lot of carbon build up on the pistons when I looked in the cylinders when I changed the plugs.
I just spoke with a friend who is a Honda mechanic. He said to run some Sea Foam engine cleaner thru it a few times and see if that does any good. I may just take the car to his Honda dealership and let him go thru it and diagnose what it could be.
My first thought.....a valve job is a catch all for what the real problem may be.
Thanks for your quick replies guys. :-)
I have used regular gas in it off and on...not sure if that caused my issues. I saw a lot of carbon build up on the pistons when I looked in the cylinders when I changed the plugs.
I just spoke with a friend who is a Honda mechanic. He said to run some Sea Foam engine cleaner thru it a few times and see if that does any good. I may just take the car to his Honda dealership and let him go thru it and diagnose what it could be.
My first thought.....a valve job is a catch all for what the real problem may be.
Thanks for your quick replies guys. :-)
Honda wants at least 91 octane (AKA premium fuel) in the car. Not regular. There's a sticker inside the fuel door. There's a warning in the owner's manual that using less than 87 octane can damage the engine. Running less than 91 and the ECU knock sensor is working overtime.

Check your valve clearance. You need a $10 bent feeler gauge. A buddy's 2002 had some impressively tight. If the valves don't close all the way compression will be low. Do another compression check. And a leak down test. Good bonding with your kid. Fuel pump fuse out and pedal to the floor. Then crank for 10 seconds and read the gauge. Be sure to re-torque the plugs to 24 lb-ft when done.
-- Chuck

Check your valve clearance. You need a $10 bent feeler gauge. A buddy's 2002 had some impressively tight. If the valves don't close all the way compression will be low. Do another compression check. And a leak down test. Good bonding with your kid. Fuel pump fuse out and pedal to the floor. Then crank for 10 seconds and read the gauge. Be sure to re-torque the plugs to 24 lb-ft when done.
-- Chuck
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Kissimmee Florida, Old wrinkled fart heaven!
Thanks Chuck, No kids at home anymore....away at college. I'll see if I can get my friend the Honda mechanic to take pity on me and check it out at his house. He's not much for working on cars after 8 hrs on the job working on cars! LOL but we'll see what a couple cases of cold ones does to convince him to help me out!!!
:-) Wazio7
:-) Wazio7
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