How much should a valve adjustment cost?

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Mar 7, 2013 | 12:09 PM

#21

Fezzz

Registered User

Joined: Nov 2012

Posts: 71

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From: Irvine, CA

How would one know when the valves need to be maintained ? No where in the services do I see a service assigned to Valves.

Mar 7, 2013 | 02:25 PM

#22

Conedodger

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 13,471

Likes: 35

From: Upstate NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fezzz

How would one know when the valves need to be maintained ? No where in the services do I see a service assigned to Valves.

My manual says to adjust only if noisy and inspect at 105K miles.

Mar 7, 2013 | 02:40 PM

#23

SOL1D

Joined: Sep 2009

Posts: 437

Likes: 3

Evasive Motorsports or Ballade Sports are both in SoCal and great shops known for s2000 work.

Mar 7, 2013 | 05:55 PM

#24

InTheZone

Joined: Apr 2009

Posts: 320

Likes: 2

takes 30 minutes or less, so don't pay more for an hours worth of labor...

Mar 7, 2013 | 07:02 PM

#25

Simplegreenvr6

Registered User

Joined: Nov 2008

Posts: 1,096

Likes: 47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fezzz

How would one know when the valves need to be maintained ? No where in the services do I see a service assigned to Valves.

Recommended every 30k I believe. I think that's the consensus on the boards. Improper valves could result in engine issues.

Mar 7, 2013 | 07:23 PM

#26

yamahaSHO

Joined: Sep 2012

Posts: 3,301

Likes: 213

From: Greenwood, AR

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelliotlevy

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimesNewRoman,Oct 9 2007, 08:34 PM

Had a valve adjustment done yesterday at Kiwi Motors in Santa Clarita (they specialize in Hondas). Cost was $80.92: $67.50 for labor, $12.40 for a gasket and $1.02 for tax.

Much better than the SHO or the Millenia. Our S2000 is a highly maintainable design. Slightly off topic, but I once read up on the replacement of the thermostat in the VW Phaeton W12 engine. That requires major disassembly of the engine, and costs waaaaay more than $1000. I remember the good old days when a thermostat replacement required a simple gasket, a simple thermostat insert, and a can of gasket glue - maybe $5.00 in parts and 20 minutes of do it yourself. I continue to be impressed that mechanical maintenance of the S2000 is not qualitatively more complicated than mechanical maintenance of Grandma's Civic.

I'm actually excited to do a valve adjustment on my S2000 after owning a SHO for 11 years and building more than a few SHO motors. I did a valve lash this past summer on my SHO and even though I had 200+ shims, I just could not get some valves as tight as I would have liked to (all in spec though). Even swapping shims left a few on the loose side of spec. Not having to pop out a shim will be nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jelliotlevy

After deleting the coolant lines and running the valve cover vent and block vent to a catch can, taking the intake off became extremely simple for me. Leaning over to do the rear head was always the biggest PITA for me as my back starts to get sore. I used to make a bit of spare change doing these for people quite a few years ago. I made over $100 an hour while drinking beer and hanging out (while doing a valve adjustment) and saved the owner about half of what it would have cost anywhere else.

The SHO doesn't have lifters.

Mar 7, 2013 | 08:10 PM

#27

AP1Driver

Registered User

Joined: Jun 2011

Posts: 1,003

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jelliotlevy

Other cars I have owned.
- 1991 Ford Taurus SHO. Valve adjustment required essentially complete disassembly of the entire top of the (Yamaha V6) engine to get down to the mechanical valve lifters. I had inquired once, and the amount of labor is considerable. Probably would cost $1000 - $2000 in today's money.
- 1998 Mazda Millenia S. Getting to the valves, which were supposed to be adjusted at 60,000 miles, was even worse. Add disassembly of the entire supercharger drive system, and major mechanical disassembly of the top half of the engine. More than eight hours of labor, plus the need to replace the supercharger belt, and various other drive belts. Extremely $$$xpensive.
By comparison, the S2000 has an easily accessible camshaft, and evidently just requires removal of valve cover, and careful measuring and insertion of spacers. Much more user friendly.

Careful insertion of spacers? This valvetrain doesn't need spacers or shims for adjustment. You can save yourself that trouble

: My B engine in the MSM is easy to get at cam-wise but a pain in the ass short of taking the entire assembly apart. It takes me literally 20 minutes to do my S after removing the VC. And thats double, triple, quadruple checking each valve's clearance over and over with the feeler after tightening the set screw holding nuts. Takes less than 1 hour total to do the S, taking your time, and even less if you don't have the OE airbox. My Miatas take over 4 hours, working hastily (to do it correct at least). They only have to be adjusted every 100K thankfully!

Mar 8, 2013 | 05:33 AM

#28

92gli

Joined: Feb 2013

Posts: 357

Likes: 17

From: West Chester, PA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simplegreenvr6

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fezzz' timestamp='1362690557' post='22387771

How would one know when the valves need to be maintained ? No where in the services do I see a service assigned to Valves.

Recommended every 30k I believe. I think that's the consensus on the boards. Improper valves could result in engine issues.

Every 30k is the diff oil.

Honda schedule is at 105k - which is the same time they recommend spark plugs. Here's the chart for an '01 -
http://owners.honda.com/service-maintenance/minder?year=2001&model=S2000#mid^AP1141ENW

The dealer that quoted me $225 yesterday is actually refusing to do the job. My car has 81k. One of their master techs drove the car and listened to it idle and told the service writer not to let me waste my money. I'm kind of in shock that they didn't just take my money. But on the other hand, people on this board have made me a little obsessed with making sure it's all adjusted perfectly.