1997 Honda Civic PCV Valve ISIT TRUE?

The people at Jiffy Lube and Mr. Tire claim that my 1997 Honda Civic
does not have (and never was meant to have a PCV valve. Can this be
true? If it isn't, where is the darn thing?
Dennis

 

For a 1997 Honda Civic 4-Door EX manual transmission, the PCV valve is item 3
in Majestic online's drawing at http://tinyurl.com/2f4py .

If this is not your car's exact make, at the above site click on "RETURN TO
CHOOSING A SYSTEM... " and put in the appropriate information. Then choose
"Breather Chamber" from the menu.

 

I don't think it is true. Most likely the Jiffy Lube guys were confusing
the PCV valve with the EGR valve, not all Honda engines have an EGR
valve.

 

Caroline,
My civic is automatic transmission. I tried to go to the site you
suggested but came up empty. Would you kindly check the URL or give
me a handle for a Google search. I appreciate your effort.
Dennis

Mon, 05 Jul 2004 13:37:30 -0400, Dennis Arenson

 

The people at jiffy lube are either confused or clueless. The PCV valve is
located in the side of the breather box under the intake manifold. Either
way, confused or clueless, there are enough bad stories around about jiffy
lube that I would never recommend anyone go there, not even for an oil
change http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/jiffy_lube.htm. You are
probably better off finding a good independent shop in your area that
specializes in Hondas. You can contact the AAA, http://www.aaa.com, or the
BBB, http://www.bbb.com, to ask for recommendations in your area or you can
ask around on the net as well as asking family and friends. Please see
http://www.high-road.com for an example of a good independent shop.

By the way, the site Caroline referred to is
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com.

Eric

 

Dennis, go to http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/jsp/mws/catdisplay.jsp
and put in your car's information. For the last item, select "Breather Chamber."

I like Randolph's theory: It's true not all Civics have an EGR valve. For
example, by design, my 1991 Civic does not.

I am confident all Civics sold in the U.S. have a PCV valve. The PCV valve is
there to fulfill federal law involving emissions (pollution) requirements. I
haven't heard of substitutes on Hondas in the U.S.

 

: The people at Jiffy Lube and Mr. Tire claim that my 1997 Honda Civic
: does not have (and never was meant to have a PCV valve. Can this be
: true? If it isn't, where is the darn thing?
: Dennis

The PCV valve in your civic is in between the engine and the firewall. The
easiest way to find it is when you change your oil. Once you are under the
car and remove the oil filter, you will see it just above the oil filter.
Most of the times (if it's an OEM) it is a blue valve with a hose connected
at the end.

 

Thanks guys. Your advice was helpful. Problem solved.
Dennis

 

Early Hondas never had a PCV valve. I keep looking and
still don't find PCV valves in Hondas. PCV valve were a
crappy way of crankcase ventilation often found on some
American cars. Honda tends to engineer rather than cost
control. Therefore Honda did crankcase ventilation with more
intelligence. Is there any Honda that uses PCV valves? I
have yet to find one.

I will keep looking. Found none in a 1992 Civic nor in a
2004 Civic. I suspect those who talk about PCV valve in Honda
may be confusing EGR or other valves with PCV valve - having
assumed rather than first consult the manufacturer's Service
Manual.

Confidence is not good enough to say a PCV valve exists.
Enemies of us engineers too often use such feelings rather
than first get solid facts. One should not post these things
unless one first confirms the facts. I can find no reference
to any PCV valve in any Honda - including the original Accords
and Civics. I personally know every one of my Hondas had no
such PCV valve. They are designed by engineers; not bean
counters.

 

[snip]

perhaps you're not looking in the right place? for years they were in the
top of the valve cover. on some civics they're screwed into the intake
manifold. on many other models they're in the breather box.

but then maybe you work for jiffy lube?

either way thanks for the entertaining post! really too funny!

 

Check part number 17130-PC6-003, Valve Assy., PCV This part is found in:
Accord from '83 through '87

Check part number 17130-PE0-003, Valve Assy., PCV This part is found in:
CRX from '84 through '87
Civic from '84 through '87

Check part number 17130-PK1-003, Valve Assy., PCV This part is found in:
Prelude from '88 through '01
Accord from '90 through '02

Check part number 17130-PM3-003, Valve Assy., PCV This part is found in:
Civic from '88 through '91

Check part number 17130-PM6-003, Valve Assy., PCV This part is found in:
Civic from '92 through '00

And so on. The fact that the most recent use I found of a PCV valve is
due to the fact that my Honda EPC (Electronic Parts Catalog) is from
2002, not because Honda stopped using PCV valves. Also, don't run out
and buy parts according to the list above, it is just a small sampling
of the 46 results I found for PCV valve, several different part numbers
were in use on the same model in any given year.

Keep looking, it's there!

The other way around. The Helm service manual for my '94 Civic list a
PCV valves for all trim levels, but only a select few have EGR valves.

 

w_tom
snip extensive proof of PCV valves in Hondas

Indeed.

The manuals at http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/workshopmanuals2.html cover various
seven models of 1984-1997 Hondas. The manuals are supposed to be identical to
Helm manuals, as Honda publishes both. Every one of these manuals discusses and
describes the PCV valve in these 1984-1995 Hondas.

For example, w_tom should see

http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/WorkshopManualCivic84-87/62sb200/12-21.pdf
(1984-1987 Civics, carbureted)

http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/CivicManual/pdf/11-109.pdf (1995-1997 Civics)

If, incredibly, he's not satisfied with this, he can go to
http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/auto/jsp/mws/catdisplay.jsp , inquire about
most any Honda model he wants, click on "Breather Chamber" or similar, and he'll
see a drawing of the PCV valve's location as well as the PCV valve price.

www.autozone.com likewise describes how to change the PCV valve, though it has
free online manuals only for pre-1996 or so Hondas.

(Sorry for the piggbybacking. I stopped reading w_tom's posts some time ago... )

 

Confidence is not good enough to say a PCV valve exists.

I've got a 1994 Civic DX that I just replaced the PCV valve for, so
obviously that's not one of the ones in your garage...

Nate

 

Caroline properly cited Hondas that use PCV valves. PCV are
not used in carbureted Hondas and in some earlier fuel
injected Hondas. Furthermore, those PCV valves are not
obvious being located on the intake manifold rather than on
engine valve cover.

If a PCV valve becomes stuck open, it does not adversely
affect engine performance as PCValves would do to carbureted
engines. IOW many Honda mechanics don't even bother looking
at the PCV except if engine idles too high. PCV rarely create
failures and are so difficult to get at.

According to shop manual, PCV is something only inspected
every 60,000 miles or four years. Replaced only if seriously
stuck closed or open. Unlike PCV found in 1980 non-Hondas,
the PCV no longer creates engine (fuel-air ratio) problems.

 

you are mistaken...

1984-7 Honda Civic, Carbureted - http://tinyurl.com/5g5zs
Item #11 is the PCV valve

1984-5 Honda Accord, Carbureted - http://tinyurl.com/4asq4
Item #20 is the PCV valve

1986-9 Honda Accord, Carbureted - http://tinyurl.com/5anyy
Item #18 is the PCV valve

1985 Honda Accord SEI, early fuel injected - http://tinyurl.com/6zo2m
Item #20 is the PCV valve

as bush has discovered, merely chanting that it is so does not indeed
make it so. please stop insisting on this lunacy. thank you.

 

Try this one - 1981 Accord. Does IT have a PCV valve?

 

this is irrelevant. you had stated...

as I noted earlier, pcv valves could be found in carbureted accords from
84-89 and in carbureted civics from 84-87. pcv valves can also be found in
the 85 accord sei which, to the best of my knowledge, was the first accord
with fuel injection. your statement contradicts the facts. it claims that
all carbureted hondas did not have a pcv valve. this statement is simply
false. now, had you made the statement that carbureted hondas prior to 84
did not have a pcv valve, then your statement would have been correct.
however, that's not what you said. it's not even close.