1997 "Honda Tap"?

The valves in my Honda are VERY loud. I've had the valves adjusted several
times by different mechanics but its done nothing. I've been told that its
not hurting anything but the noise is endlessly irritating.
Is there anything I can do to eliminate or soften this noise?
Thanks for all your help.

 

Have you ever had the valves adjusted by a Honda shop? Try getting the
valves adjusted at a Honda dealer to make sure that¹s not the problem.

It might not be the valves, though. It might be piston slap. The 4
cylinder engines of that vintage were susceptible to it. Does it only do it
when the engine is cold and then quiet down after it warms up? If it is
piston slap, it doesn't really hurt anything and the fix is a new engine.
Most people just learn to ignore it.

 

E.Meyer, Thanks for both replies. I will bring it to a dealer and have
them check out what you said.
Thank you very much

 

It is also extremely important to adjust valve lash with stone cold engine.
When I adjust mine, I leave the car at my parent's house and come back a day
or 2 later and do it with a cold engine.

 

Which car? On my 97 Civic HX, oil adhering to the moving parts would
cause me to set gaps up to twice as large as spec'd. I found the
solution - pull up hard on the rocker then hold it up lightly with a
finger. The measurements would then be very accurate and consistent.

 

Thanks for your help. It's a 1997 Honda Accord DX.