Valve Adjustment - How To - Honda/Acura 3.5 Pilot, Odyssey, MDX, Accord, Ridgeline, Isuzu, Saturn 

Thank you! This video really helped me, I am a single mom in KY, I bought a 2006 Honda Odyssey EX about 6 months ago for 4K, it ran great until it started overheating and losing radiator fluid constantly, I have a good friend that's a mechanic who offered to put a new water pump in it for me but unlucky for me he did not realize that engine is a non-interference engine and he bent 12 of my exhaust valves and 7 of my intake valves when he went to put it back in time... So very long story short I decided to pull the heads myself, with his help of course, sent them out to get rebuilt, that cost just over a grand, got the heads back, all new valves, got it back together, timing set perfect and all, started it up and it ran perfect except for a knocking in rocker arm number 4 so we take it back apart AGAIN and guess what.... the two nuts on rocker arm number 4 exhaust were gone!! Can't get the exhaust dropped because those bolts are rusted, took me 2 days to get the oil pan dropped enough to where I can get in there with a magnet and finally found the two missing nuts, I got tears in my eyes when I found them I was so happy. Slap some make a gasket on that oil pan yesterday, got me a tappet gauge getting ready to go out there and secure these two nuts with some loctite. I've never been so stressed out, I never realized mechanics went through so much of a headache to work on these vehicles I thought it was simple you turn a screw here and there, working on my own vehicle has really taught me a lot so Kudos to all who have to put up with this headache every day, it's going to take a month to get the grease out from under my nails!!

Hint: Use compressed air to blow off debris from engine Before removing parts. I've been adjusting valves since 1970s - Dodge 225, BMW R series Motorcycles, lawnmowers, etc etc. All required a developed feel. Old technique is follows: 1) use correct feeler gauge thickness and check work with smaller (won't fit) and larger thickness gauge (too loose). It also helps to smear oil on feeler gauges to make them slide easier. One suggestion: if you're going to take off valve cover, may as well replace PCV valve.

12:10 - J series engines are rotated clockwise, not anti-clockwise. Great video!

Just did this today to a 2004 acura mdx this video is really good, was my first time doing this I just saved $450 thanks it came out good 👍 my scanner was reading all cylinder misfire before now its good runs smoother and stronger and no more turning off when it's cold

Excellent video. Will be doing this procedure on my 2010 Acura MDX. Thanks for putting this out there.

Hell of a video man. Great job and thank you for putting this information out there for people.

When you turn your j -series counterclockwise, the timing belt slack adjuster can compress and allow the timing belt jump a tooth .

Honda V6 engine turn clockwise, counterclockwise are for engine timing cover and pulleys on Driver side. Turn it opposite might cause timing belt tensioner lose tension and timing belt jump teeths. Just want to add this before people start doing this job.

I’m planning to do this soon and helped a lot. Thank you!

Not as bad as I originally thought. Gives me the confidence to do it myself. I've had the constant P0300 and P0301-P0306 and there is absolutely no way all 6 ignition coils have failed at the exact same time. I keep thinking it's the valves myself. Looking forward to setting aside an afternoon to do this job. Also making sure I have all the tools you used. Should make the job easier. Great video!

Thanks. I started before seeing the video. I am glad I checked because I realized I don't have some of the tools I need. I will be okay to do this job. Keep making vids!

Man, great tutorial very informative Glad you’re narrating this video with quality video , keep up the good work.

Superb. Detailed and thorough. Thank you!

Great video. I am contemplating buying a used Honda Pilot and was concerned about the lack of hydraulic lifters. This shows me it's not too bad to adjust the valves when needed.

Great video! One of the very few to show where the crank and size are to move cylinders.

Exceptionally well-done video! Thanks a lot!

Thanks man! I can use this knowledge u shared with us for my future project 😁👍!!!

Very nice video, and very nicely explained. Thank you very much.

Awesome job and explaining!

Thanks for the motivation looks like fun

You are really good at explaining this. Awesome video.

Thank you Buddy your a very kind person for sharing. And awesome mechanic.

You simplified it, awesome

Just fyi... this fixed my honda pilot which was rough idle on cold start (and running lean)... the exhaust valves were super low ... the right side on each cylinder was completely closed. Amazing the car even worked. Now purrs like a kitten.

Great video! Very helpful

Very clear instructions, thanks!!

Amazing Tutorial Thanks ALLOT!

I just did this myself and it took me like 5 hours!!!!! That's still $200/hour which is more than what I make at work so I went for it. The exhaust valves are the EFFIN WORST!!! Especially on the rear head!

Ok, I guess I'm the first. This is a pretty good video. You covered every thing I needed to know. Wasn't sure how I needed to turn the crank with this engine. That was very helpful. The rest looks pretty straight forward. Same adjusting technique as my 40 year old Porsche. Although the Porsche is more easily accessible. Funny how valve adjustments haven't changed drastically in 40 years. Really hate the time consuming trial and error method. Seems like there should be some fancy laser guided adjustment tool by now. Thanks again.

Best Video!!! Thanks Bro!!

Thanks. Just travelled up from Vegas to MT and I began having random misfires all of my cylinders on cold starts. Ran fine down in Vegas but once I got to the frosty white north, it began misfiring until the engine warmed up a bit. It isn't bad I can barely feel it, but I prefer not to let issues like this escalate. From what I've read it may need a valve adjustment but there are few other lower hanging items I'll cross off the list first. I have a feeling I'll be adjusting my valves when I get back. No idea if the previous owner ever got the valves adjusted when it was due, they didn't keep records, but I could at least tell they took good care of it. I've gotten all of the other maintenance items like plugs and fluids because they're easy and the timing belt because that could grenade the engine but this was one job I was holding off from doing.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING, SO TECHNICALLY YOU WILL GET IT DONE IN DECENT TIMING BUT OVER ALL HOW LONG WOULD YOU SAY SOMEONE THAT HASNT DONE THIS SPECIFIC JOB BEFORE BUT IS FAMILIAR WITH MACHANIC WORK? GUESSTIMATE ABOUT? aND I KNOW THIS IS OLDER THREAD BUT THE VIDEO IS GREAT AND YOU LITERALLY EXPLAINED EVERYTHING IN DETAIL AND SHOWED THE WORK CLEAR., REALLY YOU DID GREAT JOB ON THIS..

great video I cant thank you enough .

18:40 good tip on throttle cable tension.

Nice heads cleans like mine on my Pilot! Don't forget to help on my problem...

awesome budy, thanks!!!!!

Fabulous video.

I like that 10mm socket!

Thanks for the great video. Learned a lot. Now I feel more comfortable to adjust the valves on my Pilot. Just replaced most of my front suspension parts and you make it easy to follow. Wish I could do the time belt as well. The only thing that is stop me is that crank bolt. Damn thing is torqued too tight.

Great video.. Thanks!!!

Good job

thanks for the video 🙂🙂🙂🙂

On my 2007 Pilot, fuel injector #4 is not firing or pulsing. Changed out that injector with a Honda injector. Still not firing correctly. It starts up but the display shows the icon flashing. The slight shaking & lost of power is there. Then changed out all 6 connectors as they crumbled with heat & age when pulled out. Added 6 new Iridium spark plugs. Changed out the manifold gasket & O-rings on the other injectors that are good. Still misfiring but running smoother now while idling. Does this sound like it needs a valve adjustment?

Bravo! Bravo!!!

Simply EXCELLENT!! Thank you! So clear and helpful! The red and yellow circles really help, as well as the engine diagram for cylinder numbers. Question: How many miles were on the 3.5 engine you used as a demo? I was surprised that the intake valves needed no adjustment. Yet the norm is that they need adjustment. Comments please?

Very good doctor mechanic congratulación

Hey there, great video!! Just wondering if I do this with my 02 Odyssey, will I have to turn the crank by firing order or just when a number appears on the crank gear?

Great video. Thank you very much. It took me a while to get the feel for the right lash. One thought... I think you should turn Honda engines clockwise, not counterclockwise. It's at 12:11 in your video.

Excelent!

What was the original symptom though, ticking noise or noticably poor running? I'm looking at buyin an 07 Pilot J35A9 with a tick.. not sure if it's valves, cams, pistons or timing tensioner.

Thank you

I was quoted by acura for the spark plugs replacement and valve adjust for over 1k.

Hey, got a 2004 Honda element no code map engine but at idle in the morning and when motor is warm, I'm getting around negative 15 both short term and long term. It smells of exhaust gasses quite heavily but engine doesn't run rough at all and only symptom I'm having is I feel I should have more power. Have new oem air fuel sensor and the rear o2 as well. All my live data looks normal like map, ect, ait, etc. Do you think since these engines need to have their valves adjusted and it's a new to me car with 160k, that valves being out of adjustment can cause a rich condition? Thank you.

Thanks bro from Kazakhstan

Do u have to rotate the valve back to where it start from? Like when u first had it in #1 then to #6. Oh do u turn the valve accordly like 1-6 and work on each valve?

If I'm replacing the spool valve (leaking oil on to the alt) and the timing belt at the same time, should I do the valve adjustment first or after the belt swap?

I'm working on my Honda Pilot 2010 I'm having trouble how to check the clearance of the exhaust using the feeler gauge. You make it looks easy what is your technique? Is it also normal #5 cylinder rocker arms has a little play or moves little when wiggle it?

Perfecto, exelente Gringo

He is a pro.

So I got a eighth gen accord v6 and I just got a valve adjustment done on it and a week later today I started hearing back fire under acceleration and acceleration was pretty laggy would you say this is from possible improper valve adjustment?

Great,now I'm stuck determining whether I should detach the whole front head for a thorough cleaning I see all these vids with pretty,shiny insides mines all sludge and gunk I been picking at with a screwdriver n rag,it's probably causing my ticking other than my valves so far being tight,intake and exhaust

Thank.you for being thorough. I looked up the tool on ebay, found a knock off. Hope it works. Im replacing bent valves!

Great Video - Very helpful. I am into the value adjustment on a 2001 Acura MDX. Working from a Haynes manual. Pretty consistent with your video. Manual says start with cyl #1, then cyl # 4 which comes in to the window next. Then it says to rotate engine 120 deg. to Cyl #2 which actually comes into the window right after #4. Does that makes sense? It seems I should do it as you indicated just when then the next Cyl # appears which when starting with #1 is the firing order. First time working on this type of engine and a little unsure of myself. Don't want to make a mistake. Any thoughs would be appreciated. I know these manuals are not always accurate with everything. Thanks much.

Great step by step video. But why counter clockwise? Ive seen multiple videos rotate counter clockwise yet the repair manual specifically states clockwise. Depends on the model? Im working on a 2013 pilot. Thanks

I'm told exhaust will tighten up and intake will loosen so better to make exhuast higher end of the range and intake lower end of the range. Although can't get it perfect. Some of the hoses that attach to the throttle body are coolant hoses you want to have some bolts ready to plug them. Also PS pressure hose has a bolt attaches to the rear cover at least on the 06 pilot might not see it.

Do we need to rewind the camshaft to cylinder 1 mark or leave it at what ever cylinder you did last?

With the knowledge you passed on, I have decided to take my car to a mechanic...

Old video but for the new viewers. THIS ENGINE ROTATES CLOCKWISE NOT COUNTERCLOCKWISE.

James, around the 18 minute mark of this video you said that you would post the link to a more detailed video on install/deinstall of the valve covers. Did I miss that? I can't find. Also, do you have a detailed list of the required gaskets, tools, and "other shop supplies" that I may need? Thanks, great video.

What is the correct clearance for intake and exhaust?

Remember to seal the gaskets!!!

Got a code p1399 (random misfire) on my ‘02 Odyssey. Do you think a valve adjustment would solve it? Already replaced plugs and checked coils for spark. Thanks. BTW, great video. Will watch multiple times if that is that route I need.

My 2010 Pilot has a 3.5. Suspect this needs to be done. What does the motor sound like before and after this adjustment?

How much more work is necessary to do the head gasket?

Can this job be done with the cylinder off and on the work bench?

Hi can you use the old intake gaskets?

When you’re adjusting the valves should the valve have any play in it ?

how long did it take you to perform the entire process?

I have an 05 Honda Odyssey with 260,000 miles I changed the oil/filter every 3000 with Valvoline Max life 5w20 and wix filter and I noticed a little bit of tick at idle, what's your or anyone else opinion do you think this would help stop the ticking and (no it's not a rod knock )it's definitely upper end I drive it everyday 50 to 100 mile, I love the van

My biggest concern is forgetting to hook something back up. I usually take lots of pictures but I may actually do a video as well. So, valve cover gaskets, i take manifold gasket and spark plug grommets. What else?

You definitely need some more lights in there

whats the torque value on those bolts?

If a valve is leaking can u start it with the cover off and see any signs?

Hey I've been looking everywhere to find the torque that the intake manifold bolts need to be at but cant find anything...

What was the reasoning for adjusting the valves? I just started hearing what I hope is lifter clatter, and while researching it seems like adjusting the valves is pretty common on these.

A parts list and tool list would help.... I might have to do this job with the car parked on a city street VERY far from my house and I'd only like to bring the tools/parts required.

I have a question because I’m confused on the intake says .008 and .009 what and on the exhaust.0011 .0013 what number should I use on the intake and the exhaust

Do I need to buy a new intake gasket or can I reuse the old one?

This video is really good, although it occurred to me that if you remove the intake manifold sides that stick out over the valve covers then you can remove the valve covers and adjust the valves.

Hi, where is the first video to this repair?

My Honda just threw this code and makes a noise when I first start it. I don’t have the funds now but would it be okay to continue driving it for some more weeks

So is this valve adjustment a fix for an intermittent massive, multiple cylinder missfire?? Running into an issue where under a load, accelerating it was a terrible missfire on almost every cylinder. Not a Honda guy so any pointer would be awesome 👍

So after you adjust the valve how you know it’s working and is ok .

i have 02 acura mdx 6 cylinder i have all cilynder missfire 1 to 6 already replace all sparkplug and coil my car shake lot when acelerate you think maybe valve adjuted i need thank you great video

I have a car replaced all coils, and plugs 07 odyssey. Misfire cyl 6 P0306. switched injectors for from 6 to 5.. still cyl 6 miss. It is not a consistent miss either. it comes and goes.. been driving me nuts.. has about 120k miles on it. I am having issues because my employer does not have many of the diagnostic tools, or subscriptions to identafix, alldata, etc.. just mitchel which I find great for wire diagrams.. but no so great for other things. I am wondering if it is just the valves in cyl 6 need adjustment now..

My 2007 Honda Pilot needs valve adjustments. I was told it needs to go to a machine shop. Is that accurate?

Great video, however I would edit in text that it's clockwise rotation!! Hopefully you didn't jump timing! Thanks

is there a torque spec to the jam nut so no guessing to how tight to get it having that come loose would be catastrophic imo

Do i need a HDS to perform a valve adjustment on a 2019 ridgeling?

Will the valves out of adjustment cause knocking of the engine ??