Anybody have any advise on changing valve cover and cam seals? I had a small leak coming from one of my valve covers so I pulled both of them to replace the seals. I noticed that one of the cam seals (the side away from timing cover) was also leaking. After my Acura dealership advised me that they "pop right out with a screwdriver", I tried to pry one out. Turns out they don't "pop right out". They have a inner lip on them that requires the cams to be removed to get the seal out. Since I ruined the old seal, I went ahead and pulled all the cams to replace the seals correctly. I'm beginning to wonder if Beaudry Acura has even seen an NSX let alone worked on one. Anyway, should I use Hondabond gasket sealer on the valve cover seal and the cam seals?? I don't want to have to do this again. I have heard that you're only supposed to put the Hondabond on the corners of the valve cover gaskets. Anyone have any experience? What about the cam seals? I'm temped to put the Hondabond on everything because it has worked so well for my motorcycles.
Valve Cover And Cam Seals
- Thread starter NSXpnsv
- Start date
IMO the ONLY thing Beaudry Acura does well is "System Selling" - you undoubtedly have experienced that up close recently. It goes like this:
1. You are given a quote to do a job they have done many times ( poorly no doubt each and every time ).
2. When you drop your car off they need your phone number " in case anything comes up " - they then call in the morning and the price goes up.
3. They call again in the afternoon to inquire about when you will be picking up the car; if it is after 5:00 p.m. they ask you to leave a VISA card number and get the keys from sales. When you arrive to pick up the car - guess what - the price has gone up again including my personal favorite $15 for supplies, but since service is gone you have no choice but to pay and leave.
This is a good thing because now at least your car is back in your control.
DO NOT under any circumstances take the car back to have anything they have screwed up fixed; it just gets worse.
Beaudry is not discriminating against Acura owners. Their incompetence covers all the makes they have franchises for - I know several people with Porsches and Mercedes-Benzs who go to Phoenix to get their car serviced ( and who end up buying their next one up there as well ).
The best part is the cheery survey ( How did we do ? ) that you get in the mail several weeks after discussing your displeasure with most of management at the dealership. I suspect that if you aren't screaming in the middle of the showroom or using weapons they don't hear a word you say. The friendly reminders that it is time to come in for some more punishment will continue coming to your mail box for years to come and follow you through any address change.
Favorite Beaudry quote " We don't see many of those in here "
Second Favorite Beaudry quote " They changed the headlights on those? We haven't sold one of those in two years "
All this in a city with the population in the metropolitan area approaching one million people.
There I feel much better now!!!
As far as Hondabond goes it really is unnecessary everywhere except for the corners where it seals better than anything else I've ever used
1. You are given a quote to do a job they have done many times ( poorly no doubt each and every time ).
2. When you drop your car off they need your phone number " in case anything comes up " - they then call in the morning and the price goes up.
3. They call again in the afternoon to inquire about when you will be picking up the car; if it is after 5:00 p.m. they ask you to leave a VISA card number and get the keys from sales. When you arrive to pick up the car - guess what - the price has gone up again including my personal favorite $15 for supplies, but since service is gone you have no choice but to pay and leave.
This is a good thing because now at least your car is back in your control.
DO NOT under any circumstances take the car back to have anything they have screwed up fixed; it just gets worse.
Beaudry is not discriminating against Acura owners. Their incompetence covers all the makes they have franchises for - I know several people with Porsches and Mercedes-Benzs who go to Phoenix to get their car serviced ( and who end up buying their next one up there as well ).
The best part is the cheery survey ( How did we do ? ) that you get in the mail several weeks after discussing your displeasure with most of management at the dealership. I suspect that if you aren't screaming in the middle of the showroom or using weapons they don't hear a word you say. The friendly reminders that it is time to come in for some more punishment will continue coming to your mail box for years to come and follow you through any address change.
Favorite Beaudry quote " We don't see many of those in here "
Second Favorite Beaudry quote " They changed the headlights on those? We haven't sold one of those in two years "
All this in a city with the population in the metropolitan area approaching one million people.
There I feel much better now!!!
As far as Hondabond goes it really is unnecessary everywhere except for the corners where it seals better than anything else I've ever used
He was correct!!: "They just pop rightout with a screwdriver", you just cannot put them back in
. Very sad commentary.
I would use HondaBond around the ridge of the seal that fits into the groove of the head cradle. Also you may wish to investigate STR. They make long lasting cam plugs, they are machined metal with o-ring seals.
http://www.strpower.com/strcamsealintro.htm
I cannot personally vouch for them, I have not used them, but plan to in the future.
HTH,
LarryB
. Very sad commentary.I would use HondaBond around the ridge of the seal that fits into the groove of the head cradle. Also you may wish to investigate STR. They make long lasting cam plugs, they are machined metal with o-ring seals.
http://www.strpower.com/strcamsealintro.htm
I cannot personally vouch for them, I have not used them, but plan to in the future.
HTH,
LarryB
The Service Manual shows where to apply the Honda Bond on the cam holders pg. 6-50. It makes no mention of applying HB to the cam plugs. ???
DanO
DanO
We just purchased our NSX recently but I did use the STR cam seal to replace the leaky OEM piece on the B16 in our del Sol. It is a well made piece and has not leaked since install over two years ago. Two Rubber O-rings are used to create the seal and they appear to be quite durable. I didn't use Hondabond with the STR unit but the person that replaced the cam seal before me with another OEM plastic/rubber one did and even with the Hondabond it still leaked thus my reason for using the STR piece. Worth the money in my opinion.
Hi DanO,
Hope all is well with you. I had gotten this tip from MB about the HB on the cam plug. But it does seem that based on MRFreeze's experience, it does not seem to cure it permanently. I am suspecting that with age they get hardened and start to leak.
I thought those STR units looked pretty good.
My $.02
LarryB
Hope all is well with you. I had gotten this tip from MB about the HB on the cam plug. But it does seem that based on MRFreeze's experience, it does not seem to cure it permanently
. I am suspecting that with age they get hardened and start to leak.I thought those STR units looked pretty good.
My $.02
LarryB
Good stuff
Thanks for the info everybody. Those STR plugs look like a good option. TucsoNSX, your account of Beaudry Acura was hilarious and unfortunately very accurate. I don't even have them do the work but I've heard the quote, "we don't see many of those in here" on countless occasions while purchasing parts. I have to get the parts guy to turn the monitor towards me so I can help him find the parts I need. Very frustrating.
Thanks for the info everybody. Those STR plugs look like a good option. TucsoNSX, your account of Beaudry Acura was hilarious and unfortunately very accurate. I don't even have them do the work but I've heard the quote, "we don't see many of those in here" on countless occasions while purchasing parts. I have to get the parts guy to turn the monitor towards me so I can help him find the parts I need. Very frustrating.
NSXpnsv,
If you aren't already a member of the NSXCA join immediately. Then when you need parts call Mike at Niello Acura and tell him you are a member of the NSXCA . I buy all my parts there both for the NSX and my Legend; you will not only be dealing with people who know what they are doing, but also saving a fortune ( the parts catalog on Prime is helpfull in identifying parts by name and/or number ). They have shipped everything I ever needed either the same day or the next day for both cars. This means that you actually have the parts far sooner since the aforementioned " dealership " has almost nothing in stock. The fact that you won't be paying sales tax makes up for the shipping costs in most cases - another bonus. Try it - you'll like it !!!
MRFreeze,
Those VTEC Del Sols are too much fun - Love them !!! You've got a great fleet there.
If you aren't already a member of the NSXCA join immediately. Then when you need parts call Mike at Niello Acura and tell him you are a member of the NSXCA . I buy all my parts there both for the NSX and my Legend; you will not only be dealing with people who know what they are doing, but also saving a fortune ( the parts catalog on Prime is helpfull in identifying parts by name and/or number ). They have shipped everything I ever needed either the same day or the next day for both cars. This means that you actually have the parts far sooner since the aforementioned " dealership " has almost nothing in stock. The fact that you won't be paying sales tax makes up for the shipping costs in most cases - another bonus. Try it - you'll like it !!!
MRFreeze,
Those VTEC Del Sols are too much fun - Love them !!! You've got a great fleet there.
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