Help!
My troubles started when my 94 Integ. LS ( I love it!) failed the smog test. Now my mechanic tells me that it is getting very low compression from one of the cylinders. Thats's why it is spewing out high HCs.

What options do I have..other than shopping for a new engine :-(
What's more cost effective? ( I wish I was rich)

Thanks.

 

Determine what's causing the problem either yourself or with a trusted mechanic. Find out if it's fuel, spark, air, or even leaks in seals or rings. Replace as needed. Save money!

 

The repair shop is saying the they need to do a valve job ...cost me roughly $1500. And dunno what else they will discover wrong.

 

funny thing is that it was running fine. I can get 80mph highway speeds without the engine generating any extra sounds / smells.
How is that possible?

 

Valve job for $1500? WTF... are they gonna replace your entire valvetrain?

I'd get a second opinion ASAP. Call up some honda specialists and see if they'd be willing to take a low cost or free look at what's going on. Mention that you're looking for a good new shop to take your car too.

If you're near the Santa Cruz area, I can make at least 2 reccomendations. But yeah, shop around.

 

What do they mean when they say valve job? An adjustment? Replacement of valvetrain parts? If your valves are bad, I don't think you'd pretty much have that cylinder. There'd be clicking, lot's 'o smoke, etc..

 

Quote:

I'd get a second opinion ASAP.

 

it's definitely a leaky seal: spark plug o-ring, piston ring.

i'll even say possibly the exhaust valve is out of spec and opening during compression.

 

A leak down test will help with diagnosing this problem.

 

Totally agree, for that price you can buy a ported/polished head with cams. My first thought was piston ring but without knowing how old the car is, what's done to it, etc. there's no use in trying guess. Definitely find a new Honda shop, get a comp./leak down done. Make sure that they say the same piston is the problem, then go from there.