SOLVED! Post 2853 Leaking Injectors, Dealer Techs Rock! Extended Cranking after Engine Swap 3.4L 5vz

Sure. I don't think I'll replace mine as vigorous cleaning seemed to fix it. If I did, though, I would have gone the Amazon route. Not sure if I would have paid the extra $40 for OEM or not ($75 vs $115).

 

you proved something was wrong with yours and in my book that's all it would take to make up my mind if you had already cleaned it before and it wasn't cured by the first cleaning. it sounds like its still fubar but working ok "most times" so I would still replace it, but that's just me.

I have no patience to play around with faulty sensors so if they don't act right after they get a good cleaning then they get replaced and I go fishing instead of worrying about the next time it will fail.

its very delicate and there is only so much you can do to clean them before you start messing up its sensitivity to read things (possibly why the strange start up behavior)

how did you get a more "vigorous cleaning" this time? did you blast it with a whole can of cleaner?

I have thought about filling a jar with and inch or two of MAF cleaner and then letting the sensor part soak submerged in it overnight like a carb bath would do, I cant think of any way to be more aggressive cleaning method then that without damaging it.

 

I did indeed go through most of a can, but to be fair the can says "10-15 shots to clean a sensor," which is a good bit of the can. I also used the super secret technique of putting the nozzle into the sensor pictured on my thread. The sensor almost felt like it was designed for this function. Finally, I got brave and used a Q-tip to scrub the wires until they were white (big no-no). I figured it didn't matter if I was replacing it anyway.

 

I'm not even sure if ours is supposed to be cleaned. The dealer and another parts stores have both told me that they made one kind for 98's that came off the line from Jan through July, then a different kind for August and on. And the kind we have means you HAVE to buy the whole assembly, housing and all - mucho $$$. And husband just told me when he talked to the dealer tech a couple weeks ago (when we went for TPS code), the guy told him we have the kind that is NOT cleanable. Hmmm. Here's a pic of the kind we have (not our actual one, but just a web image:

 

Today is show the Civic some love day! Appt at dealer to have her valve cover gasket and other related goodies replaced - choc chip cookies for those guys this morning, they have been incredibly helpful!! And after what we've been through with all these mechanics and parts people the last 3 months, I KNOW good service when I get it! These guys are top notch - hoping maybe the cookies will persuade them to see why the sunroof doesn't work anymore for minimal/no extra cost, or maybe give us a DIY inside tip on how to fix ourselves........cross your fingers for me TW!!

 

Ooohhh, my bad. I didn't notice that you had a pre-99. Yeah, the MAF were a different design back then.

 

That Honda dealer ROCKS! They even steam cleaned the engine, to try to get rid of the ENORMOUS amounts of dried up caked on oil that has built up over the years from the leaking. It's not showroom perfect, but it's a hell of a lot better, and I am just in awe that they didn't nickel and dime us for stuff like that! Wow! Really nice guys. Got to talk to the tech that worked on it for ~10 minutes, and even test drove a 2008 Accord - very nice car!! Told the salesman if it was blue, I'd take it, but since it's not, call me when a blue one with the same stats comes in! Color is silly, I know - but I've been driving a red Civic for 17 years, and have NEVER liked the color. I bought it anyway because I told myself color is silly, the car is practical and solid, so buy it. Not doing that again - this time I want it ALL!

Anyway, attached is a pic of our MAF. An OEM replacement for it is $660 from a local parts store, or $1048 from the dealer. Which is why we've tried to approach it with testing rather than replacing. But it sounds like we have a correct donor match on the way, thank goodness! I will be very eagerly awaiting the results of swapping that part..............

 

well that's like saying if you hate liver just keep cooking it because you will learn to like it.

if its not the color you want nothing else matters because the first impression when you look at it determines how much you like it or just "tolerate having it" and as you found, forever regret settling some something you didn't want.

if you get a Harley they are much easier to find a parking space, you just need to teach the dog not to slobber on your back as you ride

girl down the street has a dog that literally jumps the fence and chases her down the street to jump on the back of her 4 wheeler to go for a ride. she has to lock him in the house to go anywhere on it without him.

 

Incoming!!!

The donor Ecm is a Trd unit,,isin't it? Or it came out of a Trd truck?

Trd numbered MAF for that year might line things up, in conjunction. And possibly save a few bucks.

 

What does it matter if its a TRD or not? TRD package is only changes to suspension and badging. Please enlighten me.

KO

 

No,,you just sit there in the dark and enjoy them cookies.


Somewhere,,in this huge library someone had mentioned that they had to swap out a MAF to match the Ecm, and it was mentioned that it was a Trd unit(s). I didn't think it mattered,,but it made a world of difference to them.

Spent 2 days off and on looking for those posts-thread.

I Failed,,move on,, nothing to see here,,I'll let myself out.

 

Ugh, liver and red cars. No thanks!!!

Although that ugly little red car has been quite good to me for a lot of years - I feel guilty ripping on her!! She got the works yesterday after we got home from the dealer - I DETAILED my 1993 Civic! Scrubbed tires, cleaned pine needles out of nooks and crannies, vacuumed everything (even the trunk!), scrubbed stuff that has literally never been cleaned in the 17 years I've had the car - it seriously has not been this clean since the day I bought it. And the new seat covers fit well (shocking!) and I'm going to hunt down a drink holder of a certain shape to try to wedge in there. I figure for the time being, the Civic has become "the good car" compared to that craptastic loaner Escort (I get to drive the Civic ). So may as well treat her like "the good car" right? This weekend she'll get new brakes, maybe some new tires, and a look over by the husband.

The tech that worked on her at the dealer said he drives an Acura Integra (basically a Honda) that has...............

FIVE HUNDRED AND FORTY THOUSAND MILES! That's 540,000 miles. INSANE!!

If the Taco doesn't start cooperating soon, she may get traded for an Accord. Although being truckless for an Oregon summer would SUCK BAD. Hmmm. Maybe it's time to buy a Chevy or Nissan truck or something - I don't know if I can bring myself to spend my money at any of the Toyota dealers in our area - none of them have been very great to us through this nightmare, except for the awesome parts guys. And used car lots are always scary. Actually that's where we bought this Taco, a used car lot - I wonder if they knew something about it that they failed to reveal to us? It was right up there with the best of them - full on slimy situation.

 

here is a blue one just for you: http://cyrilhuzeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/1womenriders.jpg

and you can still wear skirts and heals with this one: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/18/66/e5/1866e59ed2a0b4a7ab09bf85d8ad9ede.jpg

and if you are worried about the dog, dogs love to ride: https://www.google.com/search?q=girl+riding+a+harley+with+her+dog&rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&biw=1387&bih=650&tbm=isch&imgil=uienDA-xCLMbKM%253A%253BvXB41yrfKaPH2M%253Bhttp%25253A%25252F%25252Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%25252Fnews%25252Farticle-2309967%25252FIn-ruff-ride-Trio-dogs-hit-open-road-sidecar-attached-owners-motorcycle-Australia.html&source=iu&pf=m&fir=uienDA-xCLMbKM%253A%252CvXB41yrfKaPH2M%252C_&usg=__vwUyeMxTqvQlldaso6e4f-Vh1YA%3D&ved=0CCcQyjc&ei=5sn5VPrCBIWhgwS1yIP4Dw#rls=com.microsoft:en-US:IE-Address&tbm=isch&q=dogs+on+motorcycles&imgdii=_

look here, the whole family can go for a ride together: http://cdn.themetapicture.com/media/funny-dogs-riding-motorcycle.jpg

 

haven't you ever seen a back seat driver before lol

 

OK, where did this motorcycle thing come from?

I am not a motorcycle person! Although I do have a buddy that is into 4 wheeling and he likes to take his dog with him. The dog wears Doggles when they go, like this:

 

Sterdog! You changed your sig! Been telling all my friends with huge trucks about how funny it was!! Bring back the old sig man!

 

Fine lol. Here, it's a compromise.

 

it wasn't me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsgsQ_1QFBs

 

OK, one more totally off topic thing -

Anyone have advice on how to clean the caked on oil from the lower portion of the Civic's engine?

The dealer steam cleaned it, and it helped A LOT, but it would be nice to go all the way with it, to help us quickly identify if it starts leaking again. Plus the burning oil smell is quite unpleasant, and you never know if it's a sign of something bad or just the caked on crap burning off while driving/engine is hot.

Are there special tools or chemicals to use?

Are there places that you are NOT supposed to let water touch?

I always thought you were supposed to be super careful about what gets wet under the hood and what doesn't, but from what I could tell, it looked like the dealer got a whole bunch of stuff wet. How the heck do they steam clean the engine anyway?