Do it yourself complex maintenance

Rick Reece · 05-04-2004, 05:56 PM

I am approaching the 100K mark which according to the service manual means its time to adjust the valves. I am concerned about taking my car to any dealership. I just don't think the techs see them often enough to know the correct maintenance. (Consider all the overfilling of oil changes reported. I checked my local dealerships and they don't even have an air filter for the Insight in stock because they do so little maintenance on this model). This leads me to wanted to do all my own maintenance. So has anyone adjusted the valves on their Insight. How hard is it and what did you use for technical guidance? Have fun, RIck

windmill · 05-04-2004, 07:53 PM

Hey Rick,

I have not done it (yet) on my Insight, but I did it on other Honda's.
The normal engines and vtec engines, it is pretty much the same.
Just do it when the engine is cold. The Insight's engine valves technique are not more differend than an engine of a Civic vtec-e.
The intake valves have a play off 0.007-0.009 inch. and the exhaust valves have a play off 0.008-0.010 inch., just use a feeler gage.
I wish I had a manual online for you, so you can see it.
There are TDC-marks on the camshaft-sprocket which have to allign with the cylinder head. Set the No: 1 piston first , rotate the camshaft sprocket 120 degrees and you get the second TDC-mark for the 3th piston, and after that rotate the camshaft-sprocket again for 120 degrees for the 2nd piston. Or...............just try to find somebody with a shopmanual.
Good luck

Rick Reece · 05-04-2004, 09:16 PM

Windmill,
Thanks for the vote of confidence. I think you are right in that I need to find some shop manuals so that I can learn how. I've done all my simple maintenance such as oil, filters, spark plugs, radiator etc. Now I would like to get smarter at the harder stuff such as brakes and valve adjustments. I'll have to practice on the Civic before working on the Insight. Have fun, RIck

Yves M. · 05-05-2004, 07:07 AM

Hy Rick,

You can email my if you want to have some pages scanned from the Service Manual. I'll send them to you.It will need an email account that takes large files (maybe 130kb per page to be easily readable)

Valve clearance adjustment is 2 pages.

Willie Williford · 05-05-2004, 06:43 PM

Rick:
Looks like I'll be in your area (NC) around the middle of June (Got Jury duty the first part). I'll bring along my shop manual and electrical manual for you to copy whatever information you want.

I will post the trip date, route, etc. information on the "turbocharged thread".

Rick Reece · 05-05-2004, 09:17 PM

Yves & Willie,

Thanks for the offers. Where did you get your shop manuals and do you think they explain things well enough for a novice? Perhaps I should just get one for my own use. I recently bought the Toyota Prius manuals off e-bay (2 volume set) and I got an Insight parts book off ebay but it just shows parts and their numbers without any maintenance info.

Willie I am in Greenville SC (at least on the Friday-Sunday portion of the week but I drive through NC every Thursday/Sunday) I'll keep an eye out for your trip itenery. Perhaps we could get an Insight gathering some time during your visit. I am sure many would like to see the little Red Rocket. Have fun, Rick

Willie Williford · 05-05-2004, 11:46 PM

Rick;
I got my manual from "Helms" right after I bought my INSIGHT in 01. IT IS WORTH THE MONEY. Very precise and exact with super pictures. Easy to read and understand. Also have the ELECTRICAL MANUAL from HELMS.

They are expensive, but worth it if you plan on being your own mechanic.

Greenville SC will be better as I have to make a stop in Tenn. then on to Augusta Ga.

bjordan · 05-05-2004, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Reece

Willie I am in Greenville SC (at least on the Friday-Sunday portion of the week but I drive through NC every Thursday/Sunday) I'll keep an eye out for your trip itenery. Perhaps we could get an Insight gathering some time during your visit. I am sure many would like to see the little Red Rocket. Have fun, Rick

I'm in NC. I just picked up a 2000 Silver Honda Insight last Friday. Still waiting to get tags for it... (long story). It's about to kill me to drive it more, you can only get so much out of driving it around your parking lot.
If I can work it out when you get a gathering, I'd love to meet some local Insight guys!! Rick I'd also be interested if you find a good place to get Insight work done around NC or SC.

bjordan

Rick Reece · 05-06-2004, 06:45 AM

Willie,
I will check out the Helms manuals. I like the idea of the pictures. The one you provided me 2 years ago for where to connect the vacuum guage helped a lot. I should be just over the 100K mark in June. If I can become competant at doing my own maintenance then I believe the manuals will pay for them self in service savings. Have fun, Rick

BJordan,
We had a small gathering in NC last year with 5 Insights in Greensboro. We had kicked around the idea of a gathering in Asheville with a little mountain driving along one of the senic routes. I believe one route had 200 and something waterfalls. Where in NC are you? Have fun, Rick

cakley · 05-06-2004, 09:56 AM

Rick, as soon as I sell my BMW I'll be driving up to greenville to buy a Buell. Hopefully soon. If it works out I can stop by with my manuals. I've got the Honda manuals.

Willie, will you be driving down I-75 from TN to Augusta? If so I live just 2 miles from I-75 Calhoun Ga it about 75 miles north of Atlanta. I'd love to get a look at your car and the Helms manuals.