3rd Cylinder misfire - expensive repair advice

[Commander2874]

Hi PH

I own a civic type r (Fn2 2007) and noticed the eml flashing which also triggered the VSA light.

The eml went off after 3 days and has stayed off but i got it checked out when i had the car serviced and been told (not doubting the garage tgm sport) that it's not the sparks, coilpack or valve clearances and that the valve is damaged and pressure shows 78 when it should read 180.
Basically it's an engine out job and I'm looking at roughly £1200.

Was told i can't cause anymore damage so don't need it repaired asap. Woukd like some advice if driving the car with 3 cylinders could damage the other 3? I don't drive it hard and only do 500 miles a month.
Has anyone else had a similar problem?

Thanks in advance.

[TooMany2cvs]

Surely it's just taking the head off, leaving the block in situ? But it's definitely a non-trivial job.

Continuing to drive it might not actually damage anything, but it certainly won't do anything any favours. Apart from anything else, it'll be on about 3/4 power, and if that cylinder's not firing properly, you may have problems with petrol washing the oil from the bore and diluting the fuel in the sump. And that's assuming it's just a nick in the valve, and the head doesn't fall off into the cylinder. The cat and lambda are also quite likely to be killed by the unburnt fuel, and it probably won't pass the emissions in the MOT. If the engine management light is on when it's tested, that's also a fail.

Either flog it with the fault declared, or get it fixed.

[Commander2874]

Thank you. Surprisingly enough i had the mot done same time and it passed the emissions test. Reason for engine out job is due to the location and how close fitted it is making a job in situ extremely difficult and more time consuming.
I'm planning to get it fixed early next year so woukd you advise sooner?

[WaferThinHam]

I just don't see how you need to take the engine out to remove the head? Are they sure it's the valve? (I know you said no doubting the garage, but you've not told us how they know it's not rings?)

[gamefreaks]

Ok. So the EML came on and went off again.

Do you have any other symptoms? If it was only running on 3 cylinders, the EML would stay on and I doubt it would pass an MOT.

If the car drives fine and the light has gone off, don’t worry about it unless it comes back.

[jeremyh1]

Its a common engine and as others have said it is not an engine out job unless your mechanic likes to do the work in his living room while watching Hollyoaks

If your keeping the car long term I would be concerned about the uneven cylinder pressures as this will cause long term wear

[Commander2874]

Thanks everyone. I thought he said the valve but will call him again and write it down, needless to say i was in shock so didn't make a note of what was said. I'll call the garage tomorrow and update

Yes the light has not come back on and emmisions was a pass. I plan to keep this car for many years so will be getting the problem fixed but haven't got the funds to do it right away and concerned about further damage if i carry on driving

[Commander2874]

In regards to other symptoms, i have noticed the occasional vibrations within the cabin and slight loss of power in the lower gear range.

[bearman68]

There is a possibliity that a plug / coil combination is at fault. Excess fueling can cause low compression, as it washes the oil off the bores and causes the rings not to seal. I know, it doesn't sound creditable but I've seen it with a Toyota. (And that just flooded when it didn't start - I thought for all the world the cam belt had gone)

[Superhoop]

When you say you’ve been told it won’t cause any further damage by the garage, I assume your car still has the catalytic converter fitted... if it does and they’re correct that you have valve damage, hence low compression, I’d be looking for either another garage, or a new cat..

[IntriguedUser]

Can't help diagnose the misfire but driving with a slight misfire will over time cause misfueling possibly. Running rich or lean not sure which, could kill a o2 sensor, mess with the cat ect, foul the spark.plugs

[Commander2874]

Thanks guys

Def don't doubt tgm as used them for 2 years now and been good as. I'll get more info and update. Will also get quotes from other garages but doubt it will be much cheaper!

[WaferThinHam]

Commander2874 said:

Thanks guys

Def don't doubt tgm as used them for 2 years now and been good as. I'll get more info and update. Will also get quotes from other garages but doubt it will be much cheaper!

Does it sound or feel like it's misfiring? If you have low compression on cylinder 3 I'd expect you to feel something (and it to be down on power).

[bearman68]

Commander2874 said:

Thanks guys

Def don't doubt tgm as used them for 2 years now and been good as. I'll get more info and update. Will also get quotes from other garages but doubt it will be much cheaper!

As them to put a new coil and plug in first - it's 40 quid, and well worth a try. Even I have been known to make a mistake, and I have a brain the size of a planet, and know nearly everything. ()

[Commander2874]

WaferThinHam said:

Does it sound or feel like it's misfiring? If you have low compression on cylinder 3 I'd expect you to feel something (and it to be down on power).

Sorry but what would i be hearing for a misfire? In terms of sound car starts fine and not noticed any difference in noise but noticed a slight loss in power but then again that could be me looking into it now that it's been mentioned.

[Commander2874]

bearman68 said:

As them to put a new coil and plug in first - it's 40 quid, and well worth a try. Even I have been known to make a mistake, and I have a brain the size of a planet, and know nearly everything. ()

They def tested the sparks and was misfiring

[M_A_S]

If you've got a compression of 78 on one cylinder I very much doubt it would pass an MOT, the HC will be way too high.

[Commander2874]

M_A_S said:

If you've got a compression of 78 on one cylinder I very much doubt it would pass an MOT, the HC will be way too high.

A very lenient mot tester no doubt! Will be sorted by the time it comes for it's next one.

[scarble]

Commander2874 said:

They def tested the sparks and was misfiring

The spark was misfiring?
This is making less and less sense.

[bearman68]

OP is casrefully ignoring everything said to him.


1) Garage says you can't damage it by driving it - internet says you can.
2) Garage says head can't be removed without taking the engine out - Internet says you can.
3) Garage says they've tested sparks - internet says worth changing anyway.

<shrug> Not my car, so why should I care?, but if you're asking for advice seems sensible to at least consider it.