Engine Trouble with the old pile...I mean car. Need some help.

Wayne Waldrep

Before I post a pic, do you have one of yours?
Dirt-Old 20+Year Member
Apr 14, 2003
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Cuba, AL
When I bought the Honda CRV a few months ago, I had been driving my mustang everyday as my only car. Naturally, I wanted a break. So I didn't drive the car for about three weeks. When I did get in it, it almost wouldn't start. I found that chipmunks had chewed some wiring. That wasn't the problem though. When I did get it started it was knocking so bad, I was sure a rod was about to fly out. So I let it sit for three more weeks and finally started doing some testing.
Oh, and the chipmunks got the other car that is much newer and driven by another family member. I fixed both cars wiring. I also got my 22 rifle out and so far have eliminated....ready for this....14 chipmunks and counting. That's in a quarter acre lot!
Anyway, this morning I finally got all my crude diagnostics done and good news is, it's not bottom end. I have at least one collapsed lifter.
So here's what I need. I need lifter knowledge and I'll welcome any kind or amount.
Such as:
-Can I test them and see which are bad? How? Be specific please.
-I have another complete set I got with an extra engine a bought a couple years ago. They are sitting in a plastic container in fresh oil in the same spot I put them. I know zero about them. Legitimate for use? Again...how to test them?
-Is there a sure fire way to check each lifter before removing the rocker arms?...or however? I'd like to know where the bad one(s) is.

If I have to buy new ones....
-which replacement lifters are your favorite and why?
-any that I need to steer clear of?

I already pulled the upper intake and valve covers and checked all rocker arm and head bolts just to make sure I didn't just have a lose rocker or something. Couldn't find a thing so I put it back together and ran it for testing. Even drove half a mile and back to see. After that is when my testing made me 99% sure it's a collapsed lifter.

Note:
I do not care about performance or high revving capable lifters....I rarely get over 3k rpms. It's an old engine and as most know...my money is always very tight. I just need it to be a back up car and keep in reasonable shape so maybe one day I can make it good again. (That sound you hear is me falling on the floor laughing at that last sentence!)

Thanks guys.
 
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I have a couple of cats that love chipmunks - they love to catch them and eat them. That may work for you too...

An automotive stethoscope is a handy tool to isolate noisy lifters and you can get one for less than $10. Poke around while the engine is running and you can find the bad lifter. If the valve cover can come off and still let you run the engine, just listen for each rocker as they move.
 
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I have a couple of cats that love chipmunks - they love to catch them and eat them. That may work for you too...

An automotive stethoscope is a handy tool to isolate noisy lifters and you can get one for less than $10. Poke around while the engine is running and you can find the bad lifter. If the valve cover can come off and still let you run the engine, just listen for each rocker as they move.
Apparently the cats around here are scared of them...lol.
Thanks for the reply! I'm gonna get gaskets on the way in a couple days and get started on the project. I'd really like to know if there's a testing procedure once I have them out and can inspect them. The car only ran for one mile while knocking so there probably won't be any wear marks.
 
Just purchase the FRPP replacement lifters. $110-120. When I built my engine, I was having trouble with some lifters (used). I ended up taking them apart and cleaning them,they had quite a bit of gunk in them. There was a huge difference in plunger action after that.
 
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I had this happen to me after this winter.. and a head gasket job. I took it down the road, gave it some rpm’s (Took a couple 5k pulls), and it eventually came out of it. They’re still a little louder than id like. Eventually I’ll replace them with the ford performance ones (M-6500-R302).. 120$.
 
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