Help please - OBD II codes P1399 & P0301

[corrado007]

My wife has a 2000 EX automatic with about 70k miles on it. The check engine light came on so I checked the codes and 2 were generated. They were as follows:

P0301- Cylinder 1 misfiring
P1399- Manufactures control Ignition system OR Misfire

I reseated the plug wires and erased the codes and the same two came back the next day.

I put in a new cap, rotor, wires, and plugs and put in some new gas (always Chevron 92 octane) and erased the codes again. The light came back on the next day again.

Now I've searched and found people suggesting that the valves may have receded into the head and that valve/head work may be needed. Some mention was made about Honda covering some or all of the parts and/or labor in some cases.

Does anyone have any input on this matter that may shed some light on what is wrong with the car? I'll go to Honda and ask them but I figured there's no replacement for the experiences of other CR-V owners. I'll post any info I find out from Honda. Thanks for any help/ideas you may have.

[corrado007]

I just went to Honda and spoke with the assistant service manager who checked their database and told me there were no recalls/TSBs for the 2000 CR-V that had to do with my problem. He did say that it is a fairly common problem on the 1st gen that the valves receed into the head and need to be adjusted frequently to avoid doing damage to the engine. I mentioned that the service manual says to adjust at 105k miles unless the valves are noisy and he said that the 105k adjustment had been revised and is supposed to be done every 15k. His hope is that since the car only has 70k miles on it I will hopefully be able to simply adjust the valves and reset the check engine light again and be done. However, if damage was done to the head/valves and the light comes back on he said that "even though I'm not the origonal owner if I brought it in they'd see what they could do to help me out and gain me as a customer". Hopefully it won't come to that. I'll be adjusting the CR-V valves tonight or tomorrow.

If anyone has any other ideas or experiences with this issue I'd appreciate any ideas you might have.
Thanks,
Justin

[2RedV's]

I just went to Honda and spoke with the assistant service manager who checked their database and told me there were no recalls/TSBs for the 2000 CR-V that had to do with my problem. He did say that it is a fairly common problem on the 1st gen that the valves receed into the head and need to be adjusted frequently to avoid doing damage to the engine. I mentioned that the service manual says to adjust at 105k miles unless the valves are noisy and he said that the 105k adjustment had been revised and is supposed to be done every 15k. His hope is that since the car only has 70k miles on it I will hopefully be able to simply adjust the valves and reset the check engine light again and be done. However, if damage was done to the head/valves and the light comes back on he said that "even though I'm not the origonal owner if I brought it in they'd see what they could do to help me out and gain me as a customer". Hopefully it won't come to that. I'll be adjusting the CR-V valves tonight or tomorrow.

If anyone has any other ideas or experiences with this issue I'd appreciate any ideas you might have.
Thanks,
JustinDO NOT ADJUST THE VALVES YOURSELF at this point.

Step 1. Ask the dealer for PROOF that Honda has revised the valve adjustment interval and how you, as a customer, have been notified of it. (They won't be able to provide it)
Step 2. Call Honda Corporate and open a case. Mention your loyalty to Honda (don't lie, they know how many Hondas you have owned) and how the owner's manual states NO adjustment is needed until 105,000 miles.
Step 3. Let the dealer do the valve adjustment, even if they charge you.
This will keep you in the loop for a free cylinder head.

[corrado007]

I like the way you think 2RedV's. Your plan of action makes a lot of sense. Do you happen to know if Honda is known to take care of issues like the one in my case free of charge or is this just your hypothesis? The reason I ask is because being on a budget I typically prefer to do my own work. I would be hate to pay for a costly valve adjustment if it didn't pay off in the end. Is it in your opinion or from your knowledge likely that this course of action will pay off?
Thank you,
Justin

[2RedV's]

I like the way you think 2RedV's. Your plan of action makes a lot of sense. Do you happen to know if Honda is known to take care of issues like the one in my case free of charge or is this just your hypothesis? The reason I ask is because being on a budget I typically prefer to do my own work. I would be hate to pay for a costly valve adjustment if it didn't pay off in the end. Is it in your opinion or from your knowledge likely that this course of action will pay off?
Thank you,
JustinIt is from reading many,many replies from people on this forum and others. Honda will not consider any goodwill adjustment unless the dealer does the diagnosis and work. My local dealer charges about $100 for a valve adjustment which includes a new valve cover gasket. (I do my own adjustment though. Takes about an hour)