I just want to know if I can get these things replaced at Midas or something. My car puff smoke only on startup for like 2 seconds and it all clears away.

I have been told the valve seals are a common problem with these and that my engine is in no danger.

I just want to know around how much would I spend to get that fixed?

EDIT: By the way I do hope I heard it right when the smoke doesnt affect the engine in anyway. Have other 3rd gen owners witnessed the same problem? Because I plan on doing a full service tune up on the car fairly soon.

 

Do it yerself

buy a spring compression tool

rent an air compressor

if you are going to do the seals then replace the valve springs while you are at it

Leak down from valve seals is as old as the hills never hurt anything but the occasional O2 sensor.

 

Changing the seals is not hard in itself. What is hard is getting at them. It is almost impossible to use compressed air with the motor in the car and the exahsut manifolds bolted up. I was never able to do it this way. The nylon string method is better and faster in the end.

 

if you do it yourself, you'll find its not hard.. but a little time consuming and tedious.

if you give it to a shop to do, prepare to pay $$$$ for shop time.

 

Nah... 3 inch plug tool, flex hose to the plug tool. If you have A/C have to do number 6 & 8 from underneath.

Did the nylon rope thing before. Silly rope tied itself in a knot in the combustion chamber for #2.

Reefed on it for hours before it finally came out. otherwise it worked great.

 

I'm with him. Never done the string method b/c the air methid isn't that hard. Be careful when putting the new seals on that you don't damage them sliding them over the valve stem. Also if it's a higher mileage car, consider replacing the springs while they're off. Especially if the car's been over-revved or overheated.

 

me and a friend did mine not long ago and trust me the hardest part is getting the passengers side valve cover off, its time consuming, definately plan a day, but get a friend who knows what he is doing like I do, so he can help you and you can learn at the same time. Trust me its worth it when you are done and the car doesnt smoke anymore, its a great feeling, and you dont have to worry about being embaressed anymore.

 

heres a rundown of the job:


remove valve cover:
hold up the valve somehow... either compressed air in the cyl, or feeding a rope in the spark plug holes.

smack the top of the valve with a hammer

put your spring compressor on the head

compress the spring and remove the locks.

remove the compressor, remove the spring

pull the old valve seal (or pieces of whats left)


slip a "protector sleave" over the valve (it comes with the valveseals)

press on the valve. if you have the tool, its a less then one second thing.. if you dont have the tool, it takes 30seconds once you have something to press it with.


do the reverse... spring back on, compress. put the locks on.

move on to the next valve.








its not a hard job... but time consuming. like someone said, if your car is 100% stock, the hardest part is getting the passenger side valve cover off...