"arock" <arockwel@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1151953432.147546.141250@b68g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...
>I have a 1994 Acura Integra LS automatic with 165k miles. I had a valve
> adjustment done on the car. Immediately after the work was done and
> since that time the car has had poor gas mileage, a very rough idle,
> and loss of power. I had abolutely none of those problems before the
> adjustment. Before I take it back into the shop I would like to know if
> a bad valve adjustment could be the source of these problems and how it
> should be remedied. Also, are there any long-term risks associated with
> a bad valve adjustment?
>
Normally a valve adjustment itself doesn't bring about those problems - it
sounds like the timing belt has slipped. First and most critical question -
is this the original timing belt? If the answer is "yes" you are driving on
borrowed time.

If the belt was changed a few years ago when it was due, the danger of a
flubbed valve adjustment is that the valves may have been set too "tight."
That often leads to burned valves. "Loose" valves make a lot of clatter but
are not a risk of damage.

If the timing belt jumped because the engine was turned backward (clockwise)
during the valve adjustment the shop owes it to you to make it right, even
if (*especially* if) valve damage has resulted. If the belt is overdue for
replacement - that is, if it is the original - you may have some bargaining
to do. They can't be wholly responsible for failure of a 12 year old belt.

Mike