Honda Car Forum

This worked on my first 89 Civic Si. How many other Honda models use the
same parts?

When the plunger sticks, often because oil changes havenít been done
regularly, you can
remove the plunger without dismantling the front of the motor.

Simply remove the oil pan and undo the relief spring retainer and
spring.
Try the tool (below - or a chop stick) gently and if the plunger is
stuck, liberally squirt the
area with a solvent to disolve the gummy old oil and give it a chance to
work. Not WD40 - it's for water..

Later, try again and tap "the tool" upwards to seat it on the plunger
and spin it in place, working it so you
can soon slide it out. Please understand the grip is tenuous and will
not work with force. Gravity!

To make the tool, see if a quarter inch drive 11/32 socket, when
slightly hollowed out will fit over the nub on the retainer nut, which
matches the plunger end. Then, using a small, coarse stone in a hand
grinder, work toward producing a conical or tapered opening in the
socket with nice rough edges to the bowl youíve made. Try this on the
retaining nut and when you can get a nice wedge fit, you have the tool.
I welded the socket to an old extension, but you could try a jam fit
with some paper as shim, so the socket doesnít come adrift.

Good luck - once a tool man, alwaysÖ

David McCartney
Placerville CA
530-622-4466

69 Mini Cooper S
71 MG Midget
95 GSRrrrrr! (when the Si grew upÖ)