[RIPAccordCoupe]

Okay. I'm a complete noob with working on cars, I know how to do an oil change, that's about it. However, I have been watching videos about replacing an alternator, and now replacing the solenoid. It doesn't seem to difficult, plus my family has thousands of dollars worth of tools, and they're experienced (rebuilt classic cars and take removed engines etc.). I hope I will be able to do it without issues.Thanks for your help.

Would you guys recommend replacing the entire solenoid or just the gasket?

 

[WiiMaster]

Would you guys recommend replacing the entire solenoid or just the gasket?

The issue is you cannot get the OE gasket without buying the whole solenoid. There are aftermarket and knockoff gaskets you can find and people have used them with mixed results. Really up to you. I'd say if you buy the solenoid just replace it, what are you going to do with it otherwise. Even then, you can only use the top half of the solenoid as the bottom half is further in the engine and is way more work to replace.

 

[tdi200]

Nope, I have the automatic, so I have the whole "eco" mode and the issues that come with it.

u better get the vcmtuner soon currently out of stock will be back on july 29 here is the link VCMTUNER II - Advanced - 2007+ for Honda Acura 3.5L I-VTEC Disable VCM / ECO mode

 

[tdi200]

Would you guys recommend replacing the entire solenoid or just the gasket?

if money is right get the new solenoid form napa from the link i had provided. also be careful if u decide to replace the gasket, those bolts are weird i snapped them and luckily i was able to get them out and found bolts from honda parts they gave me free said they found similar in there tool box this is the gasket i bought i enforced it with little bit of red rtv

Cylinder Head Solenoid Gasket VTEC For 2012-2015 Honda Odyssey 3.5L 15815R70A01 | eBay

 

[RIPAccordCoupe]

u better get the vcmtuner soon currently out of stock will be back on july 29 here is the link VCMTUNER II - Advanced - 2007+ for Honda Acura 3.5L I-VTEC Disable VCM / ECO mode

Apparently your gas mileage will tank after after using VCM.

 

[RIPAccordCoupe]

The issue is you cannot get the OE gasket without buying the whole solenoid. There are aftermarket and knockoff gaskets you can find and people have used them with mixed results. Really up to you. I'd say if you buy the solenoid just replace it, what are you going to do with it otherwise. Even then, you can only use the top half of the solenoid as the bottom half is further in the engine and is way more work to replace.

Oh, can I just buy the top part?

 

[WiiMaster]

Apparently your gas mileage will tank after after using VCM.

Not significantly at all. Not sure where you heard that. Real experiences show that gas mileage is hardly affected at all. In some cases it's even improved. Gas is a whole lot cheaper than an engine rebuild anyway.

Oh, can I just buy the top part?

No, Honda only sells the whole thing, top and bottom half.

 

[dgates01]

You're right - it was super easy to replace.

Indeed. The access was really good, and having a serpentine belt tool got things done that much quicker.

 

[A7334321]

not sure if @RIPAccordCoupe has gone through some threads on here when it comes to alternator failure? number 1 cause of failure is due to fact the front spool valve (VCM solenoid positioned right over the alternator, ) is leaking onto alternator if u dont fix that your new alternator will fail again. also i suggest u to get some low mile used alternator from lkq

video on how to change/replace gasket:

or you can get non oem solanoid from napa for around $162 direct link= https://www.napaonline.com/en/p/ECHVVS1838?ref=MA==

this alternator from 2012 accord is direct fit (i had bought one from lkq which was from 2012 manual car and it worked perfectly on my 2008 accord automatic) has like 49k miles on it for like $100 free shipping and no core fee (assuming you in the states) direct Link to the used alternator = LKQ Online

I'd also like to know why after 100s of thousands of miles on 3 j series cars, 9, 12, and 18 years old I've never had a valve cover or spool valve gasket leak. Nor any other of my 6 ir 7 Hondas since 1986 have ever had a leak.. I'm wondering if using the wrong viscosity and poor oil maintenance causes blow by from dirty PCV system and sticking rings causing the gaskets to fail. The spool valve screen to clogg cause the oil to leak under the additional pressure from blow by? That and 30 or 40 weight oil seems like a possible eventual oil leak,, alternator problem?

 

[tdi200]

I'd also like to know why after 100s of thousands of miles on 3 j series cars, 9, 12, and 18 years old I've never had a valve cover or spool valve gasket leak. Nor any other of my 6 ir 7 Hondas since 1986 have ever had a leak.. I'm wondering if using the wrong viscosity and poor oil maintenance causes blow by from dirty PCV system and sticking rings causing the gaskets to fail. The spool valve screen to clogg cause the oil to leak under the additional pressure from blow by? That and 30 or 40 weight oil seems like a possible eventual oil leak,, alternator problem?

spool valve gasket i believe its only for v6 and certain year cars were effected specially the 2008 ones, i am new to Hondas this is my first Accord and i had not read all the issues on the forum but whatever issues i got i found all the answers on here, may be you got lucky and the cars you owned were never effected and for oil i have always used 0-w20.
on the other hand my sister owns a 2009 Civic and trust me that car has zero issues just regular oil change and brake pads replacement besides that nothing wrong with it.

 

[DIY Fan]

Okay. I'm a complete noob with working on cars, I know how to do an oil change, that's about it. However, I have been watching videos about replacing an alternator, and now replacing the solenoid. It doesn't seem to difficult, plus my family has thousands of dollars worth of tools, and they're experienced (rebuilt classic cars and take removed engines etc.). I hope I will be able to do it without issues.Thanks for your help.

The important thing to remember is to torque the 3 bolts to 9 lb-ft. Many reviews on Amazon state that the person replaced the gaskets, cranked the bolts without a torque wrench and got a CEL. They went back, did more research and reinstalled the bolts with a torque wrench and the CEL went away. When I recently replaced the front spool valve gaskets on 2 of my J35 cars the old gaskets were hard and stiff as if made of wood.

 

[WiiMaster]

spool valve gasket i believe its only for v6 and certain year cars were effected specially the 2008 ones, i am new to Hondas this is my first Accord and i had not read all the issues on the forum but whatever issues i got i found all the answers on here, may be you got lucky and the cars you owned were never effected and for oil i have always used 0-w20.
on the other hand my sister owns a 2009 Civic and trust me that car has zero issues just regular oil change and brake pads replacement besides that nothing wrong with it.

Spool valve leaks can happen to any 08-12 V6 (with the exception of the 6-6). And it's not just an Accord thing. Pretty much every VCM-equipped Honda of the same vintage has that problem.

 

[RIPAccordCoupe]

The important thing to remember is to torque the 3 bolts to 9 lb-ft. Many reviews on Amazon state that the person replaced the gaskets, cranked the bolts without a torque wrench and got a CEL. They went back, did more research and reinstalled the bolts with a torque wrench and the CEL went away. When I recently replaced the front spool valve gaskets on 2 of my J35 cars the old gaskets were hard and stiff as if made of wood.

Thank you! I'm so inexperienced that if I try solenoid replacement from home I'll probably need to come back on here for help lol

 

[War Wagon]

I bought a Duralast alternator from AutoBonz. So far so good, it has about 25k on it now.

 

[RIPAccordCoupe]

FYI, the front spool valve gaskets are super easy to replace. Honda does not make OEM gaskets (anymore?) they just sell the entire valve. I chose some aftermarket (chinese) gaskets from Amazon based on the reviews and so far they are working fine. Installed on two different cars. Make sure to torque correctly to 9lb-ft or you might get a CEL.

So, I can't go to my local Honda dealer and get a gasket? Also, is their a pattern to follow when tightening the bolts? Where did you find the 9lb-ft torque? Thanks.

 

[WiiMaster]

So, I can't go to my local Honda dealer and get a gasket? Also, is their a pattern to follow when tightening the bolts? Where did you find the 9lb-ft torque? Thanks.

Not for the spool valve, no. The gaskets only come with the full spool valve assembly.

 

[tdi200]

So, I can't go to my local Honda dealer and get a gasket? Also, is their a pattern to follow when tightening the bolts? Where did you find the 9lb-ft torque? Thanks.

Tsb-20-023 6ft lbs.
You will have to buy gasket from ebay. I had provided link somewhere here

 

[qman]

I bought a Duralast alternator from AutoBonz. So far so good, it has about 25k on it now.

Did that once too. It lasted a year. The replacement lasted years. I guess it's hit and miss.