I had a cold stalling problem on my 07 fit (67k miles) and after reading on this board about others with the similar problem, I had the valves adjusted at my local Honda dealer. They said the exhaust valves were off and adjusted those but said my intake valve clearances were fine so they didn't touch those.

The stalling problem is gone and the car runs much smoother when cold but I now hear what I assume are the valves (clicking or fluttering noise when accelerating) for the first few minutes of driving with the car cold. Is this normal as I didn't really hear it before the adjustment.

I asked my local mechanic (not the dealer who did the job) and he said intake valves will typically make this noise when cold and that it's nothing to worry about. Is this right or should I go back to Honda and ask them to check the valves again? Thanks.

 

This is normal.

 

Thanks. Much appreciated!

 

This could be very normal. (I say "could be" because, well, I'm on the internet, not in your garage listening to the car.) Properly adjusted valves or valves that are adjusted a little on the loose side (a good thing) will make an audible noise and may seem "noisy" to some. If your noise is there upon cold start up, then goes away when the engine is fully warm, it means that the oil, once it has warmed and thinned to its functioning parameters, is reaching the valves and making them quieter. All good.

 

Also, as the valves reach operating temp there clearances decrease and as a result they quiet down. I think.