I'm looking at buying a 96 Honda Civic from an owner who tells me they are having a "floating valve" issue. From what I've seen while the engine is running, it seems very weak and there is a smell of gas coming from the exhaust. The way it was explained to me was that it would take a couple hours to correct this issue.

Does anyone have any thoughts as to correcting this issue?

Ideally what I'm hoping to do is find a manual or a step-by-step breakdown of what I need to do to fix this. I'm no mechanic by any means, so please bare with me for any stupid questions.

replacing valves might be easier for you to just take the head off and take it to a machine shop and let them do it. "floating" valves is when the engine has reved higher than factory redline and the valve spring cant keep the valve closed fast enought and then your valve makes slight contact with your pistons bending/breaking them hince lost of compression

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non-vtec ALL THE WAY

cylinder head guru!

Any good place that I could find a manual to get that off then? I'm stranded in Germany with no hope of finding an english version...

ou order like a chilton or haynes? they will tell you how to replace a bent valve

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non-vtec ALL THE WAY

cylinder head guru!

http://hondatech.info/downloads/Auto/Manuals/Civic/

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DIY 92-00 Civic Check Engine Light (CEL) http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread/1901557
Manuals http://hondatech.info/downloads/Auto/Manuals/Civic/
97 Civic DX sedan, D16Y7 MT --- 00 Civic EX coupe, D16Y8 AT