I have a 1988 Honda Accord LX with a leaking valve cover gasket. I have removed the three nuts on top and all the other connecting parts I can see. I can’t get the valve cover to come off. It is very firmly in place and I’m wondering if I have missed something or is there a trick to getting it to come up?
Thanks,
Al

 

If you're absolutely sure you got all of the bolts off, it might just be stuck on especially for a car of this vintage.

I've had to deal with it on my '95. You have several options here:
1. You can use a rubber mallet to lightly tap on sides or corners to loosen it up. Take care not to make a hole in the valve cover by going Hulk on it.
2. You can insert a putty knife or something between the head and the valve cover gasket that sits between the head and the valve cover and pry on it.

This may destroy the gasket and if it's hard and brittle it might even send pieces into the oil inside. You might not want to do this without making sure you can stick the putty knife in smoothly. Also if you damage the mating surface on the head when you put the putty knife in. If you score it you'll have an oil leak. Might also want buy a replacement valve cover gasket and do it now since it's cheap and you have the cover off anyway. Also if you don't have some Gasket Sealant you might want to buy it now to dab small dots on corners to hold the gasket in place when you put valve cover back on to save yourself the hour of frustration we had putting what seemed like a gasket that wouldn't fit back on.

 

... on stopping the leak problem.

Son has a 1986 Prelude that he replaced the VC Gasket on, was leaking too. Didn't stop the leaks, there were other sources.
Been on life support this car, check fluid - add, for about 5 yrs. Fixing it still this month.

Sometimes so many holes in the dike, you only have so many fingers to plug them with.

 

With a lot of leaks, you might want to check the PCV valve & breather tube; allowing excess pressure in the crankcase?

 

Got it done with some light tapping.

Thanks for the help.

Al

 

Wow, I missed the year....where was my head. I've had to grab the pcv hose outlet as another way of rocking the VC back and forth...but at the end of the day you got it and thank for the update.