Bad Timing Belt?

dude, that's in seriously bad condition. you were lucky to catch it
before it broke. it's guess the belt was /way/ over-tight.

 

DO NOT pass Go. DO NOT collect $200. DO NOT drive your car or go directly
to jail. That is the worst belt I have seen on a car that is still
running! Replace it now or risk it breaking and bending valves, then you'll
have to pull the head.

See some of my prior messages about timing belts...

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.honda/msg/7e2a5e7fb18a4a0
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.honda/msg/800ecbf770a26237
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.honda/msg/8ca278c5ecaf39bc

This is the tool you'll want to use to hold the pulley so you can break the
pulley bolt loose...

http://www.etoolcart.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=7869

From your photo, it looks like you'll also want to replace the upper and
lower covers and gaskets especially if they are warped due to oil exposure.
As my other posts have stated, replace the water pump, cam and front crank
seals, and timing belt tensioner. If this project seems overwhelming, then
find a good independent shop that specializes in Hondas to do it for you.
An incorrectly installed timing belt can cost you your engine.

Eric

 

I was remiss before: Any liquid falling on the timing belt
can reduce its life significantly. So shucks yes, a missing
lower cover sure could do this, from my reading, especially
if you've been driving through some flooded roads.

Confirm that timing belt cover really is missing via the
exploded parts drawings at www.slhondaparts.com . Order a
new belt and new cover. Replace. Hopefully you'll be good to
go. Also, Eric is one of the Kings here; incredibly
experienced. Believe whatever he tells you.

Yes, but yours takes a different version. Both are shown at
my amateur web site, previously linked in this thread, and
there is a link to a description of a home-made one. Or, as
Eric said, you can buy the tool. I think if you shop around
a bit on the net, you can find a somewhat cheaper one, like
for around $25 before shipping/handling. Ebay is definitely
worth checking, too.

 

Gee, thanks. Now I have the willies! The timing belt on our old
(non-interference) Volvo developed some crazing on the back of the belt
before I changed it, but I never thought I'd see anything like that and the
engine still running.

Mike

Mike

 

I was curious about what Ebay currently has to offer. A few
like the one pictured at the link above are available, but
there is also this, for the price of $19 before shipping and
handling:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/PERFORMANCE-TOOL-HONDA-45MM-CRANK-PULLEY-HOLDING-TOOL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35625QQihZ007QQitemZ170023050838QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

Anyone tried this version?

 

Only to triple-check everything after you get the new belt on and before you
put the cover on. Familiarize yourself with the adjustment (timing and
tensioning) procedures. I think one of the links posted here talks about
making marks on the edge of the old belt, transfering them to the new belt
and using that to verify timing on the new belt. If not, ask for more
details.

Except for that forsaken crank bolt the job is really not that much worse
than a brake job, and an impact wrench is the easiest way to loosen the
crank bolt... especially if somebody else is using the impact wrench ;-)
Retightening is not nearly so bad, especially if you have a holding tool.
Even with just a strap wrench to hold the pulley you can get enough torque
on the bolt.

Mike

 

No, but it looks like it should do the job. The weld between the fitting and
the stamped handle might not hold up to repeated use.

Mike

 

It occured to me - I was talking with our fiber optic cable guru just this
week about some damage we had up here from a falling tree, and he was
concerned whether the Aramid/Kevlar strands were exposed. He said water
severely reduces the strength of Kevlar. I bet the same threads are used for
strength in the timing belts, in which case water exposure could cause the
sort of "chapping" action the picture shows.

I don't see much on the net about it, though.

Mike

 

Good anecdote.

I agree that tool I linked earlier looks flimsier. I would
hope it would last at least two TB changes, which is pretty
good for $25 total or so. Since "Performance Tool" makes it,
then IIRC Pep Boys might carry it, and one could ask what
the return policy was. It's specifically supposed to work on
certain Hondas, per the description, so I would think PB
would refund money readily if it broke the first time
around.

Note to some others: If you cannot see the detail in the
photo the OP linked, do not feel bad. Neither can I.

 

It's a good idea to change the water pump while your in there. The first
time I replaced the timing belt on my wife's Civic I never thought to do the
water pump, 7000 miles later I was in there again replacing the water pump.
The pump cost me $17, I really hated myself for not thinking to replace the
WP while I was doing the belt.