Changing timing belt

Any advice on chaginging timing belt on 1990 accord.

 

I'll just sit back and watch this one. One question: What's the most
mechanically involved thing you have done to this car so far? bob

 

Thats what I was thinking. Or my advice would be "take it in".

 

Unless you have some experience working on cars--don't try it.

If you do have experience, I suggest that you buy a service manual
such as one produced by Hayes. Their phone number is
1-805-498-6703

Your manual would probably have this number: 42012

 

I found that the bottom line is to go and have the crank pulley bolt
loosened before you start your project....sigh....I wish I had known how
tight they can be. I am still working on my project because of it.

Jay C.

 

You CAN do it yourself, but your biggest problem -- and one that may
make you quit right away -- is getting your crankshaft pulley bolt
loose...they usually are on so TIGHT it takes a serious effort to get
them off. They must be the TIGHTEST bolts on any given car. Sometimes,
you just can't get them loose on your own.

But after you DO get it off, it's not too hard for the rest of the
work, just time-consuming...except you need to PAY ATTENTION and note
the reference marks on the gears so you don't put the belt on wrong
(consequently, do not turn either the crankshaft or camshaft after you
take the old belt off so the gears do not get out of synch)...but
there ARE reference marks on everything that you can line up again if
that happens...that's also in the book (and the article/webpage I cite
below).

Here is an overview of the process...it probably doesn't all apply but
your Honda should be similar...you'll get an idea what's involved:

http://autorepair.about.com/library/weekly/aa051102a.htm

You also can get a Haynes Repair Manual (or Chilton) for your Honda
that will show you how to do it, step-by-step.

But as I said, if you can't get the crankshaft bolt loose, you can't
do anything...take it in to a shop. Labor will be expensive, however,
the part itself isn't.

Maybe a shop will at least LOOSEN it for you (using a serious
air-impact socket). Or get a knowledgable friend to help. There are
several techniques for getting the bolt loose but you can research
those yourself, or ask people for tips.

Good luck,

John D.

 

I had a 1988 Accord LXI 4 dr and put 388,000 miles. My carpooler but over
500k miles on his 1988 2 dr. I have a wealth of useful life information on
system parts. I still have the same mechanic. The belts are good for 90k
miles and the replacements are rated for 105k miles. Depending on the
mileage of the car either 180 or 270 you might as well have the water pump
replaced also. They don't last much past 200k. Doing the timing belt is
one reason why I still use my mechanic even though they sold the Honda
dealership.

If you do it separate the labor is twice as much.