Timing belt - how difficult?

I need to change the timing belt on my 99 Accord EX 4 cyl (80,000 miles).

I am pretty decent at working on cars, I can do brake work (disks and
drums) I always change my own oil, I have attempted a timing belt
replacement on an 84 Toyota pickup before with little success (I did not
keep adequate track of bolt locations.) I have replaced the clutch on a
95 Tacoma 4x4.

Is this engine difficult to service? I mean I can save 200 or more
dollars if I can do it myself.

I assume I will need to extract the engine, or can it be done with the
engine in place. What about water pumps, etc? I mean, should I just
cough up the extra cash and hire a shop to do it (part of the problem is
I dont trust shops).

TIA all!

 

The problem you will have on an Accord 4 will the the amount of force needed
to break loose the crank bolt (think several hundreds of foot-pounds).
Ideally find somebody with a serious air wrench to break it loose for you.

Your belt is not due for at least another 10,000 miles if not more (check
your owner's manual service schedule - they switched from 90,000 to 105,000
mile change interval around '99 or 2000). Plenty of time to research
whether you want to attempt it yourself or just pay somebody.

 

Two suggestions:
1) Wedging a screw driver in the teeth of the flywheel does work, but
requires patience.
2) Do NOT use something to grab the pully belts to hold the crank pully
still that way.

Instead of an air wrench I used a 2 foot long breaker bar, situated it so
that I could push against it with my foot while sitting on the ground and
grabbing the car frame, and thankfully the bolt came loose.

You will feel better about this project if you have an alternate form of
Xportation as a backup so that you don't HAVE to get it all done in one
weekend. If you need to replace an extra seal or you mess up a little part,
it is nice to wait and be able to order the new part.

I saved a bundle using www.cheapesthondaparts.com!

 

I'm surprised you could get it loose with only a 2 foot bar. I used a 4
foot piece of gas pipe on a hardened breaker bar with an impact socket. The
bar twisted a full 90 degrees before the bolt broke loose.

If you aren't going the impact wrench route, the tool to immobilize the
crank is about $50. You can get it at
http://www.drivewerks.com/catalog/ShopCart/TOOL/POR_TOOL_CAT406_pg4.htm

 

Thanks for the help guys! For some reason I was under the impression I
should have changed it at 60k miles and I was way over due! Anyhow, by
doing the job myself, I could save enough money to BUY a compressor and
impact wrench... I just dont want to screw the car up hehe. If the
Crank bolt is the most difficult part, then I am not too worried about it.

But seeing as I plan on selling it soon anyhow, maybe I should just
deduct 300-400 from the asking price and let the buyer deal with it as
they wish.

 

||I'm surprised you could get it loose with only a 2 foot bar. I used a 4
||foot piece of gas pipe on a hardened breaker bar with an impact socket. The
||bar twisted a full 90 degrees before the bolt broke loose.

Me too. Pretty scary!
I put the car in gear and chocked the wheels. Does not work on auto trans
vehciles.


Texas Parts Guy

 

||Thanks for the help guys! For some reason I was under the impression I
||should have changed it at 60k miles and I was way over due! Anyhow, by
||doing the job myself, I could save enough money to BUY a compressor and
||impact wrench...

This is the primary reason to take on an job yourself: Acquire more tools at
essentially no cost, and no guilt. Your wife will sign off on major tool
purchases under these conditions.
Texas Parts Guy

 

DARN!!!! I missed out! I could have had some REAL tools out of that
repair!?! @#%$&*@!

 

Anyone have first hand experience on how big an impact wrench is needed?
Would a 250ft/lbs model work?

 

250 ft/lbs - probably not enough. The nut is torqued to 180 ft/lbs when
installed. It takes somewhere around twice that or more to break it loose.

 

||In article <BD5903CD.9826E%>,
||says...
||
||>The problem you will have on an Accord 4 will the the amount of force needed
||>to break loose the crank bolt (think several hundreds of foot-pounds).
||>Ideally find somebody with a serious air wrench to break it loose for you.
||
||Anyone have first hand experience on how big an impact wrench is needed?
||Would a 250ft/lbs model work?

If it will generate an honest 250 ft/lbs, yes.
I have 3 1/2" impacts, all rated at 250 ft/lbs

Rodac - nearly new
Generic - as new
Chicago Pneumatic - Old and obviously led a hard life.

The CP will out-toque them all. But it wouldn't break that crank bolt loose.
I had to use a 18" breaker bar and a 4 foot cheater bar. Even then that handle
bent like a piece of rubber before it broke loose. When it came loose, it felt
like it had broken off, but it was fine.
One of the newere super-torque wrenches that advertise 600 ft/lbs should do it
fine. Next time I'll invest.

Texas Parts Guy

 

450ft/lbs wasnt enough in my case, that was with a 15ft airhose and 150 psi
at the gun.

some have luck with much less, most do not

 

No. The really light duty stuff will struggle.

An IR-231 or similar will work fine though.

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