Timing Belt Question

My friend and I replaced the timing belt, water pump and balancer belt
on my 98 Accord with a 4-cyl VTEC engine. Everything seemed fine and
I've put about 100 miles on it since then, but now it seems the belt
is making noise. It's kind of a whirring noise once the engine heats
up. The sound is more noticeable at idle.

I think we failed to adjust the belt tension properly, doe's this
sound like that's the case?

Also, I read it that you should not use an impact wrench to tighten
the crank pulley bolt, which we did. Now, I 'm concerned we did some
damage. What potential damage did we do?

Thanks in advance.

Chris

 

=========================

The belt will sing just like the reed in an accordion if it's too tight.
If you do it right, you can reduce the tension without removing the TB
covers, just the valve cover.(at least I _think_ you can on the non-Vtec)

'Curly

--

 

You probably wouldn't want to leave the key in the vehicle in the ACC
position. I know I don't, and my '94 Civic has the same issue. I'm
planning to rewire the cig. lighter so that it's always energized.

Has anyone figured out the best point at which to tap into an energized
positive line? I'm assuming that it's switched via the positive, and
that the ground is always connected.

Abe

 

The '94 Civic is easy. The under-dash fuse box has two connectors where
you can get battery voltage. See
http://www.honda.co.uk/owner/civicmanual/pdf/23-a36.pdf for a drawing of
the UK fuse box, it differs slightly from the US one, but it is close
enough for this discussion. Above the two rows of fuses you will see 5
options connectors, numbered from left to right, 1 through 5. On US
models, the connectors are in a straight line rather than a zig-zag
pattern. Number 1 (left-most) has constant battery voltage, fused only
by a 50 Amp fuse in the under-hood fuse box. Number 2 has constant
battery voltage fused by fuse #17. On Canadian models this fuse is a 10
Amp fuse used also for the DRL function. In the US the fuse is not
installed. So, stick a fuse in there, and options connector #2 is a
prime location for hooking up low-power accessories like a cell phone
charger.

In the interest of completeness, options connector #3 has battery
voltage only with the ignition on, but not during start. Fused with 7.5
Amp fuse, number 16. This fuse is installed on Canadian models, not on
US models.

Options connector #4 has battery voltage whenever your parking lights or
headlights are on, fused by fuse # 19, 10 Amp. Good location to hook up
the parking light flash wire from alarm systems.

Finally, options connector #5 has power with the ignition key in "ACC"
or "Run", but not during start. Fused with fuse #23, 15A.

Normal, 1/4" quick connects fit the options connectors. Post a valid
e-mail address if you want a photo of the US fuse box with options
connectors marked.

Several other Hondas ('96 Accord, Accura Integra) has similar options
connectors. I would be shocked and dismayed if the 2004 Civic didn't
have them as well.

 

Awesome, Randolph. Thanks for breaking down the schematics for those
option connectors. It's nice to know I've got an easily accessible
option that I can fuse appropriately. I just reviewed the electrical
schematics in my Helm manual and see exactly what you're referring to.

How accurate are those schematics, though? For example, my 94 manual on
p. 23-70 omits the under dash fuse #23 that is listed on p. 23-63 as
supplying the radio--just shows an unfused path from the under hood fuse
#32. Also, it doesn't make much sense that the under hood fuse #32 is
listed at 7.5A, yet the under dash fuse #23 that it supposedly supplies
is listed at 15A. Gives me some cause for concern.

 

The 12 V charger port is shut off when the car is parked. Is there a way
to allow my cellphone to charge when the car is sitting overnight?

Thanks

 

I also have the 94 Helms manual for my '94 Civic. I have added a fair
number of electrical accessories over the years, and have not found any
discrepancies in the wiring diagrams.

As to your specific concerns, page 23-70 shows the memory keep-alive
power supplied to the stereo. It is indeed fused by the 7.5 A fuse (#32)
in the under-hood fuse box (same fuse as for the clock and the ECU
memory backup, hot at all times). Fuse number 23, listed on page 23-63
supplies the operating voltage to the stereo (hot only with ignition
on), as shown at the top of page 23-69. Page 23-224 (or 23-225) brings
it all together and shows both supply paths.

The only frustration I have with the wiring diagrams is that, although
they are accurate, they omit wiring not relevant to the current section.
E.g. on page 23-69 the manual show power being supplied from fuse #23 to
the stereo, the lighter and the options connector, yet on page 23-224
there is no mention that both the WHT/BLU and the WHT/BLK wires go other
places in addition the the stereo. It would have been convenient if each
of the section would stick a label on the relevant wires, indicating
that "this wire goes to other stuff as well".

 

Aha, that makes lots of sense and didn't occur to me at 1 a.m. Something
obviously has to keep the presets alive and the anti-theft light flashing...

It may be that the separate Electrical Troubleshooting Manual has more
complete schematics--the blurb says it does:
Written by Honda, this book has the most in-depth wiring diagrams
available. Information on how to troubleshoot electrical problems, this
manual includes circuit schematics, power distribution schematics,
ground distribution schematics and component locations to accurately
repair electrical problems. ETMS are model and model year specific, and
their schematics are far more detailed than the wiring diagrams in the
Service Manual. For best repair results, use this manual in conjunction
with the Service Manual.
<<<

Only $39, printed to order. Just head over to Helm, it's listed along
with all the other manuals available for our model.

Abe