Oots,... I didn't realize the tensioners were stacked and thought I'd be ordering two of the same part. I neglected to order the crank seal too but got both of those at O'rielley's today. Along with the $125 dollar speed sensor [:@]!

I've been reading over your original post,(from the start this time) and that was an impressive engine cleaning, Tony. And I think that guy was talking about the "other" rear. You were talking about firewall rear and he was talking rt. front tire rear. A lot like the"other" inner pulley thing. Pictures are worth a thousand words, at least.

Couple of questions:

Does anyone know if the speed sensor factors into how the engine runs? ( I would think so, but...)
And, does anyone know, if this model had an anti-theft code for the stereo to work properly?

Answers to these aren't that urgent, I'm just curious. I can do some more searching for those later. Startin' to get a li'l anxious as parts could be in tomorrow. Looking forward to a smooth road trip myself.
Tom

 

While you're waiting for parts, you might find the following threads useful (there are some verydetailed illustrations, too):
https://www.hondaaccordforum.com/Ten...m_47917/tm.htm

https://www.hondaaccordforum.com/m_57579/tm.htm

Also, this recent one about tensioner springs and how the tensioners and belts do their job:
https://www.hondaaccordforum.com/%27...m_68428/tm.htm

Take note that on the tensioner closest to the engine (timing belttensioner), there is aprovision - a threaded hole in the block -toscrew ina temporary bolt to temporarilyhold the timing tensioner in place, if you please.(If I remembercorrectly, it is located where theaqua-colored arrow points onone of the illustrations in that first link above.) It is particularly useful to install that bolt when re-assembling the springs, tensioners and belts. Without using it, it's a bit of a balancing act to get them all back together easily and correctly. Completely remove it before putting the lower cover back on.

 

Thanks Tony,...good articles. I'm sure I would have thought something was wrong when the belts weren't "alternator tight". My Chilton's manual says to use one of the timing cover bolts temporarily to hold the timing belt tensioner in place. And I can see how easy it could have happened and how frustrating it must have been to look down and see that washer on the tensioner when you were almost done ,..... "Nooooo!"

All this information makes me realize this problems been around for some time and although I was quick to ask 'WTF!?" this is defenitely old news to you guys. You're an asset to the forum and glad you haven't gotten burnt out on the "same old new guy, different day" thing.

I actually missed FedEx this morning and they take hairdresser days off,(Sunday,Monday), so it'll be Tuesday before they re-deliver. I'm okay with that 'cuz it's gonna be hot all weekend. Actually just started raining so it'd be humid as well. I'm hopin'I don't run into the rear balancer/punch problem that other guy had. I won't be able to leave the carfor long,(chained up bicycles have been disappearing lately), so a few extra days to get everything together is a good thing.

I'm also thinkin' after you tighten the adjusting nut and turn the crankshaft three teeth counter-clockwise that that puts tension on the belts and when you loosen and retighten that nut it sets the proper tension."JimBlakes" nearly 90 degree twist in the center of the front of the timing beltis useful too. The valve cover gasket's new so I'm hopingI won't have to replace that. $250 the first go around, $230 in online parts, and with the O'Reilly's run yesterday, and the speed sensor, another $200,...wait,...how much is a new engine? Between my sister and I, we've dropped $1680 into it since March. I hope the [sm=hail.gif]car godsare appeassed after this, but 16 years is a long timeto beneglected. "She's" gonna want new"tennies" and struts after this, I just know it. Thanks again, every little bit helps, Tom

 

"I hope the [sm=hail.gif]car godsare appeassed "..."New tennies" That's some funny stuff right there!

I feel your pain man.

 

Thanks dcsmith,..."I'll be here all week,..!@#?!" I started last Wednesday,(8-14), by removing alternator,waterpump and engine skirt, but TS Erin was due Thursday so I knew it'd rain for a few days. Hurricane Dean's right around the corner so I started yesterday hopin' to get this done between hurricanes. Started at10am and quit at 8pm. Rained 5 times yesterday. Nothing visibly wrong that I could see. Stopped in here to doublecheck the tightening prodcedure for the belts.

I can't see out there in the shade very well and both flashlights I had went dead. On top of that where I need to look is right behind the wheelwell. The timing belt tensioner seems to get stuck in certain positions and getting the temp bolt in was a pain in the ,...uhm,..fingers. And, when you tighten the temporary bolt it tends tospin the arm into the full upright position.

Anyway, the covers back on, along with the alternator andPS pump. I passed on checking the valve clearance as well because of time running short. I'm about to go back out and have at it again. Fresh batteries in the flashlights and I'm packin' a lunch this time. I got a digital camera in the meantime and may include some pictures at some point,(crime scene photos, '91 Honda with chalk outline,..). And that's not bondo on the timing cover,...it's melted timing cover! The black plastic turns a whitish-gray color when melted. It broke off brittle like bondo, and my apologies to the mechanics out there. I'm relieved to find that they aren't that stupid and actually have a new appreciation for what they do. I'll keep ya'll posted, Tom

 

From noon to 7pm today with no rain. Got all but the skirt put back on and pulled it forward in the parking space. Tomorrow I'll finish the fine tuning and road test and get back to you guys. I did do things a little different so tomorrow I'll know whether or not everything panned out. Fingers crossed, Tom

 

I hope every thing pans out. I have found some pleasure reading your posts. You might consider writing short stories. You are pretty good at it.

I find it interesting, in a way, you talking of working between rain events. We have rarely had rain since before spring here in Georgia.

 

Aint that the way it is,...feast or famine. PersonallyI prefer the middle of the road,(but then I'm not driving,..uhm,...figuratively or literally). I have a cousin in Georgia who says the same. We're flooding here in Texas and you guys are prayin' for rain.

And thanks for the compliment. Never really considered writing for a living before. And I can't help but imagine someone's goin' "Oh noooo,...don't encourage him!?" I always drew a blank when it came to writing class. I won't be givin' up my day job though. Uh, if I had one I wouldn't give it up [8D].

The car was screechin' a bit when I started it up, butI haven't tightened the pulley to torque yet or the other belts. The "special" tool barely seated in the pulley and I didn't want to throw the timing off by accidentally rotating it clockwise. In the morning I'll pull it closer tothe laundry room, (it's close enough, I may just push it),and use the electric impact on it and then adjust the belts. Hoping that'll stop the noise.

I can't thank you guys enough. You're doing a real service here at the forum. I haven't even had the time to play with the camera yet but when I'm done I'll include some photos along with the "story". It's about a "comedy of errors". Talk2yalater, Tom

 

Heh heh heh,..if somebody was tellin' me this story I'd be sayin' "Wahhh,..wahhh" Chilton's has all there AC info on one page. Section 1, page 20. It doesn't say "Wahhh" but it might as well, "...should not be serviced by the do-it-yourselfer..."

I used two extension cords to plug in an air compressor and air up the right front tire. Then used the electric impact to tighten the crankshaft bolt. Adjusted the alternator belt and power steering belt and fired it up. "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeEEEEeeeeEeeeeee! Ear piercing. Sprayed a little Liquid Wrench on the pulley axles while running to see if it'd shutup. Nope. Turnd the steering wheel a little and it got quiet. Not sure why though.

I pulled around to visitor's parking and it really does run a lot smoother. I did the oil change and used the duralube and added seafoam to the tank and I'm sure that helped. The steering wheel doesn't shake when idling now. Part of my brain is saying "Uh-oh,... something's not right". I'm out of the shade and puttin' the skirt back on and, wouldn't you know, it starts to rain. 90-something degrees and the concrete's sizzling hot and I'm being blinded by the sun and it starts raining. Didn't rain much, just enough to get everything nice and steamy.

I guess the biggest difference in the way I did this job was that I only raised the driver's side of the car. So I actually got away with using just one jack stand. I may not have gotten the clearance that two would have given me, but right where the jack and the stand go on the passenger's side is a 5 inch square beam that supports the catwalk I'm parked under.

I had to stop at one point and go get a 17mm deep socket for the motor mount. The timing cover was a pain to get off even with the clearance. The auxillary shafts seal retainer is held in place by a screw outside of the cover and my 3/8" drive10mm socket wouldn't go on it because of the wall it's next to. My wrench would only go on at one angle and it rounded the head on the first turn. Finally I tried a 1/4" drive 10mm socket and that did the trick.

The lower radiator hose was my other option for draining the block,(read that somewhere), but that looked like a pain to remove because there's so little clearance. I could see fightin' to get that hose back on for way too long. You can't get your hands on it. It's like some bitter ex-wife got to help design this car knowing her ex-husband, the mechanic, would have to work on it. After the water pump came off I got to lay in anti-freeze to finish the job.

I drove to Blockbuster to return some videos and it runs great,...except when I turn on the AC. That's when the screeching starts. Someone had an accident at the corner recently and the remains are piled in the median. I was soo tempted to take pictures and post them here with,.."these fell off, but it runs great!" I'm just exhausted though. I came home, layed down and passed right out.

I tried to post a "funny accident" a while back and lost it to a bad internet connection. The "story" about this crankshaft pulley is probably better told under a different section,(leisure reading). I'll visit the mechanic here soon and see what he thinks, but I suspect the AC bearings may be the culprit. I could get a shorter belt to save the balancer,(thinkin' outloud), rather than replace another balancer. If I end up replacing the compressor or clutch or whatever else I'll start a new thread as this ones well done. Wasn't expecting a sequel though,...!@#!?! The car's running great, wouldn't of tried it without ya'll, you're priceless, Tom

 

Congratulations, Tom.