Timing Belt http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt.html As you are about to see this project was a disaster! I read on various web sites all the reasons why you should just pay to have your timing belt replaced and why it is a bad idea to do this on your own. I then decided that I would show the world how easily this can be done and how much money can be saved by doing it yourself. I first gathered the necessary parts together, the water pump, engine belts, and engine main seal don't necessarily need to be replaced along with the timing belt but it is really easy to replace them all while the car is torn down. I bought the parts needed including a water pump, timing belt, main engine oil seal, and both the alternator and the A/C belts. You really only have to replace the timing belt but as long as you have it torn down it makes sense to replace the other items as well. http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt.html#0 b347bafc-e30e-4762-9475-a88c77bc48d3 http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt_files/Media/DSCN1385.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt_files/Media/DSCN1385.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">I bought the parts needed including a water pump, timing belt, main engine oil seal, and both the alternator and the A/C belts. You really only have to replace the timing belt but as long as you have it torn down it makes sense to replace the other items as well. </p></div></div> I read on this website about the horror of getting the engine pulley bolt off and I prepared by getting a 4 foot cheater bar and a 24" Craftsman 1/2" extension. The hardest part of getting the pulley bolt out is keeping the engine from turning over while you attempt to loosen the bolt. So I inserted a 3/8" drive extension into one of the holes in the pulley and I then turned the pulley until the extension was wedged between in the frame and the pulley (I'm sorry I don't have a picture showing this, but just imaging a 4" rod sticking out of one of the pulley holes). http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt.html#1 3d8101de-7ed7-49c5-9db3-ca95ed2fc15a http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt_files/Media/DSCN1374.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt_files/Media/DSCN1374.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">I read on this website about the horror of getting the engine pulley bolt off and I prepared by getting a 4 foot cheater bar and a 24" Craftsman 1/2" extension. The hardest part of getting the pulley bolt out is keeping the engine from turning over while you attempt to loosen the bolt. So I inserted a 3/8" drive extension into one of the holes in the pulley and I then turned the pulley until the extension was wedged between in the frame and the pulley (I'm sorry I don't have a picture showing this, but just imaging a 4" rod sticking out of one of the pulley holes).</p></div></div> After throwing all of my 150 pounds at the bolt and not even budging the thing I decided that it was time to bring out the big guns, fortunately a linebacker for BYU football lives in our apartment complex and with his 320 pounds he quickly snapped the Craftsman 17mm socket. I then went and purchased a high impact 1/2" 17mm socket, some penetrating lubricant, and then foolishly cursed the bolt and asked what it was going to do now. When the linebacker again tried to free the bolt the cheater bar flexed about 45 degrees before with a thundering boom something finally let loose. http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt.html#2 2221cc63-c0d5-40f1-86bd-2c52c0fcd2fe http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt_files/Media/100_0850.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt_files/Media/100_0850.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">After throwing all of my 150 pounds at the bolt and not even budging the thing I decided that it was time to bring out the big guns, fortunately a linebacker for BYU football lives in our apartment complex and with his 320 pounds he quickly snapped the Craftsman 17mm socket. I then went and purchased a high impact 1/2" 17mm socket, some penetrating lubricant, and then foolishly cursed the bolt and asked what it was going to do now. When the linebacker again tried to free the bolt the cheater bar flexed about 45 degrees before with a thundering boom something finally let loose.</p></div></div> When I looked down I couldn't believe it but the pulley had actually shattered. To make a long story short I finally had to call a mobile semi truck mechanic who with a 160psi compressor and a 1/2" 600ft/lb IR impact wrench couldn't loosen the bolt. But the bolt did finally surrender when he returned with a 1" 1600ft/lb impact wrench. The next step was to order a new pulley, lower timing belt cover (also damaged when the pulley broke), and various seals, the local dealer wanted $227 for the parts and didn't have them on hand so I ordered everything from Majestic Honda where it cost 144 dollars to have all the parts delivered via FedEx, by the way Majestic Honda was great to deal with and I will definitely use them in the future. http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt.html#3 368e8388-ed7c-44db-8e08-b57789fd1bc2 http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt_files/Media/DSCN1374_1.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt_files/Media/DSCN1374_1.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">When I looked down I couldn't believe it but the pulley had actually shattered. To make a long story short I finally had to call a mobile semi truck mechanic who with a 160psi compressor and a 1/2" 600ft/lb IR impact wrench couldn't loosen the bolt. But the bolt did finally surrender when he returned with a 1" 1600ft/lb impact wrench. The next step was to order a new pulley, lower timing belt cover (also damaged when the pulley broke), and various seals, the local dealer wanted $227 for the parts and didn't have them on hand so I ordered everything from Majestic Honda where it cost 144 dollars to have all the parts delivered via FedEx, by the way Majestic Honda was great to deal with and I will definitely use them in the future.</p></div></div> Although you can't tell the pulley is broken in this photo it does show how things should look when you get it all apart. The rest of the project went great except that when I put it all together and took it for a test drive I realized the timing was off by 18 degrees, or one tooth on the belt. This was apparent because there was a lot of engine knock and very little engine torque. At this point I was ready to just burn the car and collect the insurance money, but instead I tore the whole thing down and advancing the timing one tooth, this only took me an hour and a half start to finish, which goes to show how quickly this whole project can be done if you know exactly what your doing. http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt.html#4 725d2f42-c6eb-49e1-a7a9-0232cc847a2e http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt_files/Media/DSCN1379.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt_files/Media/DSCN1379.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style_1">Although you can't tell the pulley is broken in this photo it does show how things should look when you get it all apart. The rest of the project went great except that when I put it all together and took it for a test drive I realized the timing was off by 18 degrees, or one tooth on the belt. This was apparent because there was a lot of engine knock and very little engine torque. At this point I was ready to just burn the car and collect the insurance money, but instead I tore the whole thing down and advancing the timing one tooth, this only took me an hour and a half start to finish, which goes to show how quickly this whole project can be done if you know exactly what your doing.</p></div></div> I included this picture because it is the one photo that would have kept me from being 18 degrees off in the first place. In the end I spent 100 dollars on the Napa parts, 144 dollars on the replacement pulley and cover, 20 dollars on the Craftsman extension, and 60 dollars on the mobile mechanic, so the total for the project was 324 dollars. The dealer wanted about 500 dollars in parts and labor so I still came out ahead, and next time it will only cost me 100 dollars to replace everything, at least that is how I justified it to my wife. http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt.html#5 0e204cec-03ec-48c2-9cf9-0cb716fe22d1 http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt_files/Media/hondatiming.jpg?derivative=thumb http://www.jasonandginny.com/OurWebsite/civictimingbelt_files/Media/hondatiming.jpg?derivative=micro <div style="padding: 0px; " class="image_cluster_layout_style_default_External_0_0"><div class="image_cluster_layout_style_default"><p style="padding-bottom: 0pt; padding-top: 0pt; " class="paragraph_style">I included this picture because it is the one photo that would have kept me from being 18 degrees off in the first place. In the end I spent 100 dollars on the Napa parts, 144 dollars on the replacement pulley and cover, 20 dollars on the Craftsman extension, and 60 dollars on the mobile mechanic, so the total for the project was 324 dollars. The dealer wanted about 500 dollars in parts and labor so I still came out ahead, and next time it will only cost me 100 dollars to replace everything, at least that is how I justified it to my wife.</p></div></div>