Morgan Blakely

Well I truly did try to search this forum for specific threads on my issue but to my dismay the search function must not work well as not a single one came up with timing belt in the title even. I'm tired of searching the rest of the net and watching you tube... I need ya'lls help!

I did the headgasket on my 97 civic ex with vtec. that all went well, white smoke went away after running a couple minutes. I had a heck of a time with setting the timing initially... my book's crankshaft timing marks didn't match my pulley and I apparently set the timing a little early in the motor because I used the last of the first three lines (none were red or white or anything to go by). I didn't know I did that wrong... the car ran well for two days. I noticed a slight hesitation on acceleration but figured that was gonna be the O2 sensor I know needs to be done. Upon idling in the driveway second day I got the epic belt flapping/rattling sound at the bottom of timing belt area. I though I had done the tensioner wrong, which I may have but I also left too much slack in and fudged up the timing. I'm lucky nothing really bad happened.

okay so story onward... I'm so confused about how tight that bolt is supposed to be because I can't fit my torque wrench on to that 14mm bolt. I think I almost had it today, when the car started it sounded fine before it slowly started slapping again... I didn't let it get loud at all before I went ahead and cut it off again. Now that I know to use the last mark on my crankshaft for TDC I have everything lined up again... tension on the belt feels pretty good, great on left side, some slack on right--- Where is the sweet spot on this tensioner bolt!? I think I either have too tight or too loose, depends on what hour you ask me... I read about how I should be able to push the bolt up/down to lock in place but I'd have to come way off torque specs to get to a pivoting point with it, yet my book says I only need to loosen 180 degrees to set tension. I don't get it. After all this I hate to tow it down the road just to get the timing set, geez.

Why didn't I replace timing belt? it looked really really good! Therefor I never had bottom cover/crankshaft off and tensioner unit itself has never been touched. It was working perfectly before so that's why I say this is operator error not part failure. thanks to anyone that had the patience to read this and is willing to spitball with me!

carlos8

DIY instructions and torque specs, step by step:

Just a quick look at the FAQ

http://www.civicforums.com/forums/23...t-96-00-a.html


The tensioner bolt spec is 33 lbs.

Morgan Blakely

sigh, read it all ready. my torque wont fit in there, i knew it was 33. i must just be dumb and need to give it up. thanks.

tony_2018

use a smaller size torque wrench..........

Morgan Blakely

was trying to avoid buying another one since I all ready bought one torque wrench for the job. never the less... i guess so

tony_2018

Okay..........so what do you need from us if you already read it and know what the torque specs are........you know your torque wrench won't fit............so what now? I tighten it with a regular socket wrench as best I can. I'm not gonna beat on my socket wrench or anything. I guess its probably from all the timing belt jobs that I've done I just know when to stop.

Morgan Blakely

lol i'm really sorry I have annoyed you with my noob girly posts, I'll never do it again. haha

I think that's pretty much what I was looking for... the feel of it. you said you tighten it with a regular socket as best you can and you aren't putting your *** in to it - thats the best thing I could have to go on outside of a torque wrench that will fit.
have a good week.