CO671

iTrader: (1)

This is really embarassing, I'm ashamed to ask but...
99 Civic DX
Quick question/concern.

Right now, (stupidly) I have the belt off for the cam (Dizzy #1 / Up position) and I turned the crank pulley CCW but went too far past the white mark, now I have to go back around another rotation or two, is there a maximum number of times I can rotate it with the belt off the cam and the tensioner loose? Or is okay to go clockwise?
Now that I realize it, i should've set the crank to the white mark first.

Reason:
My engine has been running like **** but bearable for a while now, with the Camshaft at the aligned up position while the crank at the red mark or the middle notch. I'm trying to fix it, and IIRC (what i'm intending to do), the cam should be aligned at UP (dizzy on #1) while the crank is on the white mark like pictured below.

CO671

iTrader: (1)

Really worried now that there's tension on the belt again with it off the cam. .

groundup.

Never turn a crank a full revolution while the timing belt is off on a interference motor, it will bend valves

If you need to adjust it, leave the crank at TDC and only move the cam a few teeth to get it where you need.

You said you moved the crank past where you needed, just turn it back clockwise a little past TDC and come back turning it ccw until you get it to TDC. Leave it there and play with the cam now

CO671

iTrader: (1)

Been on high alert for a reply since this was posted, thanks so much.

Okay, that's what I thought, it might bend a valve, which I hope i didn't just do.

I just turned it clockwise so that the white mark is at least a CM to the right of the arrow on the lower timing cover.
edit: the tensioner is tightened and the cam and crank seem to be at TDC, however the belt's loose on the left and right side of the cam. How do I go about fixing this?

redtherocket

You need to line up the white mark on the crank pulley... That is "top dead center"...

And you need to line up the 2 flat lines on the came sprocket with the top of the block and the "up" in the up position....

You should check your timing with a light too..

The D16Y7 has an advance of 12 degrees... That is what the red mark is for...

You need to use the sight on the timing cover like one on a firearm...

A great trick is to use black marker on the two top prongs, and whit out on the lower single prong... This will make it literally glow with the timing light, and you'll be accurate as a bastard.

CO671

iTrader: (1)

White mark on crank pulley (that's what i was going for, and what I got now but the belts too loose)
before, the motor was lined up on the red mark, instead

I'm aware of the rest. thanks, but right now my focus is mechanical timing because I don't have a timing light and won't have one until tomorrow when I bring my car into school to possibly do an alignment.

redtherocket

You have the wrong belt or tensioner then...

A loose timing belt will make it run like ****... And maybe jump a tooth..

CO671

iTrader: (1)

Nah, it's the same tensioner and belt for the past year, I'm just confused as to how I'm to tighten it

redtherocket

Ok.

Get your TDC and camshaft in the right position with the belt on...


Look on the side of your lower timing cover...


There is a rubber grommet, remove it.

Behind it is the timing tensioner and the 14mm bolt that hold it in place...

Loosen the bolt..

Turn the crankshaft(17mm) counter clockwise (while facing the accessory side of the motor) about 3-4 teeth on the camshaft sprocket...

While still holding the lower pulley, tighten the 14mm tensioner bolt.

Check tension.

Post back.

CO671

iTrader: (1)

Done, rotated the motor one revolution .
now its loose on the left side of the belt and tension on the right side (facing the pulleys)

redtherocket

You can't be doing it right or have the wrong parts...


Or else it would work.... Right?


Or the tensioner bolt isn't loose enough and its not moving...


You can use a coat hanger to physically pull up on the tensioner, but don't make it to tight, or drop the hanger down the timing cover..

CO671

iTrader: (1)

Honestly, it's really confusing now, the cam is in the UP position now and the crank is back on the red mark instead of the white.... and the belt is still loose and it's possibly I bent a valve or two.

redtherocket

Lord sufferin' jesus bey...

CO671

iTrader: (1)

asdfgkhpohjiokwr. what a pain in the ***.

redtherocket

Wish I could help you Chum.


Maybe you should try taking off the lower timing cover and doing this with more view...

Sounds like your belt comes out of the grooves midway through..

CO671

iTrader: (1)

I wish I had the tools for that and the time, right now if it's possible it's best that I can do what i can now, because the car ran fine yet rich (just not mechanically timed right) for the past year.

Now that the tensioner is tightened, the belts still loose and the timing is off.
so lemme rephrase my question..


With the tensioner tightened, the belt loose, and off the cam (cam facing up)
Do I set the crank to white TDC, then slip the belt onto the cam? (belt still loose and tensioner tightened)

redtherocket

Loosen the tensioner..

Set crank to the white mark....

Set the cam sprocket to up...

Insure the belt is seating into the grooves of both the water pump and crank sprocket..

Slip belt onto cam sprocket..

Turn crank pully CC 3 -4 teeth... Keep tension on pulley and tighten the tensioner..

If this fail again, try using a coat hanger to pull up on the tensioner...

If that fails.... I dunno

groundup.

Crank on the white mark (TDC) now loose the tensioner a bit, enough to pul the slack off the belt by hand.

Now you want to be absolutely sure that there is no slack on the belt between the cam and crank gears on the left side ( exhaust side looking at t-belt). All the slack is got to be on the tensioner side, that belt is got to be tight on the left side even before you put tension on the tensioner. The tensioner only takes care of the right side of the belt between water pump and crank gear

Its tricky, it took me a few tries before I got it right

CO671

iTrader: (1)

Far too much tension on the right side already, left side is looser than a ______

CO671

iTrader: (1)

Everything's line up. I put what i believe to be everything back together
(battery, power steering and it's ground) and it's not starting.
The only difference now is that
1) Motor's mechanical timing appears to be correct
2) The A/C and powersteering belts are off.

Double checked the starter, jammed it a few times too.

CO671

iTrader: (1)

Okay, got it to start, and it sounds WAY better than before, (stupid me **** revved it and it may have skipped another few teeth) maybe if I adjust the valves it'll be even crisper. However, the belts still slightly loose, and the idle's high (i'll go out and borrow a timing light today and work on that later) at least it's more bearable now

Thanks to both of you, I HONESTLY REALLY appreciate it. All seems good now.

redtherocket