Don't (yet) have the vaunted Helms or similar --- but I plan to. Will a service manual state everything that's necessary or recommended to do the job?

In other words, will the book make suggestions as to getting special tools, replacing the auto-tensioner with a manual tensioner (see, I just read something about that here last night...) or other tricks and tips? Is spending all night searching this forum the best I can do? Is there a FAQ or concise über list of parts and tools somewhere I can at least use a checklist instead of just relying in the book?

Saw a kit listed here for like $160 or so. Is that the best way to go, or should I just buy the parts individually? Will I ever stop asking questions?

 

Any manual should give you teh list

 

Thanks.

 

search function man

 

don't people have anything better to post than to do a search. That's helpful as ****.


Check the prices at a Honda dealer compare to the parts list on the from the $160 package. See if the savings is worth it. I would usually go with Honda oem parts for those kind of things.

Some parts you should get: (might be missing things)
Timing belt
Balancer shaft belt
Tension
Waterpump

 

I spent much of last night searching here, and my impression was that there were a lot of questions like "oh no, I just screwed up and my engine runs backwards. Now I effectively have 5 reverse speeds and one forward speed and it's getting old having to look over my shoulder as I go forward down the street...."

In other words there is no thread that directly answers my question, no "sticky" just for the timing belt job, despite how common it is, just bits and pieces in various threads and once you do the job the first time you really don't need a FAQ, do you?

Along the way I learned about the Helms book, and how sometimes a Haynes might be better, the kit in one link that includes the manual tensioner (still like to learn more about that somewhere) and the tool that helps remove the lower pulley etc.

I also read several threads about valve adjustment, something else that really needs to be done to the car.

Despite having the car for several years I've rarely done my own work on it, but we've recently decided to keep it for as long as practical (whatever that means) and so now I want to get up to speed with maintenance/repair/upgrades --- AND begin doing as much as I can myself.

So yeah, I'll get the book and check out my local library.

My question was aimed at hoping to discover a FAQ on the job, something that might address the learned wisdom that goes beyond the repair book.

Tonight on my way to work I saw another '91 SE, except that one looked like it just came off the showroom floor. A really nice blue of some kind I've never seen before. I can imagine the middle aged lady driving it as the original owner who babied it. And it was a coupe. I'd never seen a '91 Accord SE Coupe before ... anyway, I'm even more charged to get mine in a more "respectable" state now!

 

Forgot to say thanks, specie.

I can get parts from my local dealer at about 10% off, through my neighbor who knows a parts guy there, so that's probably the way to go all things considered. I suppose the manual tensioner is an aftermarket item made to help shade tree mechanics who might not be able to deal with the automatic tensioner as easily. See, I'm just getting bits and pieces of the puzzle so far. I'll dig around some more ...