One day down. 400 more to go. This is a bitch. Preludes are so hard to work on.

Getting the crank pulley bolt off was really fun.

 

Way easier with the motor out.. not that that helps you!
good luck!

 

What stage are you at now? Do you have the auto-tensioner tool? If not, IM me and I'll give you a little hint. I did a Prelude timing belt in one day, from Morning to midnight. After the first few hours trying to get that darn crank pulley off (without the holding tool or an impact wrench), I spent another few thinking how to do the auto-tensioner. Fun, isn't it. Tow your car down to San Diego and I'll give you a hand, hahaha.

How did you remove the bolt for the crank pulley?

 

auto tensioner tool? I though you used a flat head screw driver.

I had to take the flywheel lower cover off and wedge a punch tool in the teeth. Then I started bouncing on a 3' breaker bar.

 

The auto tensioner is spring loaded. The screw driver is to collapse it and the "special" tool is to keep it compressed while you install it. My special tool was some wire hoding the tensioner compressed and after installation, cut the wire and be done with it.

3' breaker bar, I've tried that. I was always worried to stick things between the flywheel and housing, so I ended up using a BFH and whacking at my 1/2" drive rachet. It came loose, like a poor man's impact wrench, hehehe....

 

Locking up the fly wheel was the 4th thing I tried. 1st through 3rd included a 500 foot lb impact gun, torching the crank pulley bolt, and holding the brakes while using the breaker bar (my drive train was doing lots of flexing.

 

ok, now I know what you are talking about. I need a "stopper". I've been looking all over the garage for something that might work. Once you turn the screw to compress the tensioner down you need that stopper to keep it compressed until you remount the auto-tentioner.

I hate preludes!

 

2point6 shared a little trick with me... tehehehehe... no more autotensioner for me if this mess works.

 

explain

 

I THINK the Civic Si manual tensioner works. I haven't confirmed this.. It was something I read on the hybrid board.

 

Well, I have no problem using the auto tensioner. I just need that little tool that will keep it compressed while I install it. I'm going to call the dealer tomorrow and see where I can get one.

 

You mean the manual tensioner from the H23a?

Andrew

 

All done. The car actually runs too!

I ended up making an auto tensioner stopper out of some bracket I found in my garage.

 

yes, working in the Prelude engine bay period is usually a BITCH!