how to change h23a vtec blue top timing belt ?
Hello guys. Im fairly new with motor works here. long story short, I'm doing an h2b swap into my recovered em1. Now i have the motor out and everything, I want to do timing belt water pump change. I got everything done here so far



Now that i took everything apart... and installed new water pump... i realized i dont know how to put on the timing belt.. and the balance shaft belt................. I dont know what top dead center is (TDC) ... sorry for being a newb im trying to learn. I tried searching but nothing about how to do h23a vtec timing change...
the closest thread that i found is this one but didn't really help me much (NEar the end). Can some1 shine some lights please?
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1857587
Can someone show me how to PROPERLY put the timing belt back on and the balance shaft belt? thanks



Now that i took everything apart... and installed new water pump... i realized i dont know how to put on the timing belt.. and the balance shaft belt................. I dont know what top dead center is (TDC) ... sorry for being a newb im trying to learn. I tried searching but nothing about how to do h23a vtec timing change...
the closest thread that i found is this one but didn't really help me much (NEar the end). Can some1 shine some lights please?
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/1857587
Can someone show me how to PROPERLY put the timing belt back on and the balance shaft belt? thanks
bump. I want to learn how to do it. Since the motor is already outside of the car, this is the chance for me to learn. I don't know how to test for cylinder #1 tdc and bunch of those things.. i dont get it.
i highly recommend getting a service manual. A helm's is ideal, but they are spendy. A $15 chilton at your local car quest will give you a step by step walk thru with illustrations.
Thanks for the tips.
I would love to buy a helms but it's gonna be a while b4 i recieve it. I needa get going with this swap because I need my car its a daily driver. I would love to download the manual but i dont know how/where. I will sooner or later get the helms for sure tho but looks like it will be later.
I would love to buy a helms but it's gonna be a while b4 i recieve it. I needa get going with this swap because I need my car its a daily driver. I would love to download the manual but i dont know how/where. I will sooner or later get the helms for sure tho but looks like it will be later.
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Do you want to put the balance shaft belt back on? That makes it a lot more complicated...
For the timing belt you have to match up the marks on the cam gears and the marks on the flywheel (through the hole in the engine block near the tranny).
For the timing belt you have to match up the marks on the cam gears and the marks on the flywheel (through the hole in the engine block near the tranny).
thanks but i didnt get a single thing you said there ahaha. I just ordered the helms manual.. iono when ill get it..
balance belt is the second, smaller belt right next to the timing belt. It spins two shafts that helps eliminate vibrations from the engine.
You can leave the belt off, and you will gain ~3hp, but will notice a tad more vibration (primarily at idle) I haven't had mine on for about two years and it doesn't really bother me. Rattles the ashtray at idle, but i don't notice otherwise.
if you put the balance belt back on, the shafts must be aligned properly other wise the motor will vibrate like CRAZY
You can leave the belt off, and you will gain ~3hp, but will notice a tad more vibration (primarily at idle) I haven't had mine on for about two years and it doesn't really bother me. Rattles the ashtray at idle, but i don't notice otherwise.
if you put the balance belt back on, the shafts must be aligned properly other wise the motor will vibrate like CRAZY
sweet thanks. Do you guys know if my motor happen to have the TDC/CKP sensors? the h23a vtec comes in 97-00 ? So its also an obd2a motor right?
As far as I know there is no h23 vtec unless it's a hybrid (vtec head w/ h23 block). H23 non vtec is only from 92- 96. 96 is the OBD2. Obd1 h23 does not have crank sensor. On the picture showing, U haven't pulled your crack shaft pulley, and U need to get that off first to install your timing.
By the way, U can download the service manual at Hondahookup.com. But too late, u laready purchased one online.
By the way, U can download the service manual at Hondahookup.com. But too late, u laready purchased one online.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by zirac50 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">As far as I know there is no h23 vtec unless it's a hybrid (vtec head w/ h23 block).</TD></TR></TABLE>
Other countries (not USDM) got H23 VTEC engines stock
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=641555
Other countries (not USDM) got H23 VTEC engines stock
https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=641555
I'm new at this so i dont want to steer you wrong, but i just want to throw out there somthing, I rember my frined doing his h22, at school His teacher told him not to turn the camshfts at all in a certain direction, i see that the two cam gears are off from each other so when you go to move them to time it, look into that. Like i said Im deffinatly not a profesional I just wanted to metion what ive herd. Good luck.
Also, I have also I have herd that h23 non vtec has stops to hold the cams in place, but i do not see those on your engine just somthing else I thought id throw out there, Not that that would help you in anyway
Thanks guy.s Well, all i basically did was losen up both tensioners and pull off the belts. I didnt rotate any camshaft or no crank pulleys. I just did the manual tension conversion and new water pump. I also notice my camshaft timing is off a bit from each other.. is that normal?
Well, I couldnt wait any longer for the helms manual so i went ahead and printed out the one online (thanks zirac50). However, my problem is, I already taken off the belt... and the manual said to set it to TDC 1st before taking it off
. Now i dont know what to do lol. If i turn the crank then my camshaft aint gonna turn. Show i put the old belt back in and turn it? Iono how to come about it.
As for the helms manual, they didnt really give me much details on timing belt change... unless im just SOO much of a newb
. Also, How do i find piston no.1 tdc? I dont have the flywheel attached to the motor. I gotta order one.
heres some updated pictures (as you can see I didnt really move anything other than took off the crankpulley

Heres a closer picture showing how the crankshaft not being aligned with the CAMshaft. I didnt move anything at all, it is how it is before the belt was taken off... its really off....


Modified by dohcem1 at 11:21 AM 5/29/2008
Well, I couldnt wait any longer for the helms manual so i went ahead and printed out the one online (thanks zirac50). However, my problem is, I already taken off the belt... and the manual said to set it to TDC 1st before taking it off
. Now i dont know what to do lol. If i turn the crank then my camshaft aint gonna turn. Show i put the old belt back in and turn it? Iono how to come about it.
As for the helms manual, they didnt really give me much details on timing belt change... unless im just SOO much of a newb
. Also, How do i find piston no.1 tdc? I dont have the flywheel attached to the motor. I gotta order one.heres some updated pictures (as you can see I didnt really move anything other than took off the crankpulley

Heres a closer picture showing how the crankshaft not being aligned with the CAMshaft. I didnt move anything at all, it is how it is before the belt was taken off... its really off....


Modified by dohcem1 at 11:21 AM 5/29/2008
OO yeh one more t hing, how do you find piston no1 tdc? and which stroke?
damn, if im already having such trouble, my first swap is gonna be hell...............
just attempting to learn and save money. I hope someone can help me.
damn, if im already having such trouble, my first swap is gonna be hell...............
just attempting to learn and save money. I hope someone can help me.
ok, basically, to get your motor at tdc, line up the crank pulley arrow with the arow on the block that you see, and then the cam pulleys, bith arrows will point straight up, and the lil lines on the gear edge at the closest point should be pointed directly at each other.
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by DCFIVER »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Did you do the tensioner conversion yourself or did the motor come that way???</TD></TR></TABLE>
No I did that myself (of course with a guide on here that i found)
Ok Now that i lined all up to tdc, i just put the belt on??? thats it??? Then whats all these other fuzzz about ? and whats with rotating it counter clock only and it has to be on a compression stroke?
No I did that myself (of course with a guide on here that i found)
Ok Now that i lined all up to tdc, i just put the belt on??? thats it??? Then whats all these other fuzzz about ? and whats with rotating it counter clock only and it has to be on a compression stroke?
It would be a lot easier if you can find somebody to help you to hold the cam gears while you install the timing belt on. Just follow the helms and you'll get the idea. Just keep the alignment straight up of the cam marks and the crank.
To find the piston 1 firing, move both cams 90 degrees counterclockwise and this should be explained on the helms too. That is so mucch easier especially in your case that you got your engine out.
To find the piston 1 firing, move both cams 90 degrees counterclockwise and this should be explained on the helms too. That is so mucch easier especially in your case that you got your engine out.






