watsup guys. im here from the nissan game. got my gf a honda so i need some help before i dig into it.

ok well its a 99 accord. 4 door, 4 cylinder vtec, automatic. 142k miles. runs fine, but the headgasket is bad and the timing belt is way overdue. so im going to knock them out in one shot.

1) what is this engine called?
i looked on rockauto and found 3 different 4bangers. what are the differences between them??
2.3L 2254cc L4 FI [F23A1]
2.3L 2254cc L4 FI [F23A4]
2.3L 2254cc L4 FI [F23A5]

2) interference motor?

2) what else should i change out while im doing the headgasket and timing belt?


anything else i should know??

thanks

 

if you look on the left side if your engine block u should see F23xxx stamped on the block, that will tell you what engine you have. as fo things to change i would look at the water pump andyour harmonic balancer belt to

 

An "Interference Engine" defines the internal clearances of the engine.
Specifically the clearances between the piston tops and the Valve Heads.

Early Honda engines has enough clearance that IF the timing belt were to break - the pistons and valves could flail away and have no problems. Not with the later engines. Now everythings as co-ordinated as Michael Jackson's Thriller video.
It breaks, it ain't pretty.

Honda often recommends replacing the water pump whenever changing out the timing belt. Not only is it easier to do it while you're there already, but it acts an an idler for the timing belt.

P

 

thanks guys. i will check out the left side of the block when i stop by the car either tomorrow or wed.

and yea i figured it was interference. the previous owner is kinda nuts. never did the timing belt at 90k, and its got 142k now LOL

so my order will go something like this

either headgasket set or whole engine gasket set,
waterpump,
timing set,
oil filter.
maybe the harmonic balancer belt. z395, why did u only mention this belt?


anything else i should get?

oh yea, the check engine light is on, so depending on what the code is, i may need more

 

oh yea, forgot to ask. what type of lifters do these cars have? hydrolic, shim, nut...? im guessing hydrolic and dont have to be adjusted? car sounds quiet and perfect when started... just making sure though. i wanna bang everytihng out at once


also, do you guys ever hear of people using copper spray on honda headgaskets?

i do it to my nissans, but i wonder if word got around to the honda crowd or not?


Modified by frosti108 at 9:26 PM 10/27/2008

 

i only said the harmonic balancer belt because when i did my timing belt the harmonic balancer belt n the timing belt were thw only things i did, the water pump was already done. as for the lifters cant help you on that one, i have an idea but im not 100% sure

 

Honda uses a system more akin to mechanical lifters, only without the lifters.
Being an overhead cam design, the cam follower doubles as a rocker arm with the adjuster screw/jamnut on one end.
It you're looking at the cam followers because they're noisy, fine - they are adjustable, but they don't even come into play for a normal timing belt repair.
Correct cam timing is.

P

 

Service the automatic transmission - problem is I don't know exactaly what that would entail since I have a manual.

Probably drop the pan, change the filter, refill with Honda OEM automatic transmission fluid but this is just a guess. The 6th generation of Accords ('98 through '02) have notoriously iffy automatic transmissions.

 

First abservation(s):

And this is applicable to this thread how? (I must have missed something....)
and
Neither of the Honda transmissions have "Pan's" to drop, let alone a replacement filter. Everything is either drain & Filler plugs and permanent screens.

P

 

The original poster asked "anything else i should know??" and servicing a sixth generation automatic transmission should be high on his list of things to do considering the reputation of the automatics.

As to how he should service it... I don' t know, but I do know that he should address it somehow.

 

I've used the copper HG spray before, but not on a Honda. The general consensus is that it's unneeded, as the stock HG is very good.

Just curious, what are your blown HG symptoms? The f23 has a very specific issue that presents as a blown HG, but isn't.

when you do the HG, just unbolt the IM, but leave it and everything attached to it in the car. that will save you a TON of time.

 

thanks p. i wasnt suggesting valve adjustment would be part of the timing belt swap, just trying to gain some knowledge on the motor, since im new to it (and hondas all together)

heat- believe it or not, the auto trans has already been replaced by the previous owner. so its good to go. thanks

jweller- thanks man, fuggit, copper cant hurt right? especially in case the head was possibly warped a little bit (...hopefully it wasnt)

symptoms are -
-previous owner sold it dirt cheap, saying that the headgasket is blown lol
-coolant is milky white, like oil and water combo
-temp gauge doesnt rise above the cold mark...??? not sure what the deal is here, maybe the oil in the coolant has messed with the temp sensor? any ideas? im afraid the car IS getting hot, but the temp gauge just isnt reading? idk

do u guys think the car will be ok overheating wise, if i drive it 15 minutes to my friends shop to do the repair? the car runs just fine, but there is oil in the coolant. ...would oil in the coolant keep the motor from cooling down? i dont think there would be a problem, but you never know.

and thanks for the tip. ill be going over a couple 'howtos' before i do this as well


Modified by frosti108 at 4:46 PM 10/31/2008

 

Make sure you have honda atf in the tranny. When I first got my car I had the fluid changed at a shop unaware of the issues it would cause. And wouldnt you know it, it burned out at about 50k. With my most recent tranny its only had honda atf and Ive had no issues whatsoever

 

checked the car out. its got the A1 motor in it.

 

ok so i ordered new
waterpump,
headgasket,
intake manifold gasket,
timing belt and tensioner set,
a couple oil filters,
and some ngk gp plugs.


a couple questions. to do the timing belt, is it just 1 belt or is there 2? it looked like what i ordered, comes with 2 belts and 2 tensioners? idk.

also, whats the difference between the A1 and A5 motors?

 

There are two belts & tensioners. The long one is the camshaft timing belt and the shorter one is for the balancer shafts.

 

balancer shafts? what is this?

im used to just 1 chain going from crankshaft to cam.

this motor has a belt going from crank to cam, and then it has another one going from where to where? is this 2nd belt for ignition maybe? me confused

 

There are a few Honda engines that have balance shafts. They are two weighted shafts that run along the inside front and back of the engine block. These shafts are made to counter balance the pulse (vibration) coming from the crank as it rotates.

 

learn something new everyday!

 

i just got all parts in the mail today. and wow, this headgasket is nuts. its basically 3 metal layers, riveted together. is this normal???

im used to just a regular single layer composite type headgasket. the regular old type will account for any small blemishes... but this paper thin 3 layer metal one seems like the slightest blemish or warpage will mean failure.

 

MLS (Multi- Layer Steel) Head gaskets are the norm on Honda Engines. Exact tolerances are how these engines are built. So any larger blemishes or warps in the deck or head can result in a leak. There are spec sheets for checking them. If your buddy overheated the engine, or you want to be sure, you may want to check the head to make sure it's true.

Warpage Specs; if a warp in the head is located.
under 0.05mm (0.002in) no need to resurface the head.
between 0.05mm (0.002in) and 0.2mm (0.008) the head must be resurfaced.
Max resurface limit is 0.2mm (0.008in) based on a height of 100mm (3.94in).