so i just bought a civic, ren like ****, cranked the crank pulley over by hand until, with the #1 spark plug out and my thumb in there, it was on the compression stroke.and then put it at tdc. well my cam pulley it one tooth off of the plastic marking piece ( its a d16z6), question is do i have to take the whole timing belt assembly off to adjust that or is there an easier way to move the cam 1 tooth up.

 

No, you don't have to take the whole thing apart!

Read this carefully before trying anything!!!

Remove the spark plugs to make it easy to spin the engine over by hand. Set the CRANK to TDC. On the lower timing cover you will find a small rubber plug with a tap, remove this plug, behind that plug will be a 14mm headed bolt, this is for the timing belt tensioner, again make sure the crank is at TDC compression stroke for #1 then loosen the bolt, you should then be able to slide the belt off the cam gear and adjust the cam timing. Once the cam timing is set properly you need to reset the tension on the timing belt, this is extremely important!!!! With the timing belt back in place and BEFORE tightning the tensioner SLOWLY spin the engine COUNTER CLOCKWISE APROX 1/8 OF A TURN ON THE CAM GEAR to take up the slack in the belt. Feel the belt for proper tension and when this is achieved tighten the tensioner. Then spin the engine over and verify that the cam timing is correct. Also verify the ignition timing, as who ever installed the belt may have adjusted the timing improperly due to the misaligned cam timing.

 

Hi, how do you get access to the tension bolt? I've been trying to get the socket to grip onto the bolt, some other belts may be in the way.

 

you aint gonna like this, Take EVERYTHING OFF and re do it. EVERYTHING. If you try to do it without removing the crank pulley, how will you know for certain that you are lined up correctly. Dot on the crank gear lined with the mark on the block. dots lined up on the cam and head. You cannot do that by guessing.
Sorry

 

If you can't properly seat a socket onto it, you'll have to remove the lower timing belt cover and/or raise the lift motor a bit to get better access to the tensioner bolt hole.