Ok, here's the deal. I just helped my g/f purchase a 98 CRV automatic from a used car place. They just got the car from a dealer as a trade in, 111k. I noticed a few little things here there it needed was able to drop the price, cuz I will fix the problems on my own.
One of them was the powersteering belt looked to be either the wrong size or missing a rib.
Long story short, when we brought it home I changed a few things & replaced the PS Belt. Started it up & the belt rubs against the crankpulley. I tried playing around with it but it's clearly making contact.

I noticed that the alternator belt was part # 38920-p2a-003 which from googling, turns out to be a civic AC belt. HMM...Before hand, I took off the valve cover to inspect the timing belt which was an aftermarket brand so assuming was changed. Did the mechanic install the wrong crank pulley?? (also the T-belt, looking from the pass side, some of the teeth didnt look too good but looking from the drv side, looked new. what's up with that??) So I installed the old PS belt back on (which btw is the correct part#56992-p3f-003) however it's missing a groove (2 grooves instead of 3). When I started it up again, it was still rubbing! Now I can't say for sure it wasn't before hand but I feel like I would have remembered the noise. So next, I try putting a washer between the top adjusting bolt & at first it seemed to work during fast idle but then began to rub as the idling came down.

Which leads me to my next concern. I don't know if I'm being paranoid but it seemed as if the crankpulley was wobbling a little more than normal at idle. It could be me cuz I haven't seen a b-series motor in a year but I did check to see if the crankpulley bolt was tight & was. The powersteering pulley on the crank has 3 grooves for a belt but you can clearly see the last groove, closest to the engine allows no room for the belt & rubs against the side of the next pulley on the crank. So what gives? Any ideas?

 

The outer ring of the crank pulley is connected by rubber and can break over time. Look closer at it and see if the outer ring is loose. Which would explain why the p/s belt no longer fits because the outer ring has moved closer to the inner ring.

 

Well today I took a look at car while idling & warmed up & the pulley was definitely wobbling at idle but straightens out when you increase the rpms but the PS belt still rubs. I'll see if I can take a look at that but I remember seeing the rubber in the crank pulley which I think is the harmonic balancer & it looked to be intact which is why I am puzzled. I'm hoping your correct & it just needs a new crank pulley. Would a bad crank pulley explain why some of the passenger side timing belt teeth looked worn yet the driver side of the belt looked new?

Lastly, I noticed when first inspecting the car that the ignition timing was pushed all the way towards the front of the car (I don't recall if thats advance or retard) but I pointed it out to the guy selling the car & he looks under the hood for the sticker that would show what degree to set it to but it didn't say so he says, their not adjustable. I tried telling him repeatingly that they are but didn't believe me. I know the jacking the timing all the way forward isn't good but would that have anything to do with the problem?
I'm going to have to invest in a timing gun after I swap everything out.

 

Sounds to me like the lower timing belt retainer (washer) might be on backwards or not at all. As far as the distributor cranked all the way I would wonder if the timing belt is in time.

 

Are you referring to anything in this diagram?

 

#13

 

Well it's funny because after I showed the guy the distributor all the way forward he checked another crv he had on the lot & that one was also jacked forward & goes, "see, that's just how they are"

That diagram's a little confusing because I don't know why on the top it shows #13 #17 & #13 layed out like that. I see what your saying though. Just so I know, does that crank timing gear (#12) just pull right off by hand & which way is the correct way #13 supposed to be on so I can confirm this all. I believe the retainer is concaved correct?

It will be interesting to see what the problem is. Whether it just be a bad crank pulley, or it's good but the retainer is backwards or missing & damaged the crank pulley..I guess I'll find out soon enough.

 

Parts on order, hopefully I'll have everything apart & replaced by the end of the week.

 

Got everything off at the moment. The crank pulley was shot. I found the reason why the timing belt on the distributor side showed some wear. The upper timing belt cover behind the cam gears is rubbing against the cam gears on both outer edges. I can't seem to manuever it in a way where it doesnt rub. It's almost as if the outer edges were bent in. The only way it doesnt rub is if I push it down but then the bolt holes don't line up. I'm contemplating removing the SOB. Other than that, the T-belt looked great & was recently replaced. Anyone else experience the timing cover rubbing against the cam gears?

 

no the guy who replaced the timing belt prolly dropped the valve cover. that car seems like it was tampered with by an idiot. he prolly put the washers on backwards.

 

The valve cover's fine & the retaining washer on the crank gear seemed fine as well. (although it's not really concaved it's flat but the timing belt wear was opposite side anyway). I decided to call it a night & put some ratchets in between the cam gears & the inner t-belt cover to see if it will bend back into shape. Only time will tell..

 

What a long exhausting last couple of days.
I replaced
Spark plugs
fuel filter
air filer
crank shaft pulley
T-belt/waterpump/tensioner & spring
power steering belt
valve adjustment
thermostat
& the list goes on...
I was parnoid when getting near the end thinking jeez, I hope I didn't forget something stupid & wasn't looking forward to starting it for fear of something castrophic to happened. It was 12:45am so I couldn't make a lot of noise but I wanted to see if it would start okay & bleed the coolant so the girl can take her car for work. When I started it, there was a whining noise....
WTF...
I immediately turned it off.

I ran into some problems along the way with things but I'll get into that later, I'm too tired. Any guesses?

 

The culprit was...AC TENSIONER PULLEY, wtf..

 

have you work on a car before?
U shouldnt be messing with this if ur not familiar with it.

 

Ok there rice...Let me guess your ase mastertech right??
Spare me the judgement. I've been out of the "Honda" game for a little while now.
I've never changed a t-belt before despite doing many many swaps in the past & was a little paranoid. I've taking T-belt's off of motors out a car but never replaced one.
I was working on this thing for a few days straight after work, late at night & then driving my g/f to work in the morning getting an average of 2-3 hours of sleep & outside in a non-heated garage. Excuse me if I was a little fatigue'd & looking to be on the safe side of things.
My mistake was not starting it up in the first place with no accessorie belt's on to make sure everything was ok but instead, waited until I had everything back together to start it because I just wanted to get it done with. I didn't it touch for a few days later because I was exhausted but if I would have known it was just the stupid AC tensioner pulley I wouldn't have said what I said above...I just didn't want to take it apart again.
So I installed everything correctly in the first place..I'm just assuming the AC tensioner failed due to the crank pulley being really bad & possibly an over tension.

I see now it's pointless to come to this forum & ask questions/discuss things when you get response's like yours. In what way are contributing to a thread when you say BS like that. This forum isn't the same since when I used to use it..