I have an 02 accord with the f23a1 and finally got everything back together for replacing the timing belt tensioner but can't figure out how to get tension on the belt. Any input would be greatly appreciated

 

isnt it a auto tensioner just turn and tighten the bolt?

 

I can get tension on the side closer to the firewall but not the said closer to the front

 

Between crank pulley and cam gear is the problem

 

Are you turning counter clockwise?

Anyway, the side of the belt running between the cam and crank shaft should tighten up, if after you installed everything properly, you turn the crank counter clockwise.

Make sure everything is in time. And then try holding the camshaft still and start turning the crank counter clockwise - Again, make sure everything is in time.

The belt should be tight on that side. The inner tensioner exists to take up slack on opposite side, toward the firewall.

Make sure that if you used or if your car had a bolt holding the inner tensioner in place that you removed it upon installing the new belt. (This bolt (6mm, with a 10 mm bolt head) in fact is supposed to be temporary service bolt. My car had this bolt on the tensioner and I made the mistake of putting that bolt back on.)

Also make sure the spring on the inner tensioner is all good and securely installed and that the tensioner itself is mounted properly on that little tab that sticks into the tensioner's retainer at about the 1 oclock position.

If all's good as far as the above goes, get your car to TDC, loosen the adjusting nut sticking out of the lower timing belt cover 3/4 of a full turn or so, and then rotate the crank, counter clockwise, about 3 cam pulley teeth; STOP, and check tension, and then tighten the adjusting nut.

When you turn it, you're feeding belt into the tensioner and water pump side; the tensioner moves up taking up slack, and when you tighten the adjusting nut, the tensioner is locked into its "up" position.

If this doesn't work, try getting the car to TDC (top dead center) again, loosen the adjusting nut, and use an old metal hanger and fashion a hook and try to fish through and pull up on that tensioner; once up and the slack is taken, tighten the nut.