So in an epic dumbass move I somehow installed my Greddy timing belt opposite of the directional arrows. The guy that was helping me was in a huge hurry and I never saw the arrows until I recently had a faint squealing sound coming from the timing belt area. I pulled the covers off but nothing looked out of place. Then I noticed the arrows and thought well they're pointing the opposite of the direction the motor turns. I've never done a timing belt before and didn't know the direction mattered. I just had the car tuned a month ago and it ran fine but lately it was making that noise and the idle was really low when I would come to a stop, almost stalling out but it never did. I've read that bc it is probably stretched the opposite direction that I shouldn't reuse it. My question is, is the direction of the belt a big deal? If so I'll replace it but it's gonna be a pita in my 97 Accord but I'm sure I can do it. What do you guys think? By the way I have a H22a with S2 pro1 cams, valvetrain and so on. Did 220 whp when I had it tuned a month ago. Please let me know what you guys think. Thanks.

 

Anyone?

 

I've never seen a directional timing belt.

 

Then what are the arrows for? It's gotta be directional right?

 

are they pointing to a timing mark on the belt? the easiest/fastest way to determine if you're in trouble is a compression test.

keep us posted, and good luck

 

How can a timing belt be directional...what's the difference?

 

i would be contacting greddy if i was concerned.

 

T-belts are not directional.

 

The arrows run long ways with the length of the belt not side to side. So I can't figure out what else they would be for. There are 5 arrows and they run side by side. Here's a pic I found and mine looks exactly like this one.

http://www.greddy.com/products/engine/timing-belts/

 

I wonder if it has an 'aqua tread' pattern on the underside of the belt

The only time you would pay attention to those arrows is if you had to remove/reinstall the belt and didn't take note of what orientation the belt was in.

 

That belt should also have timing marks on it. The arrows are to show you which way the belt faces so that the marks on the belt line up with the marks on the car. They may not line up correctly if installed backwards. I guess in a sense that could make it directional,but there is no harm in ignoring the marks on the belt, they are there to make installation easier.

 

Yeah, the only time you would need to worry about directional marks is if the belt was already installed and was taken off. When you then put it back on, you would want it to be back in the same direction.

 

So I called Greddy today and the guy I talked to said they are directional arrows and the belt is constructed to wear a certain way. But he also didn't seem like he really knew that much about the belts bc he said to take it off and turn it around and put it back on. I'm pretty sure that's a definite no no. He said it could cause premature wear and snap the belt but everyone on here says different. I have a brand new oem timing/balancer belt here that I never used. I'm not sure what to do.

 

Right. Depending on how long the belt has been on,it is definitely worn in one direction now.
I would dump the Greddy belt and install the OE belt. The Greddy belt is for show and will not benefit you. Most, if not all, all-motor race Hondas and even turbo Hondas use OEM belts. There are very stout belts.

 

not your belt. ^what he said about show is true.

 

*your belt isn't the problem. not directional.

 

 

OEM Honda tbelts are made by Gates.