I replaced my timing belt, water pump and tensioner about 40K miles ago at a NAPA garage. While starting from a light the belt broke. Bent 14 valves. The problem was caused by the spring on the tensioner cutting a groove through the body of the tensioner until it broke free and got caught between the belt and a tight spot on the engine. Someone said the spring was installed wrong. I'm doing the work myself this time, how could the spring have been installed wrong so to cause this kind of wear? How can I make sure I don't install it wrong too? It's a 2001 Civic LX



where the spring ended up

 

Yea, that's my sons post. He's helping me fix this. I don't know why you think I would create a new user name to post this picture. I didn't know he posted here. He posted it before I took the tensioner off and found what caused the problem. He drives a BMW and a GTI. This is my only car I bought it new in 2001.

 

I see.

What do you plan to do about the head? Rebuild it yourself, or buy one?

Do you have a service manual to assist you? If you need one, click here. You want 61S5C01, but you can probably find a used one online somewhere.

We have a DIY in the FAQ's for the timing belt, water pump, etc. (and valve lash adjustment) but nothing for rebuilding the head.



People have done it for stranger reasons.

 

I took the head in to a local shop that specializes in heads. They did the work. Problem is the shop next door had a huge fire and I can't get my head back until the fire dept, insurance co. and building inspectors allow them to open up. My son is very good at all this, he just removed and replaced the head on his M5. Actually he's very happy to sit back and watch me do all the work. I worked on cars a lot, long ago before they became so complicated. It's not too hard, but there are a thousand wires, vacuum and fuel lines and other stuff in the way that I don't know if I can remember what went where. Back before he was born I rebuilt my MGB engine and transmission. That was a piece if cake compaired to all this. Once I had the plastic sprocket on the crankshaft on a AMC Javelin fail in Battle Mt. Nevada on a cross country trip. Ordered parts COD by Greyhound from the American Motors dealer in Elko Nevada. Bent all 16 push-rods on that one. Fixed it in the dirt parking lot of the local AAA tow truck's gas station. That was way back in the mid 70s.

I'm just amazed that the spring could cut through the tensioner like that. Something must have been installed wrong.I tested the steel on the tensioner with a file, it's not soft.