Im currently in the process of putting back togeather my 2001 Honda CRV 2.0L motor. i took the head off to have it rebuilt, i also took the timing belt off and the plastic covers for it along with the crankshaft pulley. how do i find TDC for the pistons before i put the head back on?

also for the cams, i have heard there are small holes that line up on the top to put a small screw driver or drill bits to hold them in place while you put the belt back on, is this true?

before anyone ask, no the belt did not break and it did not over heat.

thank you

 

Yes there are alignment holes near the cam gears on the cams, there is also marks on the cam gears that align with the surface of the head. Make sure the "UP" is pointing up on the cam gears.

 

Check the oil pump and crank gear for marks (a line and a triangle).

 

Very old crib for finding TDC when you have no pulley markings, cylinder head is removed and no DTI gauge.
1. Get number 1 piston rising towards the top of the cylinder.
2. Now get a straight edge and lay it across the cylinder.
3. Place a nut, washer or whatever you have to hand on top of the piston, so as it will touch the straight edge when you carry on turning the crankshaft.
4. Now turn the crankshaft slowly until the piston just touches the straight edge.
5. Now mark the pulley with a reference line.
6. Now turn the crankshaft in the opposite direction so the piston goes down and starts to come back up again.
7. Carry on turning slowly until the nut touches again.
8. Now mark a second line on the pulley.
9. Now remove the straight edge and nut.
10. Now take a piece of paper and lay it round the pulley so you can see both the lines you have marked on the pulley and transfer these lines to your paper.
11. Now cut along these lines to form two straight edges – Now fold the paper so both edges touch each other. (You will notice this has given you a third line)
12. Now align the paper with both straight edges against the original lines on your pulley – You need to transpose the third line onto the crankcase block.
13. Now turn the pulley to align against this new mark on the block – This is your engines true TDC.

Kev