i was replacing a bad oil pump in my 96 accord f22b1 and when I took the cover off I saw it was cut open, and it looks like it was cut open by one of the belts. Anyone have any ideas on what caused it? Should I worry about replacing it or will that one work fine?

 

On these, where the "idler" tension bolt "pokes" through the cover there is a grommet. What happens when that is gone and time sets in (heat cycles) the plastic cover will begin to bow out and the serp belt will cut into it.....in the first pic the bolt "pokes" through the cover at the ~1 o'clock position.


What to do from here.....don't worry with it, get a new grommet, get an "e-clip" that will slip around the grove in the bolt but still hold the cover in and away from the serp bet.......ect.