Hi I'm looking for someone's expertise with a Honda Accord 2013 4 cylinder engine. I recently paid a home mechanic to replace my timing chain, however I'm having a little doubt as to if he even did the work or not after having paid him for the work. Is there anything that Honda does like a sticker seal that's broken to tell if in fact the engine has been opened to visually inspect if he did access the area to change the timing chain?

 

Nope, no seals. If you are experienced with Honda engines it's easy to tell when something has been worked on.

Why was the timing chain replaced? They don't typically need to be replaced ever unless you are running way past due on oil changes and getting a code for cam to crank correlation error.

 

Really appreciate the response.
I was hearing a rattling on cold start and found through research that the timing chain/actuator may be the issue, so I decided to go to a home mechanic who our family friend uses. After getting the car back, nothing really changed with the noise, but I was telling myself what's done is done. This week I took my car to have it inspected for a cross country move I'm doing. I mentioned to the shop owner the work I've done on the car, and when I told him the timing chain through a home mechanic, he immediately told me that the engine looks untouched and that he was sure that the guy didn't work on it. Like you, he told me the timing chain doesn't need to worked on with regular oil maintenance. He then told me to always ask to see the old part that was replaced just to be sure. I wanted to see if there was any way for me to see if the home mechanic actually did the work he said he did.

 

The rattle on start up is the VTC actuator on the end of the cam. Very very common issue with this generation of engine.

 

Gotcha, there's still a rattling sound even when the engine is warm. The most recent mechanic said that's normal so I'm assuming that's just normal direct injection.

How is it that the shop I took it to was easily able to determine that the timing chain hadn't been changed and is the original just by looking at the outside of the engine? I know you mentioned that a person with experience working on Honda engines will know. What are the telltale signs, if any?

 

Tool marks on the crank pulley. They are usually extremely tight and the tool to remove it will leave witness marks on the bolt head.

The timing cover should be spotless clean. It had to be cleaned to reinstall.

The liquid gasket between the timing chain cover and engine block has a certain look to it from the factory and as it ages it starts to change color. Brand new liquid gasket or form in place gasket will be very easy to spot. The squeeze out is usually not as consistent as the factory applied liquid gasket.

All the splash shields get removed and that typically leaves finger prints in the road grime accumulation.

 

I really appreciate you taking the time to walk me through all of this. Thank you Ryan.

 

2013 is too early for direct injection. But regular port fuel injectors do make a certain ticking. Valves out of adjustment will also tick.

 

The 2013 is absolutely DI.

As for the timing chain job you paid for, did they just replace the chain?
If you're in there you should change both tensioners, VTC actuator, and exhaust sprocket. When I say should, you could probably get away with NOT replacing those, but if you want to see this vehicle go another 100-200k.
When he pulled out the VTC oil control valve did he clean debris off the mesh? If he did change the intake side tensioner, did he inspect/clean or replace the mesh backing? All of these details add up to a properly functioning timing system.

 

This is upsetting. A competent mechanic should not have replaced anything without properly diagnosing the issue first. This was most certainly misdiagnosed, and you did not need a timing chain.

The VTC gears on these cars are notorious for rattling on start up. Mine has done it for the last 120k miles, there are no ill effects. The correct course of action would be to purchase an upgraded spring for the VTC gear or replace it entirely if it's damaged and upgrade the spring as well to prevent it from happening again.

You can purchase the upgraded spring here: https://spring-start.com/

 

There is a service bulletin out on the start up rattle. The timing chain tensioner is identified as the problem. Others have pointed to the actuator. If the timing chain was replaced, he should have replaced the tensioner. I currently have this problem. I am about to perform this repair. I will be replacing the tensioner and actuator. I also will be checking the actuator solonoid as well. Ask for your old parts from him.

I have already performed an engine flush to clean out the engine. My oil is now very clear. It is important to regularly change your oil on this engine. Have you ever changed your PVC valve? That is important as well.

 

well, replaced tensioner yesterday. Also replaced VTC solonoid as well. I still have the cold start up rattle. I will purchase one of these spring kits mentioned and see how that works out.


UPDATE! Startup rattle solved. replaced the VTEC spool assembly. Rattle is gone. I have not installed the actuator spring at this time.