So my car's been sounding horrible for a couple of months. I checked my manual, and see that I am due for a valve adjustment.

I figure, sure, that must be it. When I get the adjustment done, the dealer (Honda of Hollywood) says there is a weird sound coming from the timing belt area, and he wants $500 just to tear down the engine and find it.

Uhhh, says I. So I go for a second opinion. Diamond Bar honda says, they will find that problem for $71, and if it's the timing belt, they will do the whole thing for $350 (including that 71).

Ok, sounds better. So I let them find it. Turns out the timing belt autotensioner has died, and my warranty covers everything. 0 deductable too! I love DB honda, they are so much better than any of the other dealers I've been to.

 

That's GREAT news!! If I were you, I would look into seeing if they will do the manual timing belt tensioner conversion for you. Now is the time to do it.

Hope you can.

Good luck.

 

I think I read that the manual tensioner was important for high powered apps? I'm pretty much stock right now, unless you count the JDM 4th gen tranny.

Later on I'm planning my Fidanza flywheel (8 lbs), an LSD, and 4.7 FD. I think a supercharger would be fun, but I'm not really up for that much investment all at once. (I know, the 4.7 fd and LSD are not much less... hehe.)

At what point does the Manual tensioner become more of a necessity than an option?

 

manual tensioners are mostly needed when an upgraded valvetrain is used. the stiffer springs really beat the auto tensioners into submission, so the manual tensioner is a must.

 

yeah, db honda is pretty solid with their service.