I posted in the Integra forum and didn't get an answer so here I am I did my first dohc VTEC valve adj. this past weekend and when I brought the crank to the TDC (white mark on crank pulley) I noticed that the cam gears were 1 tooth retarded (pointing more towards the front on the car). The car runs "okay" but has never really been the same since Acura replaced the bottom end. I wouldn't think that a car would even be able to idle let alone run with the cam timing off that much but I was wondering if it is possible for a B18C to run being 1 tooth off in cam timing?


[Modified by Comp97GSR, 4:41 PM 3/5/2003]mispelling


[Modified by Comp97GSR, 4:52 PM 3/5/2003]

 

what marks on the cam gears were you looking at?

 

The horizontal marks -0- -0- don't line up with each other or the head.

 

With the TDC mark lined up at the crank pulley, if you take a look at the cam gears, the horizontal lines will "almost" line up. By almost I mean if you took a ruler and put it across both cam gears, the marks will be lean toward the front of the car by a hair. If they are more than that much off, than the timing belt is off by a tooth.

-Jeff C.

 

That description sounds like the cams were advanced a tooth. Engine turns counterclockwise as viewed from the LH side of the car. Turning it CCW the cams reach their marks before the crank?

I think that would easily explain why it idles OK but has no guts at any higher rpm. You haven't been turning the crank backwards, have you???

 

I only turned the crank backwards a hair to see if there was slop in the timing belt and to get the cams to be at tdc so I could adjust the valves.

 

OK... I was thinking if you turned the crank backwards, the belt could have slipped a tooth at the crank (just a dumb idea). Then the cams would be advanced like you describe. I've turned mine backwards very slightly. Just not far enough for the cams to work against the valve springs. That's when you could stretch the belt over by the tensioner & waterpump & maybe skip a tooth.

Other than that, I guess they could have been sloppy & got it wrong when they put the belt on. If you're looking at it now & it doesn't line up, then make it right. I have to assume you know where the gear marks are supposed to be, 'cause I can't see it from here.