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Hi all


I'm preparing to replace the timing belt and water pump of my 2000 civic DX and I notice the bolt size of the valve cover, as well the bolt size engine upper bracket mount are different comparing those in my civic.


For example: The upper bracket bolt size is 12mm in HSM but mine is 17mm. For valve cover: 6mm vs 10mm. I'm not sure but I think the timing belt tensioner bolt sizes are also different.


So my question is: can I trust the torque spec from the Honda Service Manual ?

 
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Does Howdy Doody got wooden *****, man?

Yes..you can trust it... if not, what else can you trust for your car's specs?

 
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Thanks Ferguson


I'm worry because aluminum is a soft metal and I don't want to damage the threads nor to undertorque the bolt.


I also wondering if I have the latest HSM revision.

 
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You can download the FSM free: http://www.manualslib.com/manual/464...nda-Civic.html

or here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_O...zMz/view?pli=1

Valve cover I torque to 9 ft.lbs. best to go in crossing pattern from inside to out. Also, start out by finger tightening each bolt, then use a deep socket in your hand and tighten snug, follow that with final torque spec. Remember to use inside out with cossing pattern each time. this will help ensure even torque across the gasket.

 
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The book is correct.

Bolt size is determined by the diameter of the shaft, never by the wrench size.

 
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Thank you all


What I'm worry the most is the tensioner. because many people had damaged hole threads and it's not easy to reach to the tensioner for correction, after the engine reassembling, if I undertorqued the bolt.

 
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Tensioner bolt on those older cars didn't really cause problems IMO. The D17 engines are the ones people seem to strip threads out of.

 
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Ok, thank guys. Sorry for doubting the Honda bible. My faith is back now.

 
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FYI they aren't always perfect. Some of us get to discover errors in service info while the cars are brand new.


That sounded bad. LOL

 
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Timing belt tensioner bolt... 33 ft-lbs

All torque specs: http://www.d-series.org/forums/gener...que-specs.html

 
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Ha! Ha! Sorry for the typo, but Dr Freud will disagree.

 
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Thx Ferguson. Same spec from the Honda bible.


Now I'm waiting this kit


and I also made by myself a 7 ft bar to crack the pulley bolt

 
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I bought that same kit 10K miles ago.. holding up well so far. The tensioner is not OEM but, Koyo seems to be a well made Japanese part. Autozone and O'Reilly's rents (free) the crank pulley holder tool.

 
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I bought myself the special Honda tool for only $11. I hate the rental paperwork.

 
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Good price and a solid, valuable tool for Hondas. It is clumsy to use though so, you may want to invest in some various sizes of bungy cords to help hold the holder tool on the crank pulley. Best to have a helper monkey (friend or relative) hold the tool until sufficient tension is applied with breaker bar/extension.

 
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Thank you for the advice. I have ton of bungee shoe lace . But because I have a deep socket, so what I'm going to do first is to stick something around the socket in order to prevent axis movement of the Honda tool. I think it should work.


What **** me now is the timing belt will arrive only next Wednesday. I ordered this kit Monday and expected to have some weekend fun. Now I have to wait next weekend for the timing belt change.


Also just curious. What do you use to clean and to remove residue on the surface of valve cover and the water pump ?

 
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A shop towel.

 
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Ok thanks. I was thinking a plastic scraper with brake cleaner. Good to know that new engines don't use RTV anymore.

 
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Valve cover uses a rubber gasket but the 4 corners (bends) should have little dabs of RTV in them, they should peel right out. Make sure to use new RTV in the same corners when you put it back together. Old rubber gasket could be hard as concrete too, they do that at high mileages.

Water pump uses rubber o ring type seal against the block too. Unless someone already screwed it up before you LOL
There may be some corrosion to scrape clean from the aluminum. If corrosion is deep it may need a thin smear of sealant.

 
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I bought a new valve cover seal and four spark plug tube seals from my local stealer. I'm going to use ultra gray as RTV. The previous owner told me that she never change the timing belt and the water pump. So everything should be stock. if everything is fine I will just clean the surface with brake cleaner and shop towels. I can't wait. This is my first DIY timing belt and water pump replacement.


Just deviate little bit the subject for a moment: I notice Honda starts to make its models fatter and fatter each year. To make story short, while I was waiting for the parts I ordered in my local dealer, I noticed that the Honda Fit 2016 become fatter and bigger than my 2000 civic. And the Civic 2016 becomes bigger than an 15 years old Accord. Anyway, I guess soon Honda has to create a new model for the small car category.

 
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Dinosaurs got huge right before extinction.
Coincidence?






My mom had an 86 Accord. It was dinky compared to newer cars...and it got her over 40 MPG. She complained long and loud after getting an 02 Accord.

My 90 Park Avenue wasn't much bigger than my 12 Civic. More usable room in the Buick and more trunk, but sitting side by side they looked quite similar in size on the outside.

 
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To keep pace with their largest (no pun intended) consumer.. the American public...lol

 
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Those 3800 V6's are a rock solid engine. My dad had a '91 Olds ninety-eight and gave him very little trouble.

 
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Received my timing belt kit yesterday. Can't wait for this weekend. According the weather forecast, Mother nature will be nice with me.