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Hi all, new to the forum. Did a quick search and didn't see anything pop up for this so hear it goes.Just replaced the timing belt water pump and tensioner, less than 500 miles later I find out either the head gasket is leaking or a cracked head. So i pulled the head and bought a refurb head that I know isn't cracked, and the head gasket kit, but my question is, since the timing belt was only on fro about a month and like 500 miles, can I reuse it. Usually i wouldn't even ask, but so low miles and time on machine I thought I would get other opinions. I have no issue buying a new one. I also bought head bolts although lots say I don't need to cause they aren't tty bolts. Thanks in advance.
Heres the car specs:
2002 Civic LX 2 door
1.7l non vtec d17a1 motor, 5 speed
238000 miles

 
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Is the belt an OEM one or a cheap aftermarket one?

 
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Its a Mitsuboshi belt. It came in the Aisin timing belt kit that I got, along with the water pump and tensioner.
Another question, how the hell does one get the black off of the block from the head gasket without screwing up the block. Its like its baked in there.

 
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Are you getting the block resurfaced? I'd probably keep that belt. Gates is the OEM for that engine but I'm sure Aisin is fine too.

 
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No, I'm not pulling the engine. Its a school car for my son in college. Not with it to do all that work. Just need to get the surface clean of the black from the old gasket. Oh, and it never overheated.

 
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Scrape surfaces with a single edge razor blade.
Wipe with brake or carb spray.
Done.
It's just gotta be flat and smooth.
Razor scrape removes the black down to the important surface and I don't worry about the colors left behind deep in the machine marks.

 
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Damn I still can't read.
Timing belt by itself is cheap enough, How soon do you want to replace it again?
and If you got oil or coolant spilled on it I'd say replace it

 
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Fair enough. The black is only around the cylinders, and not all the way around. Its almost as if its mashed into the block, for a lack of a better term. How about the head bolts, replace or reuse? The belt is clean.

A couple of other questions. I removed the rear drain plug on the block next to the oil filter to drain all the coolant out. Can I reuse the washer, and what is the damn torque for that thing? Cant find it anywheres. Also, one of the plastic caps on one injector split, do I need it? where can I get a new one? I replaced the seals on the ends of the injectors and only one split.

 
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reuse
Fork if I know, Personally I'd reuse the washer and smear the gray hondabond rtv on both sides, and some of the threads. Install immediately. The aluminum washer is supposed to squish to seal at a certain torque though, and the rtv is insurance lol
Got pics?

 
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Plastic cap that was on the end of he injector. Split can been seen at 2 o'clock position.

Cap on the end of injector.

Black residue from head gasket around cylinders.

Location of coolant drain/plug at back of block.

Plug and gaskets. Honda can get gasket for about 5 bucks.

Here are the pics. Hop it helps you so it helps me.

 
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This didn't upload last time. Plug and gasket, gasket 5 bucks from Honda. Must be gold.
Hope this helps you help me.

 
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I used the Aisin kit on mine. Love that kit! I reused my belt once, there really is no logical reason why you can't as long as it is not damaged.

 
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I just bought a new Gates belt, it was 13 bucks. By the way, the large plug that is pictured is where the factory block heater would go. Dealer had the gasket and the torque is 44 foot lbs. The car is back together and purring like a kitten. I refused the head bolts. I also found the littler plastic end caps for the fuel injectors on eBay as a rebuild kit. Like 19 bucks.

 
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Awesome. I'm glad to hear that it all worked out. Lots of horror stories when people reassemble their cars after an HG replacement...

 
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A lot depends on why the cap is on the injector in the first place.
Does it support the O ring? If it falls off the tip of the injector, will the o ring be free to slide down?
If it falls off, will it drop all the way through the injector hole and get chewed up inside the engine?
If it falls off but the hole is too small for it to drop inside the engine, it may block part of the hole and disrupt the fuel spray pattern from the tip of the injector.....

edit....yea i'm late to the party again lol

 
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From what I could find around the net is that it protects the spray nozzle. When its in the intake properly I don't see what use it is. The rings are not gonna come off at that point. The caps do snap on, but with the crack obviously it was loose, and I didn't want to chance it falling into the intake and not knowing it, cause when the injectors are in place obviously you can't see the tips if them.