Rep Power: 0

Hi all - Well, I was just about to slip the new timing belt on my '03 Civic when I realized my camshaft sprocket was upside down ("UP" mark on the bottom). All of a sudden it hit me I had been using the cylinder on the far left as #1 to do compression and find TDC, because I'm used to a Corolla (damn!) Now I'm wondering what to do. I don't think anything got moved when I took off the old belt, so I should just be able to put the new one on, check TDC at the cylinder closest to the belts, crank everything around a few times and make sure the camshaft wheel marks are good, right? Does anyone know how to find lost timing / TDC ?? Thx.

 
Rep Power: 517

Two ways come to mind


1-Put the t-belt on, then rotate the crank by hand til the cam is on the correct marks and recheck timing mark for the crank. If not perfect, then slip the belt off and retime.

2-You have to know exactly what is going on inside the engine at all times or else this can be costly if you do it wrong!
Roll crank 90 degrees away from TDC so none of the pistons are at the top, then spin the cam to wherever it needs to be. Now roll the crank back to TDC (do NOT complete a spin because you will bend the open valves if you do, just bring it back up the quarter turn.)



You do know the crank spins counterclockwise when this engine is running, correct? Just making sure.

 
Rep Power: 0

Ok thanks - that's pretty much what I figured. Pretty sure nothing drifted when I pulled the old belt, so everything should still be more or less in sync I would guess. If things are off just a touch once I get TDC compression on cylinder #1, then to retime it's just a matter of slipping off the belt and tweaking the camshaft sprocket left or right a little, right? (have only been cranking CCWS so far..)

 
Rep Power: 208

this is why i always make my own timing marks BEFORE i remove the old belt,

in your case, i would just re-install the old belt, then turn the crank one more revolution, line up the crank mark and see if the cam lines up also,

 
Rep Power: 517

Pretty much.

 
Rep Power: 0

Just wanted to follow up, if anyone is stuck at the crankshaft bolt here's what I finally went with, and it just about jumped off of there - putting it all back together I used 182 foot pounds on a torque wrench and it seemed like just about nothing. Not sure if wear and tear just welds these things on there, or what.. As for the timing snafu, I guess nothing got bumped out of whack 'cause she's good to go.

 
Rep Power: 208

yeah thats pretty much how i do my crank bolt too,

tightening it up i dont even use a torque wrench, i basically do it as tight as i possibly can with an 18 inch breaker bar, i guess i would compare it to tightening up a wheel stud with steel rims, seems to be fine