honda.lioness

I am replacing the timing belt, tensioner, water pump, seals etc. on my 2003 Civic. I am using the factory service manual directions to install the belt. It is about the fifth Civic timing belt change I have done in my life. In the past I remember wrestling getting the timing belt over the bottom sprocket, tensioner, water pump pulley, and camshaft. Is there a trick to this? I will look at youtube tomorrow, but any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

Wankenstein

Start the belt on the crankshaft gear as shown in (6th gen) video below.

Starts belt install at 4:15 time mark.
Shows a good tensioning tip at 7:25 time mark:

ezone

I take the spring off of the peg so the tensioner pulley will stay relaxed and backed off.

I start with the timing belt around crank gear, then cam gear, make sure all those marks are where I want them....then around water pump gear then pull and slide belt over the tensioner pulley.
Use a hook tool to stretch spring up to its peg again. Double check marks are still lined up where I want them and stuff it all back together.

Wankenstein

This does make sense as it easier to slide the belt over the smooth, slacked tensioner last instead of pulling over cam teeth as shown in ETCG video.

mikey1

the belt will slide onto the cam just as easily as the tensioner as both have no "lip" to get the belt over, the only difference is the teeth on the cam,

i do it as per the manual, start at the crank and go counter clockwise

crank > tensioner > water pump > cam

tensioner needs to be totally loose


to answer the original question, there really is no trick, it should slide on easily using only your bare hands, never pry it or use any tools,

honda.lioness

Thank you, Megalo, ezone and Mikey. It turned out that I had mounted the tensioner on the wrong bolt hole. Once I figured this out, I had the belt on within a few minutes, using the factory service manual method. Yes, it went on easily.

Other highlights:

I broke the TDC crank sensor (near the crankshaft sprocket), by overtightening the bolt. My Civic runs, but of course I have the CEL. My Civic's timing covers are all beat up. I will go to the salvage yard for all.

I had to put up my power windows at one point, because of rain. I re-connected the battery and then forgot about it. While connecting the alternator ground, I got a spark. I had no power, and of course the car would not start. It turned out that the main battery fuse (in the fusebox under the hood) blew. $4 at Autozone.

mikey1

how the heck is that even possible?

there is only one hole there that i know of

ezone

The holes for the big L shaped bracket

honda.lioness

ezone has it. Here are the photos from https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...t-diy-2-a.html that show the alternator bracket's bolt holes above the tensioner. It was a lesson in being tired and working outdoors, with the sun going down.

I think I need to set aside three days, in a dedicated space where I can lay out all the parts in order as i remove them, with a coffee bar and frig on the side, next time, given my age. My condo does not have a garage. I have to borrow space from friends. Not good.


I appreciate everyone's input. I am glad I once again did my own timing belt et cetera change. Yet I could not do it without forums like this.

mikey1

LOL....okay,

but thats not even close to where it should be