Tuesday, September 20, 2011

95 Honda Accord EX 2.2L Vtec -- Any important info I need to be aware of when changing the water pump/timing?

Get a good 3/4 %26quot; air impact wrench and see if you can break the bolt loose from the crankshaft pulley. If you can, the job is hands down if you keep your head. It doesn't matter to me to set the engine at TDC as I paint the belts (it has a small balancer belt too) with nail polish and the matching teeth on the gears so I can transfer those paint marks to the new belts and be sure that I'm not going to be a tooth off somewhere. Don't turn the crankshaft or the cam after you remove the belts or you loose the timing relationship and if you screw up, you'll bend the valves when you start it up; big money.. There was a Honda recall on my 94 that required the installation of a clip to hold in the front balancer shaft seal, as it had a tendency to pop out. The recall may apply to your car, but it would be a good idea to install it anyway. Use genuine Honda belts as the Goodyears I installed hardly make it to 80K. (I heard a noise under the timing cover and found that the balancer belt shredded) Change the tensioner pulleys (they're steel, double back to back) if you have any doubt, cuz if they lock up, they'll break the belts, and again..lots of money.. The water pump is pretty straight forward, but you don't need to paint those teeth as they are not timing critical. I changed my belts 3 times before the car was killed in an accident (352k and it still ran like new, but it was a Honda, what else can I say..) On mine, it was a little tough snaking the lower timing cover around to get it out from underneath the car, as it seemed every little bolt and bracket kept it from coming out, but be patient. Also, the valve cover has to come off first before the top timing cover can be removed and you have to support the engine by putting a jack under the oil pan when you removed the motor mount that is on the driver's side. You should replace the O-ring on the dipstick tube and get a new gasket for the valve cover. Put the valve cover gasket on dry and only use a small bit of silicone (Honda sells a good one called HONDA BOND) on the 4 corners at both ends where the gasket/valve cover goes over the camshaft. With the valve cover off, it's a good time to check the valve lash, either before or after the belt change. Time involved, with lots of breaks is about 3 hours for me.