I did it on my 93 LX 5-speed but I had the factory service manual. Belt tension and timing mark alignment are critical. It's relatively easy if you have done similar stuff (Hondas are easier than a lot of other cars to access and remove things). Check with local shops for pricing if you want to be sure;sometimes the stealerships have t-belt specials and they'll include the other belts in the price.

 

Trying to avoid the reach-around from a dealership. At this point, I've already bought the parts. I'm trying to save up for a ring for my lady, and would love to save the money and do it myself. I also have the service manual, and have used it before and such. I'm curious, about marking the timing belt... I'm not understanding the purpose. From what I see in manuals, I align the camshaft pulley pointing up using the marks, and align the crankshaft pulley with the timing marks that we use when timing with a timing light. So why do some people talk about using white out on the belt and pulleys and such? Can't I just use the indicators shown in the manual?

 

After you have the covers off but before you remove the old belt, observe and understand the marks as you rotate the engine by hand to TDC so the marks line up. Then take the old belt off and put the new one on without moving either the crank or the cam. Set the tension and turn the engine all the way around by hand back to TDC and make sure the marks are correct.

 

Mk378, awesome. That sounds about how I understood the process. Doesn't seem too difficult, keeping in mind that if I position something incorrectly, my engine can run like crap, and possibly get messed up really bad. I'm thinking it's just that bolt that'll be a bitch. Not feeling too confident on the abilities of the airtools my friend is going to let me use. Maybe I'll just stick with buying a breaker bar / Honda tool combo.

 

Expect a super tight fit on a crankbolt that hasnt been removed before since it came out of the factory. Try cheap auto shops and have them loosen the bolt. Tighten by ordinary spanners and drive home, continue the rest of the work yourself. I paid a shop 5$ to loosen mine.

 

Hey guys, you all helped me out with resources on changing out my timing belt plus extras. I'm just rounding up all the necessary parts for the install and hoping maybe someone can help me double-check to make sure I have all of the parts and tools necessary. Here's a run-down of the parts I'm installing and the tools that I have, or will be purchasing:

Replacement items:

Timing belt, water pump w/ gasket, alternator belt, a/c compressor belt, power steering pump belt, camshaft oil seal, crank shaft oil seal, timing belt tensioner

Tools:

18" 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
25" 1/2-inch drive breaker bar
4-5" extension pipe
A piece of wood to hold the engine on a jack
19mm 1/2-inch drive deep impact socket
24" 1/2-inch drive extension
Honda pulley bolt tool
Two floor jacks, two jack stands
Standard socket set and tools
Grey gasket sealant
Antifreeze and oil
Timing light (if needed)

Thanks again for all the help. Just want to make sure I have everything so I don't need to stop midway.

 

Just trying again to see if maybe someone can look at my list of tools here to verify I have everything I need to do this job. I'm hoping to do it this weekend, and have since bought all the parts listed in my previous comment, but could buy more if necessary... Thanks for any advice...

 

Main item would be removing the crank pulley bolt if it hasn't been remove before, other than that maybe buy a awl tool for the crank seal you planning to replace. I will also be doing a timing belt/pump + valve/pan gasket this coming weekend.

 

Hey, thanks for the reply, I will definitely get an awl to remove the old seal. I know the belt has been done before; it's got Napa belts all up in this thing. It'll be nice to get some OEM back up in there.

I have two questions that someone might be able to answer. I've been watching videos to do my wife's 96 Accord, and there's about 4 pulleys that require timing considerations. Then again, there are two timing belts on her car. On my 99 Civic, just to be sure, there's only two sprockets I need to worry about... the camshaft and crankshaft, correct? It looks like the timing belt only contacts the crankshaft, camshaft, water pump and t-belt tensioner, aye? Also, when instructions say to rotate to TDC, we are talking about rotating the crankshaft pulley via the Honda tool, and not the bolt, right? I know this sounds silly, but I want to be certain... What I'm envisioning when they say "rotate to TDC" is to hook a breaker up to the Honda pulley tool and spinning the pulley counter-clockwise.

Thanks much!

 

Honda Accord has a banlancer shaft, reason why you see two belts.

You can use the honda tool for TDC rotation if you crank bolt is off already or you can use the crank bolt to rotate if still intack.

Do you have someone helping you with this...??