hi fellas, so this weekend im changing the timing belt in my 03 civic ex. The manual states that I need to bring the engine to TDC before starting... on a distributor-less engine not a quick task. Now, this got me thinking, If I ignore this instruction, and instead once all the engine front covers are off, wont I be able to bring the engine to TDC by rotating the crankshaft, aligning the pointer arrow and noting the camshaft pulley "top or up" mark is in the "up" spot? Isnt that TDC?

I dont want to buy a compression gauge if I dont need to. Thanks in advance.

BT

 

Sure, break the rules. Let your valves and pistons collide. You'll be crawling back for help later.

But seriously, it's not hard to set the engine to TDC1 because the cam and crank have TDC1 marks on them.

 

Before taking the old belt off, rotate the engine by hand so the marks on the crank and cam pulleys are at TDC. Then change the belt, double check the marks, set the tension, rotate the engine a couple more times and check the marks again.

To be able to rotate the engine by hand, temporarily reinstall the crank bolt (doesn't have to be super tight) then rotate the crankshaft counterclockwise with a socket wrench on the bolt.