Timming Belt
 

This was the first time I undertook any project on a car. I changed the timming belt, put the mounts back on but when I started it, it was running very noisy. It sounded like a slight whine. Kinda like it had the air conditioner on or the way a supercharger sounds. The Idle was high . I turned it off then when I turned it back on it started making a real fast chirping noise, like the noise busted powersteering pump would make or a belt slipping. I got to start over but do you guys have any clues to what I might have done wrong? It's a 1990 H.B.

Re:Timming Belt
 

2 things i would check first...

1. make sure you belt tensioner has enough pressure on the belt, and that it spins freely (should spin VERY easily)

2. make sure that your #1 cylinder is at TDC, and that the line-up notchs on your OHC are flat with the top of the head.

Also, to make sure it's youe t-belt. you can pull the belts of your alt and ac adn ps (if you have it), and run the car that way, if it still wines, then it's definately your t-belt, if not, then check your other belts. hth.

Re:Timming Belt
 

How do I make sure it's at Top dead Center?

Re:Timming Belt
 

Hey, and can the car run with out the alternator spinning?

Re:Timming Belt
 

ok, two answers:

TDC: remove the #1 spark plug, insert a non-metal rod (wood dowel, long straw, etc, etc). manually turn the crank until the rod just starts to go back down, back it up just a bit, and that's TDC.

Alt: yes, it will run, the car will just pull off the battery. it'll be fine for what little you'll be testing with it, jsut make sure to belt it back in, esle you'll have a dead battery very soon.

Re:Timming Belt
 

Crap now I'm scared, the little marks I made on the timming belt sprocket and on the timming belt are missaligned big time. Damn, does that mean I bashed my pistons? I guess the slipping noise came from the timming belt. :o :-X :-\
Is there a chance I didn't smash my pistons?

Re:Timming Belt
 

well, that depends on how far off they where, a little, probably not, alot, could be trouble. well, the up side (if there is one) is that if the pistons did hit the vavles, it'll damage the vavles before teh pistons take any major hits. for now, i would say put everything together right, and see what happens. if you hear a metal-on-metal tapping sound, then it could be a bent vavle. if it is a bent vavle, you can usually pick up an A6 (Si) head completely for about $60 or so (more on ebay). then yuo'd need a few new gaskets and you'd be on your way again.

Re:Timming Belt
 

Ok, I'm screwed I tried to realign the marks I made but I really rounded off the bolt on the tensioner pulley. Now I can't get the timming belt of to realign the marks. The only way would be to drill it but there isn't enough space to drill the damn bolt unless you guys know another way to remove a rounded off bolt. ----, only I could turn this into an all day thing.

Re:Timming Belt
 

hit your local hardware store and see what they have for rounded off nuts (ok, that sounded kinda funny). ok, prehaps i wasn't clear (VERY SORRY IF I WASN'T), but the alignment marks are on your cam pulley (in the head), and they should be stamped into the pulley itself, either on the front or back of the pulley (should be on the front, one points UP, and two other they should line up with the top of the head behind it). once you have that aligned, and the #1 cylinder at TDC, then you can put your timing belt back on and start/run it without and accessories on to listen and see what you hear.

Re:Timming Belt
 

Wow man, thanks alot for the help! I gotta go to the hardware store now. How long does it usally take to change the timming belt on a Honda?