Proof of AutoTensioner failure - Honda Prelude Forum

heavyd1850 · 07-20-2004, 02:25 PM

I have been in contact with Honda of American and the dealership I bought the car from regarding the famous autotensioner problem.

I have a prelude base SS 50k miles...no mods.

They are denying me any help on the service because they say that the autotensioner mainly just makes an annoying noise and does not contribute to timing belt failure. I keep fighting them on this but has anyone here had a premature timing belt failure and possibly a failure related to a faulty autotensioner?

CLIFF NOTES: Has anyone actually determined that a faulty autotensioner caused their t-belt to fail? Has anyone had a belt fail well before the 105k recommended time?

kotetu · 07-20-2004, 03:38 PM

if you are under warranty with Hondacare:

1) goto a new dealer.
2) complain about noise from driver's side of engine bay.
3) have them diagnose the problem. ($75 or so)
4) if it IS the autotensioner, it is covered by honda-care. The $75 will go towards your deductible. (I just had mine replaced and all work and parts were covered.)

if you are unsure of your honda-care contract, just give them a call and ask if the timing belt Auto tensioner (might be called adjuster) is covered. it should be. I also had by cam seals, oil seals, and valve cover gasket replaced under warranty.

after you've handled it under warranty, call the Honda Zone office and complain about the dealer.

heavyd1850 · 07-20-2004, 09:04 PM

haha. nice technique.

I do not have a warranty. A warranty was bought by the previous owner but it is not instantly transferable.

ludedewd · 07-20-2004, 10:28 PM

the auto-tensioner going bad is a known problem... it went out on my 97 SH with 73k on it.

NXLude · 07-20-2004, 10:47 PM

mine blew at 26k on a new tensioner........

Si4WS · 07-23-2004, 04:44 PM

Mine took a shat on me at like 45,000 and my t-belt was so loose that in slapped a groove in my t-belt cover, American Honda just blew me off, I hate those fockers.

SlowSi · 07-23-2004, 10:23 PM

When the dealer does the timing belt job, do they also replace the auto tensioner?

soon2bsh · 07-25-2004, 02:05 AM

my tensioner, timing belt and oil pump gear all got changed at once.

they blamed the tensioner failure and timing belt damage on the gear braking off.. although the car was making funny noises before.

doe · 07-25-2004, 04:00 AM

I didn't have honda care, so I just paid for it

but my auto tensioner made noise for 30k miles before I replaced it without fukking anything up.

MugenPoweredLude · 07-25-2004, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NXLude

mine blew at 26k on a new tensioner........

well wasnt that because of your crower cams?

aklucsarits · 07-25-2004, 11:28 AM

Timing belt tensioner went bad on my 2000 Base at 45,000mi. It was replaced under the Honda Care extended warranty, no questions asked. I also paid the dealer extra out of pocket for the costs to change the T belt at the same time.

Andrew

SlowSi · 07-25-2004, 01:53 PM

Do all the auto tensioners make a distinctive noise before they crap out? I have 83,500 miles on my 98 SH and it's not making a noise or anything.

ABSOLUTELUDE · 07-26-2004, 07:23 AM

i replaced my belt and auto tensioner at 73000 miles and last thurs. at 80565 my auto tensioner took a **** and the car jumped timing and shredded my timming belt i will know today if the head is ****ed called the dealership where i got the parts and they replaced them for free and gave me the manual tensioner instead as far as the head he said he would see what he could through honda because i didnt have the work done at the dealership he also said that this wasent the first one he has seen do this

ABSOLUTELUDE · 07-26-2004, 07:25 AM

also i didnt hear any noises or anything like i did when the first one went bad this just went bad and lost tension with no warning or nothing at about 65mph

SlowSi · 07-26-2004, 12:34 PM

I don't understand why Honda hasn't made a better auto tensioner for our cars? Even the replacement ones are sh*t. They should just start making the dealers install manual ones.

TranceAZN · 07-27-2004, 03:19 PM

This auto tensioner is crap. This should have been a major recall. 3 of my friends have the same problem. Even 2001's. WTF.

ABSOLUTELUDE · 07-28-2004, 07:11 AM

good news the head is not ****ed up compresion is still great and the dealer is refunding me the money for the crank angle sensor that got ****ed up when the belt snapped i swear i must have a golden horseshoe in my back pocket

crackvtec · 12-21-2009, 04:57 PM

i have a 98 base model with 177,000 miles on it, it never had a problem with the tentioner but the belt was pelaced at 106,000 miles, now i beleive the tentioner went, the timing went retarded and i now have bent valves, how can i be sure of this and is it even possible?

petern101 · 12-21-2009, 08:05 PM

Yes because the tensioner keeps tension on your timing belt.

If that fails, everything else fails.

So why do you need to know it failed? Either way you would replace all of this.

KraserK · 12-22-2009, 10:38 PM

Now im blody scared. I thought it was just a problem after about 50k not around 30k :|