Timing Belt Change Time - Honda Prelude Forum

Qveon · 12-12-2002, 10:34 PM

Well i don't want to pay my garage $500 to change the belt so i decided i would try and take a whack at it myself...Should i change out the water pump while i am at it? its not giving me any problems so do i need to?

Anyways...Who has done this? Do you have to pull the engine out? Can you tell me about your experience and any tips you can offer me? Thanks.

Qveon · 12-12-2002, 10:41 PM

Does the balancer belt drive the water pump? or does the timing belt?

fourthgeneration · 12-12-2002, 10:54 PM

I"ve helped brendon2k do his, and I've done mine after I pulled and rebuilt my head.

your best bet is to get a helms. IT has it step by step in there. And yeah, do your water pump at the same time, It's driven by the timing belt, and you might as well replace it cause if it seizes then you're screwed. do the balancer belt also. you don't need to pull your engine.

Qveon · 12-12-2002, 10:55 PM

how long did it take?
I got a Helms, but i am still a bit iffy on doing it myself

someone put some confidence in me...

fourthgeneration · 12-12-2002, 11:02 PM

alright well if you need confidence,

I've never done an oil change on my car. After my timing belt broke I pulled off the head and rebuilt all the bent valves, as well as new valve seals and everything else. Then I put the head back on and did the timing belt.

prior to that I've just done basic stuff like brakes, I/h/e, etc.

I'm not saying it was all cake, I got to the point where I wanted to push it off a cliff a couple times. The timing belt/water belt took me a couple weeks because I kept getting the wrong parts. the hardest part is making sure everything is TDC, etc.

when me and b2k did his timing belt it took about 3 days. first day we removed the belts, second day we took off the water pump (that took ~45 min), and the third day we put it all back together.

I highly suggest having someone to help you that has done it before and that can give you a hand. and ask questions here if you are not sure.

Qveon · 12-12-2002, 11:14 PM

Anyone in the northwest indiana area?

Absolut · 12-12-2002, 11:36 PM

Its a PITA, but you will be part of the elite few that have done it. Its something like 5 hours labor at a dealer, so if should take you all weekend with some help.
Good Luck, it can be done.

vile10 · 12-13-2002, 12:28 AM

i would say if you can't find someone experience w/ you changing it, spend the money to get peace of mind, if you still insisting doing it, probably 4-6hrs w/ good tools

DanYO · 12-13-2002, 12:53 AM

oh yeah and it's also a PITA to get the harmonic balancer pulley off....you'll definately need another person to do that unless you get the special tool. It took my dad and i around 8 hrs the first time, but it was on H22 so i'm not sure how much different it will be on your engine.

fourthgeneration · 12-13-2002, 01:56 AM

you mean the crank pulley danyo?

b2k had a home made tool of a vice grip, a chain, a breaker bar, and a 4 ft pipe over the breaker bar. worked in 30 secs the second time around

cantdrive55 · 12-13-2002, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Absolut
Its a PITA, but you will be part of the elite few that have done it. Its something like 5 hours labor at a dealer, so if should take you all weekend with some help.
Good Luck, it can be done.

My dad and I have it down, we can get one done in half a day.

SikRedRX-8 · 12-13-2002, 10:19 AM

I have done it a few times it was a pain the first time but once you do it once it becomes pretty easy in the sence that you know what you are doing, just make sure you have it TDC. And definetly change the pump since it is right there. Good luck and ask questions on here if you get stuck save yourself.

brendon2k · 12-13-2002, 04:54 PM

I would reccomend doing it. It will give you some car experience and there is nothing really impossible to do. A few bolts are a PITA but I think you should be able to do it. If I where you I would buy a helms because once you have that you can fix everything on your car on your own.

ME · 12-13-2002, 05:06 PM

Where in Northwest Indiana are you? I'm in Chicago and off the week of January first. I might be able to help.

BTW, I have the 1993 Helms (covers H23) a torque wrench and breaker bar. Air tools would be really nice.