Timing Belt Problem .... Help !!! - Honda Prelude Forum

soumban · 06-05-2009, 07:38 PM

So, I was cruising down the road about 40 when the car stalled ( 96 Si H23A OBD2 ). Had it towed to a mechanic , he opened the oil cap and checked that the cams were not turning - and concluded that my timing belt went bust.

Today, however I pulled off the valve cover and found that the top of the belt seemed intact. Also, on startup, the crank seemed to be moving ( seemed so from top - I did not pull the middle timing belt cover ) but the belt and the cams did not budge.

So what seems to be the problem - Broken Balancer belt ? This timing belt has about 24k miles on it. Also, because the cams stopped turning while the car was is motion - am I looking at major valve damage ? Is there any way of confirming Valve damage without pulling off the head ? I am in college - so given my finances, an engine swap is my last option.

Thanks for your help.

ludehawk · 06-05-2009, 10:12 PM

uhm, you said the belt and cams did not budge, but the crank pulley did: broken belt.

Sonik_Fury · 06-06-2009, 12:21 AM

is the h23 an interference motor? I KNOW the h22 is. You can either reassemble everything with a new belt and hope for the best........or go ahead and pull the head check for broken valves

soumban · 06-06-2009, 01:13 PM

Yeah .. I think that the timing belts broken too - just that it did not seem to be snapped on top ... will have to open up the belt cover for that.

The h23 is an interference motor - I think I will pull out the head and checking for valve damage is my best option now.

G_Loc · 06-06-2009, 02:51 PM

H22 supposedly isn't an interference motor unless you're in VTEC.

Balancer belt isn't needed, you can run without it.

You can do a leakdown test to determine if there are any bent valves and on what side (intake or exhaust). Cranking the engine when you think you have a busted timing belt isn't a good idea.

Is there any slack in the timing belt? Only 24k on the belt? Was it replaced with an OEM belt?

soumban · 06-06-2009, 10:55 PM

Well I am really not sure about the H23 ... I hope they are non intereference motors ... and I was doing about 40 in the 5th when this occurred - so no high RPM's were involved. But I think I read somewhere that it is an intereference motor.

I do not think it was replaced by an OEM belt - it was done by the previous owner ( I have had this car for the last 5 months - with 6k miles added) . I did not really find any slack on the belt , so maybe the belt just broke and got stuck - and I cannot really tell without taking the middle cover off ( will probably have to take off the P/S pulley as well ).

I am going to read up about the leakdown test and see what I can do.

Just Curious - what exactly is the balancer belt supposed to do then ? Is it just for setting the tension ?

Also, if I find the valves busted - will it be cheaper getting an used head or getting new valves ?

Thanks for your help.

G_Loc · 06-07-2009, 09:54 AM

Its possible that the teeth stripped off the belt

The balancer belt is just for the balancers at the front and rear of the block. They reduce engine vibration. Supposedly removing it is good for 1 - 2 hp

Not sure about your last question... depends on the extent of the damage. My old H23 head sold for $45 or so on ebay a few years ago

soumban · 06-08-2009, 12:55 PM

OK. I will get back to the forum when I have the timing belt cover and head off and see if I can post a few pics.

The fact that the balancer belt DOES NOT affect the timing belt means that I probably will be in the market for a new head soon.

Thanks.