How serious is this issue? There's a '94 VTEC with 72k miles and had the timing belt/water pump done. Now, I have heard that the auto tensioner has been an issue with the VTEC's.. so how serious is it? What happens if the auto-tensioner malfunctions?
Also, any other problems with the VTEC that DIFFERS from the Si's problems? (I am familiar with all the Si issues) Thanks.
The issue is relatively serious if ignored. If the timing belt breaks you would most like bend a few valves and do some damage to the head. Do the h23 manual tension conversion and you will have nothing to worry about.
My auto tensioner just failed and broke my timing belt. Luckily I was at a red light when it happened. But the guy at my garage said he's seen it happen before. Do the manual swap before something bad happens.
Well, the honest truth is that 3 guys here in Georgia all had their autotensioners fail within the lst 2 months.. @ of the 3 bent all their exhaust valves and its quite a costly fix. Very costly... But ya, SERIOUS ISSUE.. easy to fix too... DO NOT OVERLOOK it....
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It's interesting, that I didn't hear any single case of faulty auto tensioner here in Europe, while you in the USA talk about it seriously. I personally did the auto to manual swap "just to be sure" and bacause I read it on US sites. My friends with XXX,XXX miles have still the original auto tensioner and have no problems.
Maybe it is some USDM specific problem not common in Europe/Japan? Is there any European who heard about the faulty tensioner in EU?
I went to my local honda dealership and when I got a new autotensioner I asked the guy at the counter if he had ever heard of a problem with the tensioners. He said he wasn't sure but that they had an updated part number on the tensioners they sell now, which means the old part was usually faulty, not enough for a recall but enough for an updated part. Just FYI.
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-95 VTEC
*Short Ram Intake*Greddy SS Header*"Hi-Flo Cat"*Thermal R&D Classic catback*AEM Tru Power Pullies*Front & Rear strut bars*H&R Sport Springs*KYB AGX Shocks*Exedy Racing Clutch*Fidanza Flywheel*ES MM Inserts*..working on it.
my motor is a european one...and my auto tensioner never failed, i did the conversion simply for making the timing belt soooooo much easier to install....it fails because its hydraulic, and if the seals leak it loses its ability to hold the tension on the belt
Just like ^ said it fails becuase its hydraulic. The fluid can leak, or what ever, but as soon as it does fail the belt becomes loose, and cause some major problesm. I have never heard of this before, in my area, only on the board here. I have a couple of friends that drive h22 with the auto tensioner, and it has always been changed when the timing belt is changed, sooo their has been no malfunctinos with them.
Originally posted by PreludeRacer023 it fails because its hydraulic, and if the seals leak it loses its ability to hold the tension on the belt
False.
If the tensioner fails it loses its ability to continue putting pressure on the belt but will NOT lose tension. Try putting a broken auto tensioner in a vice and compressing it. It wont work, it has gears in it that keep it from recompressing unless you take it partially apart.
I know that I have 130k miles on my car and still the original tensioner (belt was changed at 72k) no problems yet. I am replacing the tensioner though when I do the timing belt and waterpump in a week.
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*SONIK*
-95 VTEC
*Short Ram Intake*Greddy SS Header*"Hi-Flo Cat"*Thermal R&D Classic catback*AEM Tru Power Pullies*Front & Rear strut bars*H&R Sport Springs*KYB AGX Shocks*Exedy Racing Clutch*Fidanza Flywheel*ES MM Inserts*..working on it.
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