1995 Honda Passport - Timing Belt Tension Question

Okay. Here's the deal. About 5,000 miles ago, I performed a complete
HLA (hydraulic lash adjuster) service on my engine. I took the
opportunity to also change the timing belt. For some stupid reason, I
thought I'd "service" the timing belt tensioner by taking it apart and
refilling it with hydraulic fluid. I put everything back together: a
new timing belt was installed with the "serviced" tensioner.

The car ran fine for a little while, but then started making some noises
around the area of the timing belt. These ticking/clicking noises are
intermittent and not constant. They actually go away when idling at a
stop light and might not start up again until the car is restarted and
run for a bit. So I ordered a new timing belt tensioner, figuring my
"service" was to blame.

I installed the new timing belt tensioner, when it arrived, and kept the
new timing belt I had previously installed installed. Now that I am
experiencing the same issues, which did go away for a time, I'm guessing
I should have replaced BOTH the timing belt AND the tensioner at the
same time, even though the new timing belt had less than, say, 100 miles
on it.

The car has now been driven as such, with this intermittent noise, for
about, oh, I dunno, at least 3,000 miles. It comes and goes, hasn't
died on me, so it's just always been a nagging thought at the back of my
mind.

At this point, my question would be: Is there another way to "tension"
the timing belt without going back in and reinstalling a new belt AND a
new tensioner??? I see a belt tensioner pulley, but that is "tensioned"
by the timing belt tensioner, or pusher, as some call it.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks. I'd just hate to go and install
a new tensioner AND belt and have this problem reoccur.

Aaron

 

My response is not a solution...sorry...I'm looking for info on the lash
adjustment. I did it years ago on a Mazda engine but have forgotten the
procedure. Is there an online reference?

Thanks,
Bill

 

My response is not a solution...sorry...I'm looking for info on the lash
adjustment. I did it years ago on a Mazda engine but have forgotten the
procedure. Is there an online reference?

Thanks,
Bill

 

Sorry, I guess I hadn't checked for any responses on my question in a
while. I believe I got my reference from a Honda dealership service
department. It was a Service Announcement with the procedure for doing
the lash adjustment repair. Basically, once you get everything apart,
you use the end of a paper clip to push in the ball bearing at the base
of the lash adjuster and flush it by pressing your finger on the top
part while everything is immersed in 0/30 oil, the recommended oil for
Honda Passports. 0 weight oil is hard to find in your regular auto
parts store (at least where I live); but you might get lucky.

Make sure to take regular digital photos as you go along, unless your
memory is better than mine is regarding auto mechanics and their geography.

Good luck.

Aaron

P.S. You will probably find that once you get inside there deep enough,
you will need to replace the rocker shafts, as I did. The arms were
fine, in my case (and the car has performed well not having had replaced
the arms); but the rocker shafts themselves had to go. Try not to lose
any lash adjusters themselves, they are NOT sold separately from the arms.

 

Sorry, I guess I hadn't checked for any responses on my question in a
while. I believe I got my reference from a Honda dealership service
department. It was a Service Announcement with the procedure for doing
the lash adjustment repair. Basically, once you get everything apart,
you use the end of a paper clip to push in the ball bearing at the base
of the lash adjuster and flush it by pressing your finger on the top
part while everything is immersed in 0/30 oil, the recommended oil for
Honda Passports. 0 weight oil is hard to find in your regular auto
parts store (at least where I live); but you might get lucky.

Make sure to take regular digital photos as you go along, unless your
memory is better than mine is regarding auto mechanics and their geography.

Good luck.

Aaron

P.S. You will probably find that once you get inside there deep enough,
you will need to replace the rocker shafts, as I did. The arms were
fine, in my case (and the car has performed well not having had replaced
the arms); but the rocker shafts themselves had to go. Try not to lose
any lash adjusters themselves, they are NOT sold separately from the arms.