Timing flutter traced

Well, my '90 Prelude had been pinging excessinvely, and not an octane
issue, either. I put my light on it and saw the timing mark fluttering
from the pointer to quite advanced. In addition I could heard noise
under the timing cover that could have possibly been a tensioner.

Well, I had my mechaninc check into it (I don't have the time or
desire to get into the timing cover on my car, although I do a lot of
DIY work on my truck). The tensioner was OK, but the belt was
definitely loose. I had him replace the belt, and while in there the
tensioner as well. Noise gone, better performance, no timing flutter.

OK...but the question is that the belt was 53K old; it was last
changed by Honda at 90K. My engine calls for a 90K service on the
belt. Mind you, many other engines want a 60K service. Could the 90K
recommendation just be unrealistic, or is there another sensible
reason why the belt basically wore out at this mileage?

 

maybe the tensioner really wasnt ok and should have been changed at 90k?
if the tensioner was ok, why was the belt loose? how is the water pump?

 

Water pump was definitely done at 90K. AKAIK it's still fine. I just
spent a bunch for the belt, that's enough cash for now! I think I've
dropped $3K into the 'Lude over the last 12 months.....harrumph.

 

Belts stretch. The tensioner is fixed. You have to loosen the bolt that
holds the tensioner plate to take up any slack.

-Pete